Just Sew

FOR YEARS, BETSY CANNING WORKED ON HER sewing and knitting projects - including dozens of dresses and sweaters for her two daughters - from a small, dark room off of the kitchen in her Cumberland, Rhode Island, house.

"I've been sewing forever," says Canning, whose mother taught her to sew as a child. "And I'm a pack rat about fabric and yarn." She dreamed of a sewing room of her own, where she would have lots of room, light, and storage.

Her dream came true when she and her husband decided to convert the unused space above their garage into a workroom for her. "I really wanted two long countertops and lots of storage," she says.

Wish granted: Her new sunny, colorful sewing room has two 131/2-foot-long worktables with a total of 13 extra-deep drawers built under the laminate countertops. The drawers hold everything from patterns and thread to bulky items like cording and fringe. Three window seats also have drawers filled with skeins of yarn. A closet built under the gabled ceiling holds fabric.

The plywood drawers are dressed up with a coat of paint and a bit of whimsy: button-shaped pulls that Canning ordered from a home center.

Natural light pours into the space through windows tucked into the gables and a glass door that leads to a roof deck (built over a recent 20-foot-by-20-foot addition). Upholstered cushions turn the window seats into comfortable perches for knitting or for reading patterns. Recessed lights provide task illumination throughout the room.

Knowing how quickly thread and fabric can accumulate on the floor during the course of a sewing project, Canning chose hardwood rather than carpeting, so she could clean up with a quick sweep of the broom.

Canning painted the walls red. The white ceilings ensure that the space never seems dark. Bead-board wainscot is painted tan. With her daughters, Caroline, 17, and Abbey, 14, no longer all that keen on wearing homemade clothes, Canning is turning her sewing skills to decorating projects. She is currently making Roman shades and valances for the nine windows of the master bedroom.

And although her daughters are more interested in pursuing sports than sewing skills, Canning knows she'll have plenty of room for apprentices when the time comes.

Homework Tips

A Place for Everything: Keep office supplies and files separate from your personal possessions and domestic clutter. The Container Store in Natick and Chestnut Hill (containerstore.com) has storage products that are ideal for a home office, including lateral files and desktop accessories. Herman Miller (hermanmiller.com) sells the Meridian line of stackable cabinets and bookcases, allowing you to add on piece by piece. And now that you've updated to a wall-mounted flat-screen TV, the armoire that served as an entertainment center can be used for keeping office supplies, printers, and files out of sight.

Basket Case

Betsy Canning is a self-proclaimed "pack rat," especially when it comes to storing fabric for her sewing projects. Even with a double closet devoted exclusively to remnants, she knew things were getting out of hand. Stacy Carlson of Lou Lou's Decor in Tiverton, Rhode Island, came to her rescue, reorganizing the fabric closet so that it is both orderly and attractive. Baskets with monogrammed linen liners, labeled "Trims," "Notions," and "Yarn", immediately establish order on the shelves. Carlson uses the baskets to store items in her own interior-design shop, where she sells them for $70 each.

Jill Connors is a freelance writer. She can be reached at jillconnors@cox.net.