In the late 1800s and early 1900s, sewing rooms were common in many houses. They were tucked into odd spaces at the top of the stairs, off the kitchen or in an attic.

In those days, a sewing room was an oasis within the heart of the house where the sewing machine hummed, mending was done, the wedding dress was fitted and the quilt was assembled block by block. It was a place where creativity overflowed its bounds. It also was a place where many women conducted the business of sewing, a means for supporting themselves and their families.

The place where grandmother sewed was not necessarily a large room, 12 feet square, perhaps – in some instances, smaller than that. It might contain a treadle sewing machine, or a Singer Featherweight after the advent of electricity. It might have a dress form standing in one corner. It might even have a small closet or cupboard where sewing supplies were stored. It probably didn’t have a cutting table. Cutting often was done on the dining room table.

These days, the sewing room is more or less obsolete, replaced by the entertainment center and computer room.

In my opinion, it’s time for house designers to add sewing rooms to their blueprints, even for houses of modest size.

Sewing rooms are, I believe, already making a quiet, unobtrusive comeback. In my travels to talk with women who sew, I have come upon more than a few sewing rooms. Sometimes, these rooms spring up serendipitously after the children are grown and bedrooms once filled with the clutter of family life are empty. Enterprising women, rather than allowing those rooms to become shrines to a childhood now past, seize the day and retool the rooms for sewing purposes.

Some women see business opportunities in those rooms, invest in long-arm quilting machines and set up shop. I visited one such shop that had been created in a “daylight” basement room of the home. The quilting machine dominated the space, but the rest of the room was organized with shelving, an ironing station, a sewing corner and nook with a computer for office duties.

Another sewing room I visited occupied an ell built just off the kitchen. Morning and afternoon sun flooded the space. This room was dominated by a large square cutting table built to a height that spared the seamstress’s back from the stress of bending at odd angles. To one side of the cutting table was placed a large bin containing yard goods stockpiled for future projects. It featured a handy wall rack for storing spools of thread.

Another sewing room I saw was sparsely furnished, containing a long table where the sewing machine was placed. On the wall behind the table was a felt board for designing quilts. Built-in shelves contained books related to art and quilting. One corner was set up as an ironing station.

If new houses had sewing rooms designed into them, no doubt more women would acquire sewing machines and discover the joy of the stitch.

Snippets

. Visit www.sewing.org to view photos of sewing rooms that owners have posted. This Web site features learn-to-sew articles, an online newsletter, access to articles about sewing published in the Wall Street Journal, Time magazine and The New York Times, and many projects in these categories: babies, bridal, fashion, holiday, home decor, children, men’s, accessories, pets, teens and quilting.

The bridal category offers instructions for fast and easy bridal veils and other items. The baby category offers instructions for making a vintage-style dress, fleece Chinese slippers and a bonnet.

Girl Scout leaders will find information at the site about a sewing industry campaign that supplied 1,500 sewing machines to Girl Scout Councils across the nation. Although the program is no longer in place, Girl Scout leaders can request that it be resumed.

. The second annual Fiber College will be held Friday-Sunday, Sept. 7-9, in Searsport. Visit www.fibercollege.org to learn more.

. Lapidary Journal has acquired a new name. It now is known as Jewelry Artist. It features in each issue step-by-step instructions for making jewelry, and offers tips on techniques and guidance on how to sell handmade jewelry. Visit www.jewelrysartistmagazine.com for more information.

. Visit www.medomakcamp.com to learn about a weeklong knitting retreat and workshop that will take place in the Knox County town of Washington in August. Classes are geared for knitters of all levels.

Call Ardeana Hamlin at 990-8153, or e-mail ahamlin@bangordailynews.net.