Quantcast
Channel: Sewing Insight
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 200

Fabric Cutting Table Buying Guide

$
0
0

If sewing is your hobby, you know that cutting is one of the most difficult and crucial steps in producing beautiful clothing. Cutting cloth could be a terrifying job if you do not have the right tools and a fabric cutting table is an indispensable tool you’ll require if you want polished creations. As the name suggests, these tables are designed specifically for cutting cloth with accuracy and precision. The majority of them offer other advantages as well, such as a storage drawer for storing sewing supplies.
A fabric cutting table can mean the difference between an aggravating and tedious crafts and sewing and an enjoyable one. Let’s look at our top picks for the best cutting table for sewing:

Our Top Picks For The Best Fabric Cutting Table For Sewing

Detailed Reviews of Best Sewing Tables

BEST OVERALL

Studio Designs Sew Ready Adjustable Premium Cutting Table

4.5
$216.02

The Studio Designs cutting table is a great investment for sewists that is simple to use for all cutting applications and it offers excellent cutting performance. The fabric cutting table is height-adjustable and can be folded. Radial lines, angles, centimeters, and inches are all included in the table's sewing grid to simplify your your sewing and quilting tasks. You have the option to adjust the height of the extending top to your required ideal height. It assists you in relieving back strain.

The casters make it simple to take the table outside once its job is done to create extra room in the sewing studio. Your tools can be within your reach kept under the center top in the sturdy metal storage boxes.

Pros:
  • Helpful guides and grids
  • Dual casters that are both movable and safe
Cons:
  • Hard to assemble
View Deal Buy on Amazon
09/27/2022 11:59 am GMT
BEST PREMIUM

Arrow K8405 Wallaby Kangaroo Cutting Table (Teak finish)

4.0
$1,599.00

The Arrow cutting table is a fantastic choice for sewers who want to speed up and improve the efficiency of cloth cutting. It acts as a practical serger storage workstation that keeps your sewing machine nearby. It is simple to assemble and has a strong construction, is portable and has two drawers for storing small items. For additional storage, there are two little and one large door bin.

It is built to operate with the specific machine insert and features a complete flush work surface to increase efficiency and comfort. It has a large lift opening to support 55 pounds of most large sewing machines available on the market. An increase in workspace is made possible with a wooden panel that can be kept over the sewing area.

Pros:
  • There is plenty of storage for your sewing accessories
  • The sewing table is very comfortable to use
  • Looks beautiful
Cons:
  • Expensive
View Deal Buy on Amazon
09/27/2022 11:48 am GMT
BEST BUDGET

Studio Designs Sew Ready Standing Height Craft / Cutting Table

4.5
$182.54

The Sew Ready cutting table uses a thick MDF top and a powder coated aluminium frame, and comes with strong baskets. For sewers who wish to acquire precise cutting on a range of materials, this table is an excellent investment. You can work in a standing position for long hours without risking injury to your legs or back by hunching over as the table's height is over thirty six inches.

You can move the table to your ideal location with the help of its 6 rotating wheels, and 4 of them have a locking mechanism so that it stays put while being used. Your die-cutting machine as well as your crafting or sewing items can be kept on the table's bottom shelf, as the bottom shelf is very beautifully made extending the entire depth of the table.

Pros:
  • There is plenty of sewing accessories storage
  • The extra space is of great help when working on larger projects
Cons:
  • Some users may find this fabric table hard to assemble
View Deal Buy on Amazon
09/27/2022 12:18 pm GMT
BEST COMPACT
Sullivans 38431 Adjustable Height Foldable Table
4.5

For a variety of sewing operations, use the Sullivans foldable cutting table. This flexible table is ideal for a variety of sewing tasks including fabric cutting, pattern layout, paper crafts, quilting, and more. The huge surface of the table can be used for working on huge projects when the folding panels are kept up or spreading out patterns and fabric.

The table can be folded down to 17 1/2 x 35 4.5 inches. One table with a measurement of 35-4/5 can be adjusted from 28 to 38 inches. You can cut the fabric ninety percent more quickly than with scissors or rotary cutters thanks to its simple and safe design.

