A Deluxe Sewing Cabinet & Cutting Table in One!
Written: Jan 29 '04 (Updated Dec 12 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Spacious work area, mar-resistant surface, sewing machine platform safety lock, 3 height positions, ergonomic.
Cons: Expensive. Table vibrates a bit when sewing at high speed.
The Bottom Line: This sewing table offers lots of work room ... and I’m happy!
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| dlstewart's Full Review: Quilter's Dream Quilting Cabinet 2140 |
For years I’ve used an old student-size desk as a sewing table. When I started developing assorted aches during my sewing sprees, I had to become ergonomically correct, or farther down the road, my body would suffer. That’s when I discovered the Quilter’s Dream Sewing Table -- Model 2140 -- by Horn of America.
Construction & Other Features
This is a beautiful piece of furniture. Two finishes are offered: White with Oak Trim or Sunset Oak. I chose Sunset Oak even though the sales person tried talking me into buying the white table. The sales person said the white finish would allow easier visibility when sewing. I can see where white would offer a brighter reflective surface, but I’ve always sewed on a maple or oak table and have never had a problem with seeing my projects while sewing. The Sunset Oak finish is lovely, and the cabinet blends with the rest of the furniture in the room.
I’m not sure whether to call this furniture a sewing “table” or a sewing “cabinet” -- it’s both! When looking at the table from the front, it is open. A small, shallow drawer with a round gold knob is at the upper left, just under the sewing table surface. The sewing machine sits toward the right of the table and offers a “front of needle” sewing position. This means the sewer is sitting directly in front of the sewing needle rather than to the side, which makes sewing easier. A special Airlift system raises and lowers the sewing machine. An extension leaf folds open at the back of the table to enlarge the sewing area -- a wonderful feature for quilters or sewers who need table support for their large projects.
The wood table is assembled with sturdy steel connectors for solid construction. Another benefit is that the table is made from a Melamine mar-resistant material. I know this surface is durable since the delivery person clunked a heavy metal wrench against the sewing table top, and the table still looks like new. The Airlift is constructed of metal and has a safety lock to prevent the sewing machine from unexpectedly dropping. (The delivery person said this is a new feature.) Hinges make the extension table easy to fold up or down. The casters are made of heavy-duty black plastic and the casters on the two front legs can lock so the table won’t move.
Airlift -- The Easy Way to Adjust Sewing Machine Height
The Airlift feature in this cabinet has three positions. The sewing machine sits on a platform that vertically moves up and down. When the machine is in the lowest position, it is completely below the sewing table surface. (A wooden insert can be placed in the table-top hole where the sewing machine sat to make a flat table surface.) If you press downward on the sewing machine, it will release and lift upward to the second position. This position places the sewing machine so that the sewing machine feed dogs are flush with the table. A custom-made plastic insert fits around the sewing machine to fill the remainder of the hole. Press downward on the sewing machine again to either lower it or raise the machine to its highest position. The highest position allows the machine to sit completely on top of the table to allow free-arm sewing (useful if your sewing machine has a free-arm option).
Note that to raise the sewing machine into the highest position, the knee-lever that controls the raising and lowering of the presser foot must be removed. When the sewing machine is in the second position (where the feed dogs are level with the table surface), the knee-lever fits nicely into the sewing machine and rests just beneath the table top.
The Airlift is very easy to operate. Just press firmly down on the machine to set it into upward or downward motion. The safety-lock feature ensures that the sewing machine doesn’t move unless the user wants it to move. The safety-lock consists of a round metal button located under the table on the Airlift mechanism. Pull the button and twist it counterclockwise to release the lock. This allows the sewing machine to be moved into one of the three height positions. The lock self-engages when the sewing machine height is set and must be manually released each time when vertically moving the machine.
A nice extra is that the delivery person provided a thin rubber non-skid mat for the sewing machine to sit on. This is a great idea! With the non-skid mat, the sewing machine stays in place, and the mat also absorbs some of the sewing machine vibration.
Lots of Sewing Room
I love the work space this table offers. When the leaf is folded down and not in use, this table provides a modest 41 11/16" wide x 19 1/2" deep work area. If the leaf is raised, the working space is expanded to 41 11/16" wide x 39" deep. A sturdy “extra” fold-out leg with locking caster supports the drop-leaf extension.
In case you are wondering, I use a Bernina 1260 QPE (Quilter’s Platinum Edition) sewing machine. I purchased the sewing machine new years ago from the same store where I purchased the Quilter’s Dream sewing table.
