Hello All,

I'm moving home and getting an even better weaving space. For the few here who know my current weaving studio, I know this is hard to imagine, but it's true. I'll have two rooms that are open floor plan (for realy not just a tiny doorway this time). I plan to use one room for the costuming room and one room (the bigger room) for the weaving studio.

It's a pretty nice space, mostly square, only one a few inches taken up by the fire place. I didn't take exact measurments today, but am considering it, so I can play around with graph paper.

My main question is what advice do your great brains have for me? I've got a lot of looms (last count was over 20). Most are small inkle/tablet weaving looms. The larger looms include 8 harness 32" Scacht, 4 harness 30" loom (brand unknown), 28" Rigid heddle Loom, 2 14" 4 harness table looms (storage when not being used is a major consideration here). The rooms has no built in storage. I do have a 6 foot tall Ikea shevling unit that has 8 adjustable cubes.

I'm still early in the move, so any advice would be great. I'm just trying to make sure I use my space to best effect. I'm tired of a cluttered trashy studio. I know I'll be much more productive with a clean efficient studio.

 

J:)

Comments

Thu, 07/16/2009 - 21:55

Cheekyredhead (not verified)

You can get relatively inexpensive wooden shelves from some of the bigbox craft stores that have a row of pegs under the self.  I store my inkle loom on the shelf and use the pegs to hang hanks of yarn or a warp chain to keep it up out of the way of the cats.

Fri, 07/17/2009 - 01:12

dtjacobson

In a word: bins. Everything is easier when everything has a place and is in its place. My standard bins for storing both fibers and fabrics are the 12-gal. clear plastic boxes with the folding attached lids. I prefer the clear ones, because then I can see what's inside the boxes. Every single bin gets labeled on all 4 sides (I use the 2x4" self-adhesive mailing labels and print them on the computer) so there isn't a "wrong way out." The bins get stored on the wire "bakers racks" that you can find at big-box stores like Costco. I used to like IKEA's Ivar shelving (it's the shelving we installed in the attic), but they changed the dimensions a few years ago, and the current shelves don't hold as many bins as the older shelving does. The other advantage to using bins (rather than baskets or decoratively displaying your fibers) is that the bins protect them from sunlight and insect damage.

For storing tools, I like the IKEA Branas baskets (the small ones are the same depth as a standard bookcase) and Mackis desk organizer items. Reeds, lease sticks, and other tall skinny things can go in an umbrella stand; rolls of fabric can be best stored in a new 30-gal trash can. Books (and I'll bet your library is as large as mine!) go on bookcases; I keep my segregated by type--books dealing with fabric-related topics (i.e., the costuming books and surface embellishment needlework books) are in the sewing/guest room, while the books dealing with fiber-related topics (i.e., the spinning, dyeing, weaving, and fabric creation needlework books) are in the studio.

So, what does "organization" look like? This:

The fiber is stored in 30 bins behind the blue doors (I'm missing about 10 square feet, given over to the closet). The only other thing missing is my 24" Saxony wheel. BTW, this room is smaller than it looks--the entire room is only 10'x12'. There are 2 looms--a 46" Gilmore (folded up when these were taken) and a Leclerc Cendrel floor inkle--along with a combing stand, various fiber prep tools, a floor skein winder, and a large worktable (because I have 2 computers in the studio).

ETA--Uh, about the fireplace...while fireplaces are lovely, and the idea of spinning or weaving by the fire is wonderful, even the best fireplaces smoke a bit. Long-term exposure to smoke is not good for books, fibers, or fabrics. It's the reason we rarely ever light a fire in the second floor library fireplace (next to the sewing/guest room); we use the downstairs livingroom fireplace, away from the books and textiles.

Thu, 09/24/2009 - 02:32

greeneyedjrzgrl (not verified)

dtjacobson . . . .can I say that is AMAZING!!! Will you come organize my house? I don't think I could ever manage anything close to what you have accomplished there.

Wed, 10/14/2009 - 20:55

Erica J

Awesome! Thanks for the great advice, this is essentially what I was thinking, but the specific information on how you've made it work really helps! Fortunately I've got two rooms, so the fibers and fabrics will be stored far from the fireplace! I've gotten a lot of work done lately, but still have a lot to do to get the studio really up and running, like buying lots of lumber for shelves, as there are no closets! :)

Mon, 10/26/2009 - 13:41

miafemme (not verified)

My suggestion would be a customized installation of  las vegas closets inside your room which has a complete variety of sizes and kinds, that will definitely fit almost all types of garment and looms that you have and for you to have a spacious working area.

Mon, 10/26/2009 - 15:24

Erica J

Wow! Those do look great, and I'd seriously consider them if I were in the US. However I'm living overseas at the moment, so I think it's still IKEA for me!

However, I'll have to store this away for the retirement studio, I mean home. :)

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