Pros:
  • Easy to fold and is compact
  • Excellent metal frame offers more resistance
Cons:
  • Not stylish and the design is rough
View Deal Buy on Amazon

How To Choose The Best Cutting Table For Sewing?

An ideal cutting table with drawers and storage shelves
An ideal cutting table with drawers and storage shelves

With so many options available in the market, it can bechallenging to select the best cutting table for easy fabric cutting.
Below, we discuss a few characteristics that you need to take into account in order to choose the ideal one for your requirements:

Size of the table

Perfect Table for Small Space
Perfect Table for Small Space

Typically, a home sewing room is the smallest bedroom in the house, an attic or a corner in the laundry room. If you have the luxury of living in a large house or apartment to have a seperate sewing room, you may still find yourself with not enough space for a large cutting table.

The ideal cutting table is about three feet wide, four feet high and at least six feet long. It also has storage shelves and drawers underneath to hold sewing and ironing supplies, fabric and all of your other sewing room essentials. The only problem with owning an ideal cutting table is it is so big that it simply won’t fit in most home sewing areas. If you are like most home sewers you have been at it for a very long time. Even if you have not been sewing long at all, you are probably cutting your patterns out on a kitchen or dining room table.

Pick the proper height
It is difficult to determine the ideal height of a cutting table since it varies from person to person. So purchasing a table with the feature of adjustable height is the best option.
‘Counter Height’ is the ideal height for cutting fabric i.e. stand at your kitchen counter and you can get a idea of the best height for a cutting table.

Weight
The weight and the material of construction significantly impacts a sewing cutting table’s durability. A lighter table is simpler and easier to transport, however, it can be more vulnerable to lateral movement and vibrations. The recommended table is a high-gauge heavy-duty steel cutting table because it offers a long-lasting and stable working surface.

Materials
This is really crucial. If you intend to perform a lot of sewing work at your table, a steady, smooth surface that can withstand some punishment is a must. Each sort of material has distinctive characteristics that set them apart from each other. To reduce water damage and protect against corrosion, many cutting table’s surfaces have protective coatings.

Options for Sewing tables and my experience

If you do have a sewing room that is large enough to accommodate the ideal cutting table, count your blessings. If, on the other hand, your sewing area fits the description of a typical home sewing space, consider one of the many folding cutting tables instead. For an investment of about $100-$200 you can find a cutting table with leaves that drop down on both sides. When you are ready to lay out your fabric, simply open the leaves and you have a full size cutting table to work on.
If you are making smaller items, like a sleeveless blouse, clothes for a small child, a hat or a small purse, you might be able to get away with opening just one leaf. Simply drop the leaves when the job is done and you have a smaller table, until you are ready to put it to work again. If you have extremely limited space and cannot even spare space for a drop leaf cutting table, do not discount the notion of having a cutting table altogether.
Collapsible, hide away cutting tables are also available, including cutting tables made of corrugated cardboard that can be neatly tucked away in a closet or on a shelf. The corrugated cardboard cutting table is not only lightweight, portable and easy to store, it is also economical.

Cardboard Cutting Board
Cardboard Cutting Board

You cannot expect it to last long, especially if you are using it on a consistent basis, but a cutting board made of cardboard is an economical quick fix when budget and space are major considerations. When folded up, it takes up less space than a full size ironing board. At one time, we lived in a tiny apartment. Our sewing machines were set up in the bedroom on two small desks. We used one of these corrugated cardboard cutting tables and a table top ironing board. When it was time to cut, we set the cutting table up in the living room and put the ironing board on the dining room table.
This was during a time when we were making practically everything we wore, so we were sewing at least two days every week. We didn’t set up the cutting table that often, however. Our system always involved cutting at least five or six pieces at a time and then sewing until those projects were finished and starting over again.

We estimate that our corrugated cardboard cutting table was set up and taken down at least twice a month. The material was much sturdier than a box made for packing fragile dishes or equipment, but cardboard just the same; and it did eventually show signs of wear and stress from all that use. In the five years we lived in that apartment, wore out two cardboard cutting tables.

