Quick answer: You don't need a dedicated room, a shed, or a spare bedroom to start machine embroidery — you just need enough room to plug in your machine. What matters more than square footage is how you use and optimize the space you do have!
Here's what you don't need to get started:
- A big house
- A separate building/shed
- A spare empty room
*granted - all of these things are a blessing! If you have them, use them! If you don't....
All you really need is a place to plug in your machine. Do you have electricity? Then you're ready to roll, no special square footage required.
My Own Embroidery Space Has Shrunk (and It Still Works)
In our first home, we were growing our family and had a spare bedroom — one that doubled as the laundry room, freezer room, and pantry. (When I had virtual meet-ups with embroidery friends online, they'd laugh at the giant stash of diapers stacked in the corner!) It wasn't fancy, but it was space.
Now, with more kids and fewer bedrooms, my entire embroidery space is an old closet. My take: no matter the space you have, you can make it work. Here are a few things I've done to make this space as efficient as possible so I can use every square inch!
8 Ways to Maximize a Small Embroidery Space
1. Measure your space carefully and buy furniture to fit: I bought a no-frills flat top desk that fits exactly along one wall. When I say exactly - I have 0.5 inches to spare on either side! I had to put it together in it's spot, otherwise it wouldn't have fit in the door!
3. Embroidery machine carts: These were expensive (but I purchased mine used!) Since these are on wheels, on days when I need extra space, I can roll these girlies out into my kitchen and dining room. Tip: check Facebook marketplace to get these at a better price, or call your local sewing supply store! I use the hooks on the sides of my rolling carts for all of my photography props, magnetic hoops, and fast frames.
4. Install a pegboard for vertical storage: Make every inch count! I got my pegboard from Ikea, and it's where I store all of my stabilizer and cutaway rolls, bobbins, sew tites, scissors, clamps, and more. I found these roll holders that hold all of my stabilizer rolls perfectly!
5. Add wall storage shelves: I use these wall storage shelves for my big spools of thread, some ribbon storage, and more stabilizer storage. I just bought these iron holders to hold my irons - I haven't installed them yet but it's on the list!
6. Rolling carts: I keep my to-stitch pile and my to-photograph pile on this rolling cart so I can move them out of the way when I need to. Wheels mean flexibility in my world!
7. Repurpose a small dresser as a multi-use station: I bought a small dresser meant for bedrooms to be my fabric storage, and I turned the top into my ironing board/cutting surface. This ironing mat rolls up when I'm not using it, and this ironing pad fits perfectly on the dresser top for pressing fabric. I also got a self healing cutting mat to match the size of the dresser top, so it's turned into a great workspace.
8. Sometimes you hit the jackpot: I was thrilled to learn that these clear acrylic drawers from Target fit perfectly under my embroidery machine! These drawers under my embroidery machine hold scissors, stabilizer sheets, seam rippers, rulers — basically everything I reach for constantly.
Think outside of your walls.
When I need to, I bust out of this tiny closet. The door opens up into our eat-in kitchen, so on photography days I spread out and take over the kitchen table. On days where I'm prepping a bunch of fabric and ironing large cuts of material, I take over the whole kitchen! Temporarily, it's not too disruptive to move into other parts of the house.
All in all - you don't need a fancy or large space to make your embroidery goals happen. Is it nice to have a beautiful space to feel inspired and work? Absolutely! Is it required? Nope, not even a little bit. Work with what you've got and watch what happens. Do your best not to measure your success buy how put together or beautiful or large your workspace is - and be proud of the work you're doing wherever you're doing it.
If no one has told you lately, you're doing amazing!
With love,
Beth
PS. Of course I have two closets of inventory and fabric. But don't we all?