The first project I sewed on this table was a large carry-all bag for my yoga mat and accessories. I did not cut the fabric on the Quilter’s Dream table, though, according to the sales person, the table can be used for this purpose (however I would place a cutting board on the table surface to further protect it). I was able to spread out the sewing instructions and all the cut out fabric pieces and still have plenty of room for the pincushions (I have four pincushions that hold different styles of pins), scissors, and assorted sewing feet I used for the project. And with all this on the table, I had plenty of room to sew. With the 39" depth to the table, the entire large yoga bag fit on the table as I sewed it. This table is also excellent when I machine quilt. What a luxury to have all the quilt fit on the table. It makes machine quilting so much easier and lessens the strain on my neck and shoulder muscles. No more arm-wrestling fabric into position. This table offers plenty of support for projects.
Under the Table Storage
Beneath the narrow table drawer on the left side of the cabinet, is a “cubby hole” of space. I’m not one to waste open space that is perfectly suitable for additional storage. The area measures 14" wide x 24" high x 17 7/8" deep. I purchased two large plastic stacking Sterilite Ultra Storage Drawers that fit into this space as if made for it. I keep a variety of sewing and craft supplies in the drawers ... right at my fingertips for use.
Shaking Things Up
If I had to pick one thing that I wish were better on this table, it would be the vibration the sewing machine causes when I sew at high speed. When sewing at a slow speed, there is no vibration. Sewing at a moderate speed causes some movement, but not enough to bother me. When sewing at a high speed, the platform shakes. I find this distracting, but it’s not bad enough to say I don’t like the table.
Purchase and Delivery
I purchased my Quilter’s Dream table at a local sewing machine store for $610 on sale. It’s List Price is $795. The insert that is custom-made to fit around the sewing machine cost me an additional $28. A list of retailers selling Horn of America cabinets can be found on their web site at www.hornofamerica.com.
When I phoned various stores for pricing, some of the stores did not offer delivery. If you have a large truck or van, picking up the sewing table will save you delivery fees. Delivery cost me $60.00, and included moving the table into the house, positioning it in the room, attaching the gold knob to the drawer with a screw driver, and any necessary adjustments. (The platform that is connected to the Airlift needed a bit of adjustment so that the sewing machine feed dogs were level with the table surface. A wrench was the only tool needed to make this adjustment, and it took less than five minutes.) I also asked the delivery men to demonstrate how the Airlift worked to make sure I knew all about it. That’s how I learned about the new locking feature.
Summary
I am glad I splurged on this sewing table. I sew a lot (quilts, clothing, crafts), and my sewing area is important to me. I’ve also noticed, now that I’m sitting at a table that is the correct height for sewing, that the aches I suffered while sewing at the student-size desk have disappeared. This is a comfortable table that offers great work space. My only complaint is the vibration caused when sewing at fast speeds. And I can live with that!
Update -- June 8, 2006
Just wanted to let you know that I'm still using this sewing table and love it. The table offers a terrific amount of room for my quilting. At the moment I have a self-healing rotary cutter mat next to the sewing machine so that I can make quick trims on the table while working on a project. The table is holding up well, even with the cats hoping atop it. They may not know how to work a rotary cutter or sewing machine, but these felines do enjoy inspecting whatever fabric I'm working on!
Update -- December 12, 2008
This is a great sewing table, and I'm still loving it. Despite all the use this sewing table sees, it still looks like new. I'm very happy with this purchase.
I hope you found this review useful.
Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com
Product Specifications
Dimensions:
Width: 41 11/16"
Depth: 19 1/2" (39" open)
Height: 29 3/4"
Drawer: 12" wide x 15 3/4" deep x 2 1/8" high
Weight: 129 pounds
Horn of America
Herold Rt. Po Box 608
Sutton, WV 26601
Toll Free Phone # 1-800-882-8845
www.hornofamerica.com
Please read my other reviews:
Horn of America Sewing Chair
Bernina Accessory Box
Olfa Self-Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Olfa 12" Self-Healing Rotating Cutting Mat
Olfa 18mm Rotary Cutter
Olfa 28mm Rotary Cutter
Olfa 45mm Rotary Cutter
Olfa Rotary Cutter Replacement Wheels – all sizes
Olfa 4-pack Mini Weights with Organizer
Olfa Weights
Fiskars Pinking Shears & Tutorial
Quilt Pro Software
Janome Jem Sewing Machine
Keepsake Quilting Online Store
Joann.com Fabric & Craft Store
Copyright 2004 Dawn L. Stewart
Recommended:
Yes
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