I am finally going to make my own design wall. Space is at a premium, so mine will have to be able to fold and put out of sight. I have heard that I can use foam insulation board and cover it with a flannel sheet, but the dh and i are at an impasse. I say the 1/4" board is okay, but he says 1/2" to 1" is best. What did you use to attach the flannel to the board? What have you done to make a design wall, and what are the sizes that you have, or wish to have. thanks!!!

I think I'd go with your husband's suggestion. 1/4" might be a little flimsy. Just me thinking out loud.

I just checked mine - it's 3/4" thick. But I've got three of them that can stay up all the time. Around $11 at HD for a 4'x8' sheet.

I definitely would pass on the 1/4". You want to make sure it can stand by itself (just leaning against the wall) without sagging, if you're not planning to attach it. Also, you don't want pins to scratch up your wall behind it (if it's temporary).

I covered mine with Warm&Natural batting . For some reason 2 are white and one natural. :roll: More great planning on my part, no doubt.

I used the spray stuff for presentation boards. But I've read where people just pin the batting/flannel to the boards.

After I sprayed and attached the batting, I trimmed it to just over the edges.
Then I covered the edges all around with duck tape.
Why?
I don't really remember my reasoning at the time, but it did make sense. ;-)

The thinner the styrofoam, the more likely it will snap as you move it about. Plus you do put weight/stress onto it as you press your pieces to the wall.

Do you have a set of sliding closet doors? Perhaps put your flannelette onto them?

Also, there's a flannelette fabric that comes with a grid on it, that works perfect for design walls.

My design wall is fovered with black polar fleece .... fabric pieces, actually whole quilts stick to it nicely. I chose it so I could get the 60" width. Oh how I love love love my black fuzzy wall!!! :)

I have a 4'x8' 1-1/2" thick foam board covered in white felt. Love it. Stands behind the door and easily leans against anything when in use.

This might sound a little wierd, but this is what I did. I got one of those cardboard cutting mats from Joanns with my 40% coupon (of course) and I stapled flannel to the side that is on the inside when it is folded. (I wrapped the flannel around to the back to staple it) I can fold it up and stash it when I'm not using it. It's big enought and portable enough for me.

So many great ideas thanks! I realize that I will need the 1 -1 1/4" board, thanks to all the info (hate it when dh is right) , I like the polar fleece idea to use to front the board, because it comes in 60" width, a 4 x 8 sheet will be big for my tiny space, and I can leave it up, leaning against a tall dresser, and move it when I need to get into the dresser and with that thickness not worry about it bending (never thought about that). I wonder which will hold the quilt squares better, the polar fleece, or warm & natural batting. Any ideas on this?

Thanks everyone, this has got my mind going now as well. I think I even read on here someplace where someone used a window shade and put the flannel on tat and just rolls it up when not needed.

This is what I did to. Works great and folds away nicely.

What about silence cloth instead of flannel, fleece, or batting?

The folks in my guild say it's very adhesive to cotton - the only thing they know of that can hold squares in a breezy window without any other adhesive.

That's a new one for me.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_silence_cloth
I never ever heard that term before.
:wink: :wink:

What is Silence Cloth?
Never heard of that one before.

Oh.. Just read the blue line above. Felt. Of course. And it comes in such nice big pieces too. Thanks for the suggestion, I'd never have thought of that.

Mine is the insulation board, and it is just a bit thicker than 1/2 inch. It is also a bit flimsy, but not much. I cut mine down to 65 inches tall, so it is not 8 feet tall. I covered mine with white. Warm and Natural. Mine slides behind a door when I am not using it. I am very happy with mine. The insulation board was $8. at Home Depot.

I don't need pins to attach the blocks. They just stay there. I have had more fun designing quilts since I put it together 3 weeks ago!! Oh, I just attached it by folding it over and duck taping it to the back.

I can't imagine life without my fuzzy wall! ....... I'm lucky, as I had the luxury of space, and have a permanently mounted design wall 7-1/2 ft x 10 ft! All in black polar fleece. And for the OBW, it's been a real blessing!

For a temporary trial design wall, tape any of the fabrics to your wall with painters tape. That's how I tried out flannel backed table cloths, then flannelette ... then the polar fleece.

Things held better to the polar fleece .... plus it gave me 60" to work with, which was nice when I covered each of the 4x8 (cut to7-1/2) sheets of tentest. Then screwed them to the wall.

As far as fabric staying on ... I've NEVER used pins (though they do stick in ther every easily). I've had some pretty big pieces up there .... in the fall I had a 50x70 on my design wall for 2 weeks, before it went to the LAQ ........ never budged one little bit!

Best. Thing. Ever! :)

WOW! What great ideas! Thanks, everyone!

Great!!! Ideas ... Thks

I also did mine with one of these cardboard cutting mats. And you can fold it up when your done and put it behind the door or in the closet or wherever you want.

I also did mine with one of these cardboard cutting mats. And you can fold it up when your done and put it behind the door or in the closet or wherever you want.

OH OH, double post. And I only clicked once on the Send button. LOL