Sewing Machine Table DIY: Transforming a Vintage Sewing Cabinet
In this post: If you like the look of a vintage sewing machine table but can’t find one in good shape, you’ll love this transformation of an antique sewing cabinet.⇒
Have you got childhood memories of a beat-up old piece of furniture sitting in the basement for countless years?
If you do, you just knowingly shook your head and maybe even laughed… 😉
Perhaps it was shoved in a corner, piled high with various just-as-old bits on top of it? Or maybe it sat in a place of prominence, ready to be tripped over every time you were looking for something else?
Because you were never looking for IT.
No one was ever looking for IT. It just sat there dutifully and you got so used to it, you never even asked why your parents were keeping it. Surely they weren’t planning to use it!
Sewing Machine Table
Ours was an ancient sewing machine.
You know the kind. It pretended it was a regular piece of furniture but in truth it held an antique sewing machine.
For years it sat at the foot of the basement stairs, piled high with towels or out of season clothes. I couldn’t imagine why we owned it because my mother didn’t sew. Not even a little. She couldn’t even thread it if her life depended on it.
But my dad could…
…because it was his.
Well, really his mother’s. But he learned how to use it. And he made amazing things with it. Slipcovers and draperies and anything else my mom asked for.
That’s the kind of guy my dad was. If a piece of equipment could be useful, he was going to master it. He never worried about traditional gender roles.
So of course years later, when my parents were gone and we were cleaning out their home, the one piece of furniture I didn’t have to think twice about keeping was my dad’s vintage sewing machine table.
Even though it was hideous.
It had been painted white for as long as I can remember, but my dad had used latex paint, applied generously. Judging by the thickness I’m guessing it was refreshed many times and he had long since given up trying to paint around the hardware. That was white latex, too!
When I rescued the piece I wouldn’t consider getting rid of it. It had way too much meaning to me.
But I wouldn’t consider keeping it that way either.
No, it would have to be refinished. And I finally found the time.
Because of the heavy layers of paint, my approach would be a little different than the pieces I’ve tackled in the past. Even though I’d be using chalk paint, which doesn’t require much prep, I decided to do some sanding to eliminate the globs of built-up paint. When I detached the hardware I even had huge strips of paint peel right off, exposing the under layer of the cabinet door.
I expected to replace the hardware with something new and decorative, but it turns out removing the paint revealed a lovely brass pull.
Dislodging the paint, in fact, became a bit of an obsession, as I chipped away at it to see what was underneath. It was quite a surprise to see how many layers it held, spanning a broad enough spectrum of colors that I wasn’t sure when I had gotten to the bottom. I sat on the couch with the TV on, working on this all night.
I was delighted to find it was a warm gold.
With the prep out of the way it was time to think about what colors I would use for the new finish.
I certainly wanted to keep it light in color but opted for a more refined look with layered tones for an antiqued effect. The sheen of the latex had to go, preferring the velvety flat look of my favorite chalk paint.
For the base layer I used two coats of Soft Taupe Classico from the chalk paint line from Pure & Original. It’s a luxe quality paint that creates a gorgeous rich finish.
Next up was the layer the creates the most texture, the lighter layer that goes on top of the base color. I used Bone Classico from the same paint line and applied the highlights in a technique I often refer to as a dance. I use a mix of dry brush to dab the paint on and wet wash to blend it in, with the brush in one hand and a damp sponge in the other.
I like to build my layers, starting very thin with the wash and gradually adding more paint on top with the dryer brush, teasing out the highs and lows which underscore the form of the piece.
If you scroll back to the flat base layer image, you can see a marked difference with the addition of the shading.
The next two layers required a lot less paint, beginning with a warmer shade called Antique White, used for the purpose of “throwing” the color a bit off (by using an undertone that’s a touch more yellow), and finishing up with a true white for the topmost layer to bring out the highlight accents. I used Sea Salt for this and it’s used quite sparingly.
Once all was dry I brushed on a liberal coat of clear Classico Italian Wax, then let it dry overnight. Finally, I buffed the piece with a soft cloth. This protects the finish and adds a delicate but lovely patina.
In this case, I couldn’t wait to add back the hardware, because the difference from where it started, thickly covered with paint, was really extraordinary. How charming to catch a gleam from the brass tassel pulls!
This project was definitely a labor of love, as the sewing machine always reminds me of my dad, but also because the beneficiary is actually my daughter. She’s the only person in the family now, who knows how to sew.
But until she’s ready for it, I can display it proudly and prominently, rather than at the bottom of a basement staircase, piled high with out-of-season clothes.
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I could have s c r e a m e d
seeing the brass pulls gleam!
What a great job you D I D
the out-of-season clothes got rid
now showing off this tables soul
it can host a seasonal punch bowl!
Thank you for the lovely poem and the charming sentiment… 🙂
What a great job with all the new layers of paint you used on it. What a nice way to honor your Dad! I love the beautiful vase of Hydrangeas you set on it. Perfection!!