When not set up for use, they take up about the same amount of space as a folding card table or one of those folding utility tables that tuck away nicely in a closet. In all honesty, the only reason we did not get one of these tables when we were in that tiny apartment was the closets were already filled to capacity.

Drop leaf cutting table mounted on casters
Drop leaf cutting table mounted on casters

These tables are available for approximately $200 and can often be found for less. Today, we have a drop leaf cutting table that is mounted on casters. When it is not in use, we simply drop the leaves and roll it out of the way.

A more expensive version
A more expensive version

The top is made of pressed wood, covered in white laminate. It has black metal legs and black wheels. With the leaves in the down position, my cutting table looks a little bit like a contemporary accent table until you notice the wheels on the bottom. A table like this costs approximately $140-$150. A more expensive version of this same table includes drawers for storing your sewing supplies and fabric. This seemingly minor addition, however, drives the selling price up to more than $300.

Summary of Best Fabric Cutting Tables For Sewing

Conclusion

Regardless of how long you have been sewing, the size of your sewing area or how often you sew, we strongly suggest that you add a cutting table to your inventory. Not only will it make a big difference in your comfort level while cutting out your fabric, it will also make a significant difference in the way you feel years from now.

The type of cutting table you get depends entirely upon you, your budget and your space. It took us a very long time to go ahead and get our own cutting table. If we knew then what we know now, we would never have put it off as long as we did. Very few sewing instructors even mention the significance of using a cutting table. The merits of using a cutting table should have the same level of importance as sewing machine maintenance and care.

If you feel you need the input and advice of an expert before making a final decision as which cutting table to purchase, visit your local sewing machine dealer or reach out to us in the comments section. Don’t buy a cutting table that is too large for your space. A beautiful cutting table that enables you to store all of your sewing supplies in one place is no good if you don’t have space to move around and be comfortable in your sewing area.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

In its simplest form, a fabric cutting table is a flat surface where you can take measurements and cut fabric. A cutting table offers a surface for cutting fabrics and laying out designs. A table which has a durable, level surface that can withstand regular use is required.

Although the sewer’s height is going to determine the table’s optimal height, a cutting table is usually between 35 and 45 inches tall. The ideal height for cutting fabric is what is commonly referred to as ‘counter height’. Stand at your kitchen counter and you can get a very good ideal of the best height for a cutting table.
The ideal cutting table is about three feet wide, four feet high and at least six feet long

To secure your materials and patterns, the cutting table top should have the option to insert pins into them. In many shops, thick half-inch cork sheets are used for covering the cutting tables. Although cork can make a beautiful looking work surface, it does, however, have certain drawbacks.

Unless you are one of those people who prepares very few meals at home, do not even think about cutting fabric on your kitchen counters. Even the cleanest of kitchens is not conducive to laying out large uncut pieces of fabric. You may have the height, but you certainly don’t have the width to consider using your kitchen countertop as a cutting table.
After all, practically every home has at least one table where meals are served. Many homes, however – even those with a separate sewing room – do not have enough space for the full size cutting table described above. Most home sewers often find it necessary to make do and use their kitchen and dining room tables to pin and cut their sewing patterns. The challenge in cutting on tables designed for dining is the fact that they are lower than necessary, requiring you to bend, twist and sometimes contort your body in very painful positions, causing undue stress on backs, shoulders and hips. After doing this for long periods of time, this physical strain could result in chronic pain that we must endure for many years. The best way to avoid it is to invest a little bit of time and money in an ergonomically designed cutting table, made specifically for the job at hand.

We review the Best Sewing Books which can help you if you are a beginner or an expert

Singer creates some of the best sewing machines on the market with great features and are easy to use. They are affordable and great for beginners. Singer also provides instant support via their Sewing Assistant app which can be extremely helpful for beginners. Their manuals and warranties are fantastic, but you can also check out Brother sewing machines and Janome sewing machines. We have reviewed the best SingerBrother Bernina and Viking sewing machines.

The post Fabric Cutting Table Buying Guide appeared first on Sewing Insight.


Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 200

Trending Articles