How to Turn an Old Armoire Into a Sewing Station

A well-organized sewing center can make your craft projects easier to complete.

Sewing can be a satisfying, creative and money-saving hobby, but it can also be a space hog. Between leftover fabric, bags of unused trim, patterns and the sewing machine itself, the clutter can defeat even the most organized crafter. By turning an old armoire into a storage center for your sewing supplies, you can easily tackle any project, then close the doors to hide the mess when you're not working. You can even paint or stain the armoire, if desired, so that it coordinates with your room's decor.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Corkboard roll
• Adhesive
• Chalkboard paint
• Power drill
• Hole saw
• Wood crate
• Pencil
• 1⁄4-inch wood dowel
• Wire baskets
• Decorative boxes and baskets

Instructions

1. Open the armoire doors and remove shelves, if possible. Measure inside of the doors. Cut a piece of cork board roll large enough to fit the back of one of the doors, and attach it to the door using adhesive spray. You can use the cork to keep needles and pins at hand, hold pictures, or hang press-to-close plastic bags filled with small pieces of ribbon or trim. Paint the inside of the remaining armoire door with chalkboard paint so that you can have a space for quick sketches or to leave yourself notes.

2. Measure the size of your sewing machine's plug. Using a hole saw on your drill, make a space in the back of your armoire large enough to slide the plug through. If your armoire is already equipped with a swivel or pull-out shelf, use it to hold your machine. If it is not, visit your local hardware store and purchase a pair of shelf sliders and attach them yourself to one of the armoire shelves.

3. Paint a small wooden crate so that it coordinates with the look of your armoire. Carefully mark off holes about 3 inches apart along the longer sides of the crate, measuring to be be sure both sides are level. Using the three-quarter-inch bit, drill through the marks. Cut one length of quarter-inch dowel for each set of holes, making sure that each dowel length is 2 inches longer than the width of the crate. Push a dowel into one hole, then slide spools of thread across it. Push the dowel into the opposite hole and pull it through so there are equal lengths of dowel on each side. Repeat until the dowels are all filled with thread.

4. Fold extra lengths of fabric into wire baskets so they can be easily seen. Use baskets and small boxes to hold additional sewing supplies. As you fill the shelves of the armoire, be sure to group like supplies together to make them easy to find. One set of boxes could hold oils, belts and replacement bulbs for the sewing machines, while another set could hold patterns, warranties and other paper goods. Consider using your chalkboard to write down the contents of each shelf so that you can see at a glance where your supplies are located.

References

• "Better Homes and Gardens": Revamped Armoires for Small-space Storage
• "Woman's Day": DIY Sewing or Craft Station
• Old Fashioned Living: Organizing Your Craft and Sewing Supplies

Resources

• Home Organizing Ideas: 5 Solutions for Organizing a Sewing Room