Build this modern sewing center, with all its work-saving features and helpful storage bins, racks, drawers and shelves, and you'll keep the lady of the house happy for years to come. Who knows—you might even lop off a considerable amount from the family tailoring bill, The center occupies very little space—6' wide, 28" deep, and 6' high-when all parts are folded into place. It is divided into three sections by 3/4" plywood partitions. The left section has storage shelves above an asbestos-lined iron cabinet, and eight plastic drawers at the bottom. The drawers may have as many small divisions as desired for pins, needles, thimbles, buttons, snaps, zippers and other sewing equipment. 

The middle section contains a foldout ironing board, a 27" by 6' foldout worktable, a small pullout board for handwork, and a large cabinet for scrap materials. The middle section also has an adjustable light fixturewhich can be focused on any part of the sewing center.

The right section of the sewing center has magazine and pattern racks, a set of page-like racks capable of holding 250 spools of thread, a bulletin board on which to pin notes, and many hooks to hold scissors, cutters, measuring tapes,etc. It has a sewing machine cabinet that holds the machine out of the way and protects it from dust when not in use, and rolls out from the wall when needed. The mirror on the back wall is 16" wide and 4' high. It is slanted forward at the top so a person standing in front of it can get a full view of himself, All basic parts of the sewing center are made of 3/4" Nakora plywood. The ironing board and worktable are made of warp-resistant Novoply, and the magazine and pattern racks are solid oak.

To get the woman's side of the picture, and to assure the latest design and placement of the sewing center facilities, the author was assisted by Mrs. Irene Gorra, of Coats & Clark, Inc., one of the country's leading sewing equipment experts.

The sewing center housing, as shown in the chapter titled three-in-one wall unit, is laid out according to the dimensions of the sewing machine console that you install in the right section, and the molded plastic drawers that you use in the left section. The size of the center section, where the ironing board and the work table are located, depends on the width desired for the work table. The work table in this project is 27" wide. After the housing partitions and top piece are in place, lay out full-size sewing machine cabinet, following diagrams.

To make sewing machine cabinet, cut out all pieces from 3/4"plywood; following full-size layout. Next, assemble the cabinet apron, using glue and 11/4" No. 8 flathead screws.

To make the cabinet top pieces for your sewing center, cut one piece of 3/4"plywood to dimensions in full-size layout. Trace cutout on cabinet top, using full-size layout as pattern.

Fig. A. Sewing machine housing fits sideways between partitions, rolls in and out on heavy-duty slides.

Carefully cut the two pieces of the cabinet top. Onepiece will be mounting top to which sewing machine cabinet is hinged. The other piece will be machine support lid, which holds sewing machine head when in operation.

After cut pieces have been sanded smooth, cover edges with matching wood trim. Author used Weld wood wood trim in this project. Then glue outside part of top to sewing machine housing, keeping all outside edges flush.

Cut 1/4" by 1/4" rabbet along the entire length of upper part of inside edge of machine support lid. For better view of rabbet, see photos No. 12 and No. 13.

Cover the remaining 1/2-wide edge of lid with matching wood trim.

Cut and attach 3/4"-by-1 1/2"-by-20" plywood strip as shown in Fig. A. Mount machine support lid with special hinges, available at your local sewing center. Hardware used here is for a Singer Sewing Machine.

Turn housing upside down and mount a 1/4"-by-l"-by-5" metal strip across slanted joint to under side of mounting top. Leave 3/8" of metal strip extending, so as to lend additional support to support lid.

Fig. B. Front and top views of sewing machine housing.

Special barrel hinges for sewing machine mount are I recessed by first boring holes, which should be the diameter and depth of hinges, in the housing top. The location for these holes is determined by placing the sewing machine on the top, lining it up carefully with the cutout of sewing machine cabinet, and marking the placement of hinges.

Notch out for hinge pin so that pin will fold downward into a vertical position.

Glue a thick felt strip, which will cushion vibration of sewing machine, along inside of Vi" cutout of top lid.

Fasten sewing machine base to cabinet by tightening setscrews, for testing. The new Singer Slant-O-Matic, shown above, eliminates the use of additional support pans. In most cases, if an older model or a different type sewing machine is used, the additional pan will not require any change in the dimensions of the sewing machine cabinet. However, it is advisable to check with sewing machine dealer before making cabinet for your sewing center.

Make the pin drawer case, which fits to side of sewing machine cabinet, from 3/4" plywood, following dimensions in exploded view. This case of the sewing center consists of two sides and a top that mounts on both sides. The front piece has a cutout in the center, 1 1/2'-wide by 2"-high, for the needle and pin drawer. To support the drawer, a 3/4" plywood shelf, with two 1/2 by 1/2" solid wood drawer guides, is mounted in the inside of drawer case, with glue and mounting cleats.

Mount the finished case of your sewing center to the side of sewing machine housing with glue and 1 1/4" No. 8 flathead screws through the inside of sewing machine cabinet. The pin drawer is made of two pieces of solid wood, each routed out quarter round, to 2" from each end.

Assemble the two halves of pin-and-needle drawer with glue making sure that inside groove is even.

Cut and mount a 1/4" plywood front to pin drawer, using glue and brads. This drawer front is to extend 1/4" on all four sides. Round off edges in front.

Make a top cover extension for sewing machine cabinet to size shown in exploded view, again using 3/4" plywood. Cover all edges of your sewing center with matching wood trim.

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