While I was at Walmart today, I saw a tri-fold contraption (sorry, words escape me at the moment) board for displaying homework assignments or projects. Does is sound feasible to purchase one of those things, cover with a light solid colored flannel and use it to arrange your blocks? I think most cottons would hang on to the flannel very well. You would be able to fold it up when you are finished and store under a bed. Or lean against a wall to get it out of the way. When you are ready to use it again, your blocks would be ready to continue.

Maybe this is far-fetched and not practicle, but I really think it would work. I'm going back to Walmart tomorrow, and if I get positive answers, I'll pick one up and try it. If I get a bunch of thumbs down :thumbdown: I'll just tuck my tail in and hide. :lol:

Thanks for your input! ~Tonnie

wow, sounds like a cool idea, please let us know how it works out and post a picture of it for us, as all of us would love to get one of them

Thanks

sounds good to me. Anything that you can fold up flat and put away is a good thing.

I have my design wall hanging on a wall in the hallway. There are grommets in the top and I hung it up using those 3M hooks that you can peel off the wall any time without marking it up.

thumbs up
(i dont know how to make the symbol here) sounds like a doable plan to me....

also check out this link that I just posted about a folding design wall you can make and can make it the size you want it

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-112422-1.htm

:thumbup:

go to the icons on the left and click on the thumbs up and it will paste it here in your message

That's a good idea to hang it. I don't have a hallway though. My home is tiny. I want to be able to set it up on the opposite side of a room and get some distance from it. What sort of surface does your design wall have?

After you post a message, go back and edit. Then the emoticons will appear for you. :thumbup:

:thumbup:

click on reply then the icons come up

I have seen other posts by quilters who use those display board for design walls. Mine is much larger and leans against the wall, but it is the same idea. I made mine with foam board in case I need to use pins, but I covered it with flannel and the cotton does cling very well. I believe your idea is a good one.

I have a large piece of white polar fleece tacked to my wall. I have used warm and natural, a cheapo flannel backed table cloth, and some kind of building board we had installed on one whole wall of our teens room (MY wall now! lolol) The key if you have to put it away; foldablity..or in the case of the tablecloth-rollability.

I recently purchased one with the grommets at the top and all I can say is that adding a design wall to my sewing room is the best thing I've done in ages! What a difference it makes to be able to put the blocks on there and rearrange them when/if necessary. If any of you don't have one, I highly recommend it if you have the space in your house.

I just recently made one just like this with the tri-fold display board, some white flannel and used spray adhesive. Did it outside so I didn't get glue on everything!! I LOVE it and want to do one with black flannel just to have a contrasting one!! I currently have a watercolor project on it and it's great!! I was looking for one of those flannel back table cloths and just couldn't find one. Got the flannel at a JoAnn's sale...used about 2 yrds. :thumbup:

A flannel backed vinyl tablecloth is great for you can fold your project and put it away.

I have used blue painter's tape to attach flannel to the wall.

I also have the Quilter's Block Butler which is self sticking on both sides. My blocks keep falling off so I have to stick pins into them to keep them from falling off. However, the pins then get a glue residue on them. Perhaps I am keeping my blocks on the block butler too long!

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

I just use the back of a flannel tablecloth and hang it from the molding across the top of my closet using pant hangers with hooks that twist. It's so easy to take down and put up. I fold it enough to clip onto one of the hangers and hang it in the closet until I need it again. Just an idea to share.

Well, my crafty friends; thanks for the encouragement! I knew I was in the ball park somehow. Tomorrow I will go to Walmart and purchase the contraption (someone said foam core board) and construct a mounting board that can be folded away and does not take up a heckofalot of space.

You guys are awesome! :lol: :lol: :lol: :thumbup:

I think your idea will work. Go ahead and buy that tri-fold presentation board!

My design wall is a large piece of flannel (2 yds x WOF). I have a metal closet door in the bedroom, and 3 heavy-duty magnetic clips I bought at Staples on the cheap (watch the clearance bins) that are up at the top edge. The flannel quickly clips up and comes down just as quickly. I can get across the room to see what I want to see. Cotton blocks stay nicely on the flannel. And it was inexpensive.

Good luck and post a pic so we can all see it!

That is a great idea. For some reason though, my brain is in overload. I don't have the facilities that you do, but maybe there are others out there that do. :lol:

Yes, "presentation board" sounds a whole lot better than "contraption". Thanks!

For my design wall I bought 2 yards of wide flannel. At the top I flipped over approximately 3 inches of the flannel, and made an