A cutting table is one of those essential tools in any sewing room. Without it, cutting fabric feels like ... I don't know? Wrestling? Constant cleaning of too small surfaces? But finding the perfect table can be tricky. Here's how I turned an IKEA BROR utility cart into a sewing table in my quilting room.
Why the BROR cart is perfect for a cutting table
Here’s why the BROR cart is a game-changer for your sewing room:
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It’s mobile: One of the most practical features of the BROR is that it has wheels. That means you can move it wherever you need it, and even move around it, whether you’re cutting fabric, piecing blocks, or just need more space to spread out.
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Lockable wheels: The BROR cart has lockable wheels, which is a life-saver! While you’re cutting, you can lock the wheels in place to prevent the table from moving around. This helps ensure your cuts are accurate and that you’re not chasing your table across the room.
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Sturdy and strong: The BROR cart is no flimsy piece of furniture. It's solid, durable, and designed to hold the weight of you pressing your ruler down to prevent it from slipping.
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Perfect for storing rulers and other stuff: The narrow shelf beneath the tabletop is ideal for storing your rulers, including larger ones like the Stripology rulers, which need to be stored flat. The bottom shelf is perfect for scrap boxes or other larger items.
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But wait, It was too small: I loved the BROR cart, which we previously had in our mountain cabin kitchen, but there was one issue: it was too small for my 24x36 inch (about 61x91 cm) cutting mat. This made cutting large pieces of fabric tricky, as the edges of the cutting mat would fall off the table. I had to find a way to make it bigger without losing all the other fantastic features.
Oh no! The cutting mat hangs over the edges of the table. Super annoying.
Speaking of size, the BROR cart dimensions are:
- Length: 85 cm (about 33.5 inches)
- Width: 55 cm (about 21.6 inches)
- Height: 88 cm (about 34.6 inches)
How to repurpose Your IKEA BROR cart into a cutting table
Ready to give your BROR cart a sewing-room upgrade? Here’s how to turn it into a functional cutting table:
What You’ll Need:
- An IKEA BROR cart (which you can find here: https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/bror-utility-cart-black-pine-plywood-60333850/)
- Two wooden pine shelves (I used dimensions of 18mm x 300mm x 1000mm and 18mm x 400mm x 1000mm)
- Wood glue
- Screws
- Screwdriver
- Allen wrench/hex key (In Scandinavia called an unbrako key)
Step-by-Step:
1. Buy two shelves: Head to your local hardware store and grab two pine shelves. The ones I found are both 18 mm thick (just over 11/16 inches) and 1000 mm long (about 39 inches). One is 300 mm wide, the other is 400 mm wide. These will form the new surface for your cutting table.
2. Glue: Place the two wooden shelves side by side, and apply wood glue between the edges. The finished size should be 700x1000 mm (a few inches larger than your 24x36 inch cutting mat)
Please excuse the messy shelves! We're focusing on the process here, right?
3. Aligning the BROR top: Using an allen wrench/hex key, loosen the top shelf from your BROR cart. Place it on top of the new, larger surface you just created. I used my quilting ruler to make sure it was centered on the shelves.
I used a ruler to make sure the distance to the edge of the new top shelf was consistent on all sides.
Along the inside edge of the black frame, I screwed short screws to secure the BROR top shelf to the new wooden top shelf.
5. Final touches: Put the top shelf back on your BROR cart and screw the screws back. (I found it easiest to do this upside down.) Dry off any excess glue. Now, you’ve got yourself a larger, mobile cutting table with all the storage benefits of the BROR cart!
There you have it! A DIY cutting table with all the perks of the IKEA BROR cart: mobility, sturdiness, and the perfect space for your rulers. I use mine every time I'm in the sewing room! If you love a good DIY project that makes your sewing space more functional, this is it.
