Linda’s kind patience in allowing me to slip several projects for other folks in front of her sewing cabinet finally paid off. Made of birch plywood and maple trim, with a sewing machine lift and eight storage drawers, the sewing cabinet was immediately pressed into service making face masks for family, friends and local healthcare workers.
Fully open, this cabinet design has a lot of work area, even including a left top drawer that extends the surface. With the sewing machine lift in its lowered position, the cabinet folds up into a compact unit that can be wheeled anywhere in the room.
Every cabinet project starts with a trip to Chelsea Lumber!
Dry fit of a few panels
Varnishing inside panels before assembly
Panels with drawer runners already mounted
Basic case assembly
Bottom panel assembly
Varnishing bottom panel before mounting casters
Basic case complete with casters
Making maple cove molding
The back panel was built up with three layers of plywood
Apron installation
Cutting tenons on door parts
Panel doors ready for assembly
Panel doors to support the open lid
Pattern for insert opening temporarily attached with painters tape and CA glue
Routing the insert opening
Cabinet taking shape
Removable insert specific to Linda’s sewing machine
Ready to mortise in sewing machine hinges
Sewing machine hinges complete
Varnishing insides of drawers before assembly
Drawer assembly with helpers from Rockler
Drawer boxes complete
Solid edging on drawer fronts
Completed drawer fronts ready to install
Installing drawer fronts
Cabinet complete and ready for finishing
Padded up for hand truck trip down basement stairs
Finishing components with MinWax water-borne, iol-modified polyurethane
Sewing machine lift installed with lag screws
Linda’s “before” sewing machine setup
Linda’s “after” sewing machine cabinet
Sewing with the machine in the flat bed configuration