Here is how I handled the table problem. I have my studio in my shed. It's not very big so I didn't want a stationary table taking up all the floor space. I purchased a piece of heavy plywood (the kind with a very smooth finish, not the kind with wood chunks sticking out) at my Home Depot. It cost 25.00. I then purchased 2-3ft. pieces of piano hinge, 3 small hinges and 3 screw on table legs. You could substitute porch spindles or plain boards for this. I then attached the plywood to the wall using the piano hinge, attached the 3 legs, one on each side and one in the exact middle of the plywood . Add the hook part of an eye hook to each end of the plywood and the coordinating eye parts to the wall. When table is not in use simply fold the hinged legs in and push the hinged plywood up and hook the hooks. Kind of the same concept as a Murphy bed. I also added a strip of velcro to the legs so they would stay in place while the table was in the closed position.. Don't know if that was clear but I can send you an illustration if not.

Pokey-

DH made my work table and I love it!  I do work standing up and I'm taller than you, but this could be made to your specifications.  The base is two kitchen cabinet base pot drawers (mine came from Ikea).  They are individual units on heavy duty casters for easy moving in the studio (out of the way for photos of the work wall, etc), and they have a lot of storage (two deep and two shallow drawers each).  On top is a formica countertop piece that came from Home Depot, with an edging trim added by DH. That is longer than the length of the two cabinets, and I have them set with a space between the cabinets.  On the floor there I can put a waste basket or a rack with rotary rulers.  On the back side I have peg board for scissors, cutters, etc.  

It would be possible to set up this system with a stool at the center gap for sit down work.  When I need a sit down spot I can use my machine table with its drop leaf extended.

Pokey

I have always lived in small apts. with very little space to work in .Growing up in New York City large work space was always a day dream. As an artist with a family I have always had to be creative and  flexible with time and space but somehow art gets  made.           About your table problem.....After many moves and many work spaces, I found that banquet tables work best for me. You can get them at office supply stores and they come in a variety of lengths and widths......and cheep. They also fold up and are light enough to be moved by one person. They are not good furniture so anything spilled on it or cut into it is OK.

And just so you know, I took over the dining room and made it into studio space. We don't have an open floor plan so it isn't as awkward as that might seem.  We use the the eat-in kitchen for all of our meals.

If you want to know how to maximize small spaces ask a New Yorker...or someone from the tri-state area as we say (NY, New Jersey, CT ). Master Quilter

Paula Nadelstern lives in NYC and said that until recently she quilted on the kitchen table and laughed when she told me that she couldn't have a second child " because  my overflow fabric stash was in the chair at the table.Where would he sit ? " Take a look at her intro in " Kaleidoscope Quilts ".

Jacqui Holmes

I'm new to this site and am very excited to have found you! I think I may have a solution to your work table problem.  My husband and I each have a door for our work tables, I sew & he builds Radio Control Airplanes. Go to your local home improvement center and get a blank door. They are inexpensive and you can get them is several widths. They also have kits for making saw horses, which when put together make the legs of your table.  Just measure the hights you want your table to be, put the sawhorses together and paint it if you want and put it on the saw horses.  The home improvement store will cut the legs for you so you don't even need a saw. There you have it, a large flat workspace made to order!

I have the PERFECT SOLUTION! At least in my case it is... ;-)

I purchased a kitchen "Pub"table at a major furniture store.  It is 42" square and 36" high...perfect for me! Now I don't have to worry about my back hurting when cutting  and stooping over a regular height kitchen table.  It even has storage in the center of the base and it is set in so that you don't kick it with your feet PLUS it has bar type stools with it that tuck under the table so that if I work on crafts on the table or have sewing buddies coming to sew...we all have a place to sit..LOVE IT!  :-)

To make any table (such as the fold-up ones suggested) you can add one of two things: either the "dorm room bed raisers" (not sure what they're called) that kids use so they can store stuff under their beds in a small dorm room) or, if the legs are small enough (this works on the fold-up tables) lengths of PVC pipe just enough larger in diameter than the legs that the legs fit snugly but don't slide down.

On the fold-up tables, you can also cut them long enough so they just slide up to the cross-pieces; that's a lot more secure. Our guild does that for our workshops, retreats, etc.

I have an old dining room table with straight legs that I use the cot-lifters for.  I have an actual studio that's about 22 x 12 so I have room for a permanent cutting/work station.

You can get one at estate sales, tag sales, etc. for not too much money. The worse the top the cheaper it is :)  Either cover with stickyback paper or do what I did: cover it with several good green cutting mats. It's always ready for me to measure and cut.  And since I got one with leaves, my table is 90" long: enough to do a lot of my sandwiching without having to get down on the floor to smooth the layers (which is very bad on my knees).

My friend's husband built her a permanent one with a large door (36" or even 40" wide) mounted on a pair of kitchen cabinet bases that he added casters to. He built shelves underneath the door-top and put a solid back on it.

Go to your local home building supply place and buy a blank interior door and 2 replacement card table legs.  Hinge one long side of the door horizontally to the wall; attach the card table legs to the other long side.  Presto -- fold up, drop down table surface on the cheap.

Cathy in Volcano, CA

I like the tips for getting a new worktable.  What I need is the discipline to avoid leaving it piled full with WIP's.  One important point you left out on your ruched ribbon directions:  At the end of each zig-zag, your thread should cross over the edge and enter the fabric again in the back of the ribbon.  Otherwise it will not come out as pictured.

Someone referenced this post to answer question "Are you in your apartment too much and do you make up that you went some where online ?"...