If you sew, do needlework, knit or crochet then you'll appreciate the makeover I'm sharing today. This vintage sewing box stand dating back to the 30s was a simple project that took less than two hours from start to finish to complete. I've had two furniture knobs waiting in my stash for just the right piece and this was it.

A SIMPLE FARMHOUSE STYLE MAKEOVER FOR A VINTAGE SEWING BOX STAND

When my daughter-in-law sent me a text with a photo of this knitting box table that her best friend was getting rid of, I was more than happy to take it off her hands. You don't come across these often, especially ones from the depression-era.


The wooden sewing stand was in very good condition, other than a stinky interior from the lid being closed for so many years. I share how I got rid of the smell later in this post.


I couldn't bring myself to paint a solid paint finish that covered the wood on this vintage knitting box and compromised with a whitewash finish instead.


Nothing says farmhouse like worn grain sack stripes and especially fitting for a sewing box.


The Smith & Thomas Spool Cotton cabinet knobs from my stash were just too fitting not to add to the top of the wood flip-top lids.


I kept the removable wood sewing notions tray unfinished but lined the bottom of each cubby with denim print wrapping paper that I had on hand. I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for the perfect fabric to add later.


To add some interest I painted the handle and base of the wooden box with the same dark gray paint used for the grain sack stripe.


After selling the mid-century modern knitting box table makeover I did a few years ago, I had seller's remorse and so this one is a keeper for my personal use.

What you'll need for this knitting box makeover

This post contains affiliate links so you can see what products I used or recommend for this project. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Supply List

Here's how I did the sewing box makeover

Paint bleed prevention

The wooden sewing box is made with mahogany and guaranteed to cause the tannins in the wood to bleed through the paint. To remedy this I brushed two coats of stain-blocking clear primer. This also eliminated the need to lightly sand the table for the paint to have some bite, which would have opened the pores of the wood even more.

Whitewash paint finish

The whitewash paint technique is so easy to do. It's essentially exactly how it sounds by washing paint on with a rag. To do this you mix a 50:50 ratio of water and white paint into a container. You scrunch a lint-free rag (I use shop towels) into a ball, dip it into the runny paint mixture, and wash it onto the wood. The more washes you apply, the less transparent the finish.

To add texture after the wash was dry, I dipped a paintbrush into the paint mixture and swiped across the box with long brush strokes. The paint I used is called Raw Silk by Fusion Mineral Paint.

Adding grain sack stripes the easy way

The painted box needed a little something-something and so I stenciled grain sack stripes on both sides and the top. You can stencil grain sack stripes by using painters tape but I cheat and use this handy grain sack stripe stencil. I used a Hurricane Gray, dark gray color from Dixie Belle Paint Company that I had on hand.

Get rid of that stink

I kept the interior of the wooden sewing box the natural wood but it had an odor combination of cooped up old and cigarette smoke. Not pleasant but an easy fix with the same stain & odor-blocking clear primer used on the outside of the box. After two coats the smell was pretty much gone. But I also put a bowl of baking soda inside the box for a few days as well.

Protecting the paint finish

To protect the painted surfaces I applied Dixie Belle clear wax with a round wax brush. Clear wax deepens the color of the paint too, which is lovely.

The jewelry on the sewing box stand

The final touch to the knitting box stand was drilling holes in the center of the flip-top lids with a drill bit the same diameter as the screws that came with the furniture knobs. It's not often I have a makeover that's finished in two hours and they are such a treat. The nice thing about a whitewash finish is that the paint dries lickety-split.

Throughout this makeover, I often wondered about the history of this little sewing stand. What creations were made while using it? How many times did it change hands over the years? Where did it originate? Do you ponder these questions when upcycling old furniture or home decor?

If you have any questions about this makeover, please leave them in the comment section below or press the Contact Me button at the top of the blog to drop me an email. I love hearing from you!

Here are some small chest and trunk storage ideas you might like as well as some small vintage storage makeovers.