Best Fabric Cutting Tables for Sewing and Crafts

Cutting out fabric for sewing and crafts is probably the most uncomfortable and painful part of any sewing project. The reason is many sewists don’t have designated sewing or cutting tables. There are hundreds of us all crawling about on the floor, hurting our knees and backs. It doesn’t have to be like that. There are sewing cutting tables designed to ease our discomfort and get those projects cut out faster.

One of the first things to think about before you buy a sewing or cutting table is identify what kind you need. There are two different types of table. The first is a sewing table or cabinet. This one will house your machine and has storage for supplies. A cutting table is the second type. Cutting tables tend to have a large surface area that is completely flat.

I’ve put together a list of eight of the most popular styles of sewing and cutting tables for you. Let’s take a closer look at each one and compare their pros and cons. After reading this article, you should have a better idea of which type of table best suits you and your sewing area.

Best Fabric Cutting Table for Home:

South Shore Crea Craft Table

Stylish with storage, this option has the home aesthetic in mind. It doubles as a desk for those with limited space. The interchangeable storage modules allow you to create a bespoke arrangement for your individual work area.

Assembly is required as this one comes flat-packed but it also has a 5-year limited warranty. Combining surface work area with ample space for supplies, this option ticks all the right boxes for sewing and cutting fabric.

Key Points

• 5-Year limited warranty
• Interchangeable storage modules
• Angled shelving

Pros

• Made from non-toxic particle board
• Suitable for all crafts and sewing
• Can double as desk space for computers

Cons

• Comes flat-packed in several boxes
• Assembly required

Best Foldable Sewing Cutting Table:

Sauder Select Collection Table

The Sauder Select Easy Rolling Sewing and Craft table is a little gem. Mounted on wheels it is easy to maneuver and quick to set up anywhere in the home. Available in a choice of finishes, this cabinet can fit in with any décor.

With two storage bins housed behind a roll-open door and a hidden shelf for your sewing machine, this versatile cabinet can keep all your sewing notions and supplies in one spot. A scratch-resistant surface will make fabric cutting a dream.

Key Points

• Drop leaf table suitable for crafts and sewing activities
• Available in a range of décor options
• Adjustable shelving

Pros

• Heat and scratch-resistant surface
• Easy roll casters
• Two storage bins

Cons

• Requires some assembly

Best Drop Leaf Sewing Table for Cutting Fabrics:

Sullivans Adjustable Table

Sullivans Home Hobby Adjustable Height Foldable Table is a drop-leaf solution for all your cutting needs. With a large surface area you have space to cut fabric for a multitude of projects. The integral central shelving area, allows you to store your sewing supplies in easy reach.

Being adjustable means you can set it at the perfect height for your cutting activities. Its contemporary modern asthetic makes it an ideal addition for a stylish sewing area.

Key Points

• Large surface area for cutting
• Adjustable height for comfort
• Mounted on wheels for portability

Pros

• Folds away for easy storage
• Can be moved from room to room depending on space availability
• Modern aesthetic

Cons

• Stability might be an issue
• Some buyers have said it can wobble when you work at it
• Must be used with a cutting mat

Best Fabric Cutting Table With Grid:

Studio Designs Sew Ready Cutting Table

Fully mobile and coming with an integral grid for easy measuring, this drop-leaf table is an ideal solution for the hobby sewist or professional seamstress. With two slide-out wire mesh drawers and a solid bottom shelf, the storage available with this table is amazing.

It has six castors, four of which are lockable, making this option perfect for occasional extra work space or as a cutting table. The integral grid has both inches and centimeters to give more accurate measuring in whatever measuring system you prefer.

Key Points

• Integral grid with inches and centimeters
• Easy to fold away when not in use
• Fully mobile

Pros

• Height adjustable in 1.5-inch increments
• Plenty of storage
• Large surface area for fabric cutting

Cons

• Must be used with a cutting mat
• Not as sturdy as other solutions on this list
• Difficult to set the table height to suit your needs

Best Cutting Table for Quilting

Sullivans Quilter’s Design Table

Sullivans Quilters Design Table is a fold-out cabinet style table mounted on high quality casters. Not only will this table be ideal for cutting fabric, there is also a roll-out serger shelf.

This table comes with an integral measuring grid and foldaway storage solutions for your sewing supplies.

Key Points

• Drop-leaf table top gives extra surface area for fabric cutting
• Space for storing a serger
• Integral measuring grid

Pros

• Sleek and stylish
• Mounted on casters for maneuverability
• Fold down table surface makes it easy to store away when not in use

Cons

• Needs to be moved away from a wall if you want to use the fold-out table top
• Requires some assembly
• Instructions for assembly can be confusing

Fabric Cutting Table With Scissor Groove

If you cut lots of fabric to the same size, a scissor groove could be for you. Not normally popular among home sewists because it can be restrictive, a scissor groove can make the difference between a straight edge and a wobbly line. Just like the cutting tables in fabric stores, a scissor groove can help you keep your yards equal or your rectangles even.

Ready-made tables with scissor grooves for the home market are hard to find. If you really terribly want one, you might have to create it yourself in a DIY fashion. There are links online to DIY options. See a video of one above as an example. Although, you might find it less stressful to simply go with one of the other high quality options for cutting tables reviewed so far, rather than going through the stress and hassle of creating one with a scissor groove at home.

Key Points

• Keeps your fabric flat as you don’t have to lift it as you cut
• Gives a nice straight line to follow when cutting with scissors

Pros

• More accurate cutting line for straight edges

Cons

• The groove can get in the way if you’re cutting different sizes
• Can be restrictive
• It’s hard to find ready-made ones, you may have to create one yourself (DIY), which might be stressful.

