Organizing Your Longarm Quilting Room
I recently received a question about how to fit a longarm quilting frame into a room. I’m in between projects on the longarm this week so it was the perfect time to share a little tour of my longarm / embroidery room and how I set it up!
Quick links to my longarm machine and frame and other helpful quilting tutorials:
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Understand how a Longarm Works
I recently received a question from a quilter interested in purchasing a longarm. She asked specifically if the frame could be collapsed when it wasn’t being used or pushed against a wall.
As I shared in the video, a longarm frame is a very big piece of equipment. I spent a lot of time leveling the frame so the machine would not roll to one side or another or front to back when I let go of the machine.
For this reason, a longarm isn’t something that will be easily moved or collapsed. This is a lot more like a traditional hand quilting frame or a grand piano. Once it’s set up in a room, it’s not going anywhere!
Quilting Takes Up Space, No Matter the Type
When fitting my longarm into my sewing room, I basically replaced the existing sewing machine setup. I took out a home machine and large table arrangement and that same space is being filled with the longarm.
This was a good trade off because I’m able to quilt both faster and easier on the longarm frame than on my home machine. I can also quilt standing, which feels better to my body.
What’s interesting is my original home machine setup took up almost the exact same footprint. Quilting our quilts takes up space whether you do it on a home machine and push the quilt under the needle or you move to a longarm frame and move the machine over the quilt.
Organize the Space Around the Frame
Originally I was going to set up my frame nearly flush against the side wall, but I’m glad we positioned it 12 inches from the wall. It’s nice to be able to squeeze around that side of the frame and access the side to adjust the take up rail.
I have my Grace Continuum Frame set up nice and high so the machine is easy to move and I have a great view of the quilt. This also creates a huge amount of space underneath the frame to stash supplies. I use some mesh drawers from IKEA to store quilt tops, batting, and partially quilted quilts.
I also like having a small set of solid drawers nearby for feet, rulers, oil, needles, and bobbins. Just like a home machine, it’s nice to have these accessories nearby.
The rest of my longarm room is shared with my fabric stash and my embroidery machine. I’m working on reorganizing my fabric area. It was definitely on the junky side today because I figured you should see how it is naturally (far, far from perfectly tidy!)
Longarm Quilting and Machine Embroidery at the Same Time?
I was very surprised to find that machine embroidery and longarm quilting are wonderfully compatible. When I’m working on an embroidery project, I can have it stitching out while I’m quilting on the longarm. When the machine beeps, I can stop quilting and check on it. I like the feeling of being able to work on two projects at once!
So that’s how my longarm room is organized. Do you have an unused dining room or guest bedroom? Or do you have a weirdly shaped basement room that could be transformed with a little creativity into the perfect studio for you?
Take your time and consider all your possibilities. I can honestly say I dreamed of having a space like this for years. When we set out to buy our house, we specifically looked for a basement so I would have plenty of space to expand.
Yes, you may have to be a bit creative and certainly be willing to drive a few nails and screws, but it’s worth having a well organized space that’s fun and easy to work in.
One last note – I’m going to be at Houston International Quilt Festival NEXT WEEK on November 8th and 9th. Please come see me at Grace Company’s booth if you’re going to the show!
Let’s go quilt,
Leah Day
Hi Leah, I just watched your organization video and loved it. I have included a picture of my “quilting shed” too. I have a Q’nique 15R on a Gracie King and love the machine. I am hoping to get some accessories for it for Christmas and was contemplating the ruler base. I have never learned to use rulers but someday would like to learn, my question to you is do you think the ruler base is worth the investment? I also noticed that you use pins on your leaders, I do too, but I have friends trying to get me to buy the Red Snapper system…do you know anything about this?
Thank you so much for sharing Jennifer! YES, a ruler base is definitely necessary as it provides stability for the ruler under the quilt. Without it the ruler will be rocking all over the place and likely crash against your needle.
Nope, I’ve never tried the Red Snapper. If you give it a try, let me know what you think!
Red snappers are awesome. It does take a little hand strength especially at first getting them broke in but you can get a quilt on and off you machine so much faster. It takes me about 5 minutes to attach. Quilt nd backing and a matter of seconds to take one off. Love them
Thank you for sharing Gayle! I’ll have to check them out!
I just finished watching your long arm Quilting room organizing…. I found it very helpful! I have a question…where do you cut out the fabrics for your quilt top piecing?? I didn’t see a table or space for cutting out fabric pieces for your blocks…..
Great question Tammy! I have a large basement that was once a separate apartment from the upstairs. So I use this room for my longarm and I filled the kitchen with a huge table for pressing fabric and cutting. I also have a very small sewing machine setup in that room too for piecing. We bought our house specifically for the basement so I’d have plenty of space to expand… and I definitely did! LOL!
Hi Leah. I’m looking at buying a Continuum 10′ frame. I have a little over a foot of space left over with which to place my frame. So, it will have to be next to the wall on the left side of the room so that I have that foot-worth of space so that I can manipulate the wheel. Due to the layout of my room this is the only option I have. Also, you stated you had your frame set at the maximum height. I, also want to use the maximum height, for comfort and also to use the space underneath the frame for my storage bins. What is the height underneath the frame from floor to the underside of the frame that I can use for my bins?
Hi Barbara – I ran downstairs to measure the height of my frame. I have 32 inches of space (with a little extra cause you don’t want it tight). I used IKEA frames with drawers to fill in this space and it worked really well. A foot of space should be big enough, so long as you don’t want to walk to the back of the frame and quilt from that side often. That might get a bit tight if you’re wanting to quilt from the back on a daily basis.
Thanks for all the information, Leah!
What is the height of your longarm throat plate in relation to your floor, please?
I have concerns that my wife’s quilter is too low for her and needs to be raised up. She is 5′ 9″ tall and her throat plate is currently at 40.5″, floor to plate.
Thank you!
Great question Robert! I think it’s easiest to measure off the front rail on her frame – that should be above her belly button by 4-6 inches. She’ll know what I mean if you describe it as hitting her bra underwire. LOL! On my Continuum Frame this is 6 bolt holes empty on the legs, for her wife’s height (she’s 3 inches taller than me) you might want to try 7 holes empty and see if that works.