I have the best dear husband! I am forever trying to figure out the ultimate quilting/sewing set up. He puts up with a lot in my fiddling with things. He often ends up getting invloved. He does a great job! Last weekend, I found a desk at Goodwill. It looked to be a perfect size- not too big, not too small…..just about right for machine quilting and piecing and much heavier than the folding table I had been using. It seems that most tables/sewing cabinets do not have as much space in FRONT of the needle as I would like. If we could modify this desk, I could have as much as I wanted and still have room to support a quilt behind the needle. It was more work than I expected but it turned out great. Here are pics in case you would like to see how it was done:
First he had to move the drawers to the left side from the right side.
He cut a hole so the machine would sit nearly flush with the table. The extension table that came with machine rests just a hair above the desk top.
Here you can see how he used bolts with sleeves to fasten the board to the bottom of the table. He used an oak stair riser for the board.
The desk cost $25 and the additional materials brought the total to about $45.
This was a commerical office desk and it weighs a ton even though the top measures just 30″ x 42″. I can really speed and there is no vibration at all. I love the space in front of the needle to support the work if machine quilting and for laying out pieces when I am piecing. Hope this gives some of you ideas for making or modifying your own table.
Until next time!
KatyQuilts 
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Yayy for you! Glad to hear it worked out!
I bought a grey , heavy as lead, office table at Goodwill for $20 and layed awake at night figuring out how to do this same thing. I finally decided to go for it, I could afford to lose $20 if my idea failed. I got the plank and bolts at habitat and the man power from our renter. We got the job done (with him doing the cutting and drilling) and it works just like I knew it would!!!
Wonderful table, bigger than most sewing areas on a regular sewing cabinet. Clever husband,
nice to hear from you again… are you still dying fabric?
COOL VERY NEAT
Peggy, the bobbin area is not as easy to access as I would like due to the depth of the desk top but it is do-able. I am thinking a bit of a cutout on the shelf part might help that. If we make any modifications in that light, I will post them here so you can see.
Carol, he is a great guy to have around! So very clever :).
Linda- I would love to see a picture! I got drawers but you beat me on price :).
Very similiar to what my DH did for me with an old drop leaf table. I’m jealous you have drawers. Mine only cost $25
Wow -what a great idea!! I would never have thought about doing something like that, your DH is a handy guy to have around!
Your machine is like mine and I’ve always wanted to do what you did but haven’t because I thought it would be too difficult to access the bobbin. Should I go ahead and do it?