Hi there.
I've dug out a few snippets from a soft furnishings business starter guide that we are writing which I hope may be of some use.
Worktable:
In terms of size the bigger the better, but not if it seriously restricts access. I personally think that access is as important as size, and would have a smaller worktable if it meant I had access on all four sides. I would suggest you do a scale drawing of your floor plan, cutting out templates in paper representing your pieces of furniture and positioning them on your plan to guarantee that everything fits.
In terms of width, bear in mind that most soft furnishings fabrics come on bolts 137 cms wide, so aim to have this as your minimum, building in a little extra if possible for those bolts that are slightly wider.
In terms of length, this will be determined by your available space. It would be ideal to have a table that accommodates most full-length curtains i.e. 2.5 metres, but this is often not possible. Establish the maximum table length your workroom can cope with, compromising if necessary.
Worktable on trestlesIf you have enough space, then a purpose built worktable on trestles really is ideal. You could even have two sets of trestles of different heights giving you this extra flexibility. If you need to dismantle your table frequently then consider having the top made in two sections, split along its length. They will be much lighter and easier to lift on your own.
The tabletop can be made of any suitable wood or MDF that is not too heavy and should have a box frame fixed to its underside. Slots are cut into the sides of the box frame for fixing into the top of the trestles.
This table top is supported by 2 trestles (e.g. made of pine) that open out to a specific width, determined by two strong pieces of rope which are attached to bottom cross members.
The top section or sections can be covered in a thick layer of interlining and then finished off with a layer of heavy duty calico. The great thing about this is that you can pin fabric to the table top and you can replace it by simply removing the calico layer and recovering when it gets marked. Make sure the staples (holding the stretched interlining and calico are inserted into the bottom of the boxwood frame thus ensuring the top is perfectly smooth. The padded covering will enable you to use an iron on the fabrics ‘in situ’ without the surface of the table ‘weeping’ into the fibres or the rough surface of the wood snagging the fabric.
Equipment Have you downloaded our free guide to Basic Sewing Equipment and Techniques? It covers loads of equipment which you should have as a bear minimum (most of which I'm sure you'll have thought of anyway) as well as other ideas. You can get it here:
http://www.simplyfurnishings.com/acatalog/Beginners_Sewing_Guides.html I hope some of this is helpful, good luck!
Best wishes
Jo
SimplyFurnishings.com
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