Thanks to everyone who offered suggestions for combining batting scraps into usable pieces in last week’s post. This week’s post is another topic that you might want to respond to at the end. I love how we can learn from each other.
Do you have a design wall? They really are invaluable! The ones I’ve used for years are 7′ x 4′ styrofoam insulation boards, covered with gray fabric (they started as 8′ boards and I had to cut them down to fit in my studio). I don’t have them covered in flannel, since flannel attracts threads and I want things to look neat when I photograph quilts on them. The down side is I have to pin things in place. It’s a choice that works for me. My walls are covered with a charcoal gray polyester fabric I found on a clearance rack at JoAnns. Here they are in front of my quilt “storage box” (click here for a post about my “magic box”).
Tall Pines retreat has a number of flannel backed tablecloths, hanging on the walls flannel side out, to be used as design walls. I think this is a great idea for quilters with limited space because it can be hung in front of a closet (or other similar area) from just a few nails at the top, and taken down when not needed. Some quilters put grommets in the tablecloths to reinforce the hanging spots. Here’s my project hanging from one of the tablecloths at Tall Pines.
While I was working on it, my friend Deb began putting her One Block Wonder blocks up on another tablecloth design wall.
It was going well, but when she realized she wasn’t going to get it sewn together before the retreat ended she was a bit disappointed. It would have been a big effort to take all the hexagons down, and then replace them on her wall at home. So, we came up with a better solution! She rolled the pieces up inside the tablecloth to take them home,
and then replaced the retreat center’s cloth with a new one. So here’s the lesson learned:
If you plan to work on a quilt at a retreat, and you’ll need a big chunk of time to figure out block placement, take your own flannel backed tablecloth so you’re ready to transport it home easily if needed!!!
What does your design wall look like? Any suggestions you’d like to share?
judy raddatz says
Home Depot will cut the foam core sheet to fit in your car. Then I have it clipped to a door. The cut piece becomes a small display board you can cover for small projects
Connie Clark says
I use a 60″ X 60″ piece of cotton batting held to the wall with push pins. I sewed a sleeve at the top to hang it on my quilt rack when travelling or teaching. The sleeve also strengthens the top so it hangs straight. I like to take a piece of cotton batting along to classes I take to bring the project home laid out if not completely sewn.
Jodi Gosse says
I have two homes hence two quilting studios. One of them also serves as a grandkids guest room with a bunk bed. I sewed two pieces of flannel together, made a sleeve to fit the trip bunk safety rail and now I have a design wall. The bunk bed also serves as storage for quilts, a project queue, and more. Of course that means I have to clear it off when the grands come to visit!
Barb Jordan says
I have a double closet in my sewing studio. I purchased, by the yard the flannel backed table covering. I put grommets across the top and attached Command hooks at the top of the closet door frame. Works just great.
Jana says
Husband had a leftover piece of crown molding board cut to the size of a wall. Screwed 2 circle end screws on each end, and to the edge so board lays flat against wall and hangs from two nails at the top of the wall. Purchased 3 yards from a bolt of 72” wide white felt. Staple felt across the back of the board. Fabric sticks temporarily but long term pin fabric to it. Can take it down and roll it up around the board to take it any where.
Ellen says
Similar to the closet comment above, I have a large window with tiny nails along the top. A queen size old flannel sheet has strategically placed safety pins which hook onto the nails. I do usually pin the patchwork pieces onto the flannel, but that’s no big deal. And yes I have taken it to a quilt retreat and brought it home rolled up with some pieces still pinned inside. Otherwise I can take a picture on my phone of the layout if I want to refer back to option A after I’ve laid out B.
Joanne Howe says
I have two design walls using insulation covered with flannel. Short term blocks stick. Long term, I’m pinning. Absolutely love them.