Thank you so much, Deb!! This one was definitely a labor of love… 🙂
Lori, I love this velvet texture you get with this paint! Really nice job and thanks for sharing. Oh where do you buy this chalk paint? Jean
Thank you, Jean! If you click on the link in the post it will take you to the distributor where you can order the paint. I will post it here for your convenience: https://rbeemster.postaffiliatepro.com/scripts/uuol1c?a_aid=45
Lori, what a stunningly beautiful resurrection! And the pulls remind me of lovely dangling earrings – sweet jewel accessories for the lovely lady.
I’m sure your Dad proudly watched as you lovingly restored his mother’s sewing machine. I hope your daughter appreciates the history of this beloved family heirloom!
Great job!
I learned to sew on my mother’s White sewing machine which she got when she was 18 (1938). It was operated by a lever using your knee. Hers was in a desk type cabinet which, like you, I cannot part with. The actual machine had been overhauled but no longer ran so my husband removed it and fixed the cabinet so I can use my portable machine on it. There’s a built in compartment to store it when not in use. The drawers still contain sewing notions from more than 50 years and I’ve used them countless times often getting a good laugh at items marked 59 cents. Each time I use something from my mom’s stash I feel as if she has reached down from heaven to help me the same way she did when she was alive. As you are so aware, there is nothing that can replace these memories and feelings of connectedness with our parents once they’re gone.
How wonderful that you still have the cabinet and use it for your sewing, even if in an updated way. I think that’s the best way to honor these cherished relics by keeping them useful… 🙂 And it’s so true how connected it makes us feel!
What a fabulous story about the sewing machine. Good for your dad learning to use it, gender stereotypes not withstanding.
Thank you and yes, I love that about him… 🙂
That’s such a sweet story! And your work on it makes it even more special! ? I just got several things like that from my mom’s, and it’s so wonderful to have them in the house! Thanks for the tutorial!
Loving this post. I have my grandmothers antique sewing machine (which my grandfather also used!) I have kept it because, although it only does one stitch and you have to turn the fabric to back stitch, because it does not go backwards, it will stitch through any thickness of fabric so is perfect to working with heavy canvas, leather, etc. It is really not a good looking piece of furniture anymore because I have ruined the finish on the top by keeping a fern on it. My husband loves that fern and waters it every day, sometimes over watering which has damaged the finish. I am inspired now to paint it with chalk paint. Thanks so much.
You are most welcome! He can always love the fern on another table… 😉 Or place it on a tray on the table. After painting, of course!
Your sewing cabinet is so beautiful. You can tell that it truly was a labor of love. I had my grandmothers 1929 White Westinghouse sewing machine with the old shuttle bobbin. I let one of my daughters take it for awhile and i don’t know whatever happened to it. It looked much like yours. And such a beautiful story of your Dad.
Thank you for sharing!
My pleasure… 🙂 I enjoy revisiting the memories.
I am so delighted to read about your Dad sewing draperies and slipcovers!
My husband has the same mindset when it comes to any kind of machine, as well! He does beautiful work!
As a teen, his Mom (an art teacher) would rope him into helping her with volunteering. He created scenery for the Nutcracker with her, sewed and mended ballet costumes, did woodworking, etc., etc.
That said, I feel like your Dad and my hubby would have greatly enjoyed each other!
Now you are inspirng me to get busy with my paintbrush to transform a French style dining table, as well as a simple small dresser functioning as a sideboard in our dining space.
Thank you so much for all your tips and pictures of your beautiful sewing table ~ so lovely! ~Susan
Aww, you’re so sweet! And I’m so glad to hear your hubby is like my dad. It’s wonderful to be handy. I’m happy to hear you’re inspired. This is a great time for painting at home projects… 😉
OMG! I have that and it’s sooooo ugly! Thank you for the tutorial!
Haha, I feel your pain! It never dawned on me to try to make it pretty until I started painting other furniture. Now it sits proudly in our entry hallway… 🙂 In fact, the main reason I kept it was because my daughter wanted it and then had no room for it. It sat in the hallway as a sort of “waiting to be transported someplace” station, until I realized it fit perfectly there and just needed to be made pretty. ?
That turned out beautiful, and I love the pulls!
Thanks so much!
The finish is beautiful! Your description of “dancing” on the paint is so fun. I know your Dad is smiling down on you and telling all his buddies “that’s my Lori!”. I saw an antique Singer and cabinet at an estate sale yesterday, and I felt sad for the lady having to sell it. She is 74 and it was her mother’s. It’s wonderful your daughter has sentimental values.
Thanks for the lovely comment… 🙂 My daughter knows how to sew, whereas I don’t, but she always put off getting a new machine so I think it’s really sweet that she wanted this one.
This is a great tutorial for anyone who wants to upcycle an old sewing machine cabinet into a new sewing machine table! The author does a great job of explaining each step of the process, and the finished product is beautiful.
I love the stories about your parents and this was no exception. I wish I had my mothers treadle sewing machine I learned to sew on.
Sometimes you just want one straight seam. Last time I looked at sewing machines one was worth more than my car. LOL
I’m so glad you appreciate these stories… 🙂 Needless to say, they are so meaningful to me and to be able to share them is a joy.
The only thing missing from the story was a picture of your parents. My all time favorite was the photo of them dancing. I loved the photo of your mom in her blazer being a fashionista. I am older and don’t ever remember seeing a photo of my parents together. Thank you for sharing your memories with us.