Best Professional Cutting Table for Fabric:

Martelli Cutting Tables

The Martelli range of products is professional level quality for the serious sewist. From fabric cutting tables to rotary cutters and blades, this company provides everything you need to take your sewing experience to the next level.

They offer two types of table. Cutting tables and sewing tables. Each one is robustly made with precision engineering and yet easy to assemble. Martelli cater for the home hobbyist and professional sewist alike.

Key Points

• Professional quality tables for cutting and sewing
• Precision engineering for enduring performance
• A range of options to suit available space

Pros

• Height adjustable
• Strong and durable
• Commercial-grade rubber locking wheels

Cons

• Expensive
• Even the smaller tables take up a lot of space

Industrial Fabric Cutting Table:

Dematron Industrial Cutting Table

This option is for commercial level sewing only seen in factories. Heavy duty and incredibly large, this table may be too big for most homes. Robust and sturdy, it can handle any cutting activities, even multi layers.

Lacking the storage capacity and sewing machine housing of domestic versions, this one isn’t everyone’s solution. However, if you have the space and are serious about your fabric cutting, it’s worth a look. Ideal for businesses and professional sewists with dedicated work location.

Key Points

• Ideal for factory locations and those with sewing businesses
• Sturdy and durable construction
• Plenty of space for cutting multiple layers

Pros

• 12-gauge heavy steel construction
• Adjustable table height
• Available in different widths

Cons

• Too big for many home settings
• Expensive

Why Buy a Fabric Cutting Table?

If you’re serious about your sewing hobby you owe it to yourself to invest in a proper sewing or cutting table. Or even a combination of both. Having the right tools will enhance your enjoyment of the sewing process.

Ask any experienced sewist and they will probably say, cutting out fabric is their least favorite part. It’s easy to see why. Many of us use the kitchen table, the floor, or balance precariously on the end of the bed. The contortions we put ourselves through to run scissors through fabric are ridiculously funny and completely unnecessary.

As this article has shown, there are sewing cutting tables available for any space and budget. So why struggle? Take your sewing to the next level with a cutting table and watch your least favorite stage fly by in the blink of an eye. It really does make a difference when you have the right tools for the job.

Should You Buy a Combination Sewing and Cutting Table or Cabinet?

The kind of table you go for depends on you and your sewing needs. If you are limited on space a sewing and cutting table can keep your sewing hobby contained in one area. Even your sewing machine can be neatly stored away inside the cabinet while you use the surface for cutting fabric. With all your supplies close at hand, it’s an efficient modern work area.

There is a bit of a downside to a combination sewing cutting table though. Ironically, it’s space. The combination option may save sewing space, but you may find the surface area of the table is too restrictive for cutting larger projects. Areas where the cabinet folds down, or the grooves around the sewing machine tray, may catch or snag at fabric as you attempt to cut into it.

If you do a lot of dressmaking, you may find you need more cutting space. Especially for ball gowns or prom dresses. In that situation, a designated cutting table would suit your requirements better. You can still use a specific cutting table for setting up your sewing machine. It may not have a handy foldaway section to keep your machine or supplies hidden, but at least you’ll be able to cut your fabric and sew in relative comfort.

Better still, tables designed for fabric cutting tend to be height adjustable, whereas sewing specific ones aren’t. The less you have to bend when cutting, the less pain you’ll feel in your back.

Things to Look For in a Fabric Cutting Table

Now you’ve decided to purchase a fabric cutting table, you need to think about the features you need for your sewing area. Let’s take a look at some of the key points you should watch out for.

Portability

If space is an issue in your home, you’ll need a table you can pack away when you’re not using it. Make sure the one you go for isn’t too heavy or moving it will be a problem. If portability is important to you, choose a table with wheels.

Weight

While you may want something easy to move, you don’t want something that weighs less than a box of cornflakes. Any cutting table, or sewing table for that matter, has to have a certain amount of weight. It has to withstand pressure from cutting. Or rather, pressure from you leaning on it to cut fabric that’s slightly out of reach. The last thing you need is a table that tips up on you when you’re mid flow with your scissors.

Surface Area

Depending on the size of projects you normally work on, your cutting area needs to be large enough to accommodate the biggest piece of fabric you’re likely to cut. If your table surface is too small, you won’t use it. You’ll be back on the floor and using your cutting table for storing fabric bolts.

Storage

If space is an issue in your home, you may need your table to have added storage. Drawers or trays can be useful underneath any table. They keep your essential supplies close at hand but out of the way.

Build Quality

Your sewing cutting table will be with you for a long time. You’re going to want one that lasts and can withstand whatever projects you throw at it. You may not be making a suit of chainmail for a historical re-enactment any time soon, but your table needs to be able to take the weight of that chainmail… should you change your mind.

Height

To be worth its weight in pins, your fabric cutting table needs to be height-adjustable. The less you have to bend over to cut, the easier you’ll find it on your back. Cutting fabric will become a pleasure rather than a painful procedure.

Size

Whatever sewing cutting table you go for, you need to make sure you can get it in your sewing room or area. Going for the one with the largest cutting surface will do no good at all if it won’t go through your door. Make sure you measure the dimensions of the table before you buy it, so you get one to fit your space.

Conclusion

With so many sewing and cutting tables available, you are sure to find one to suit your needs. Once you’ve bought one, you’ll wonder why it took you so long to get one!

Let me know in the comments if you’ve bought a sewing cutting table and how you’re getting on with it? What style did you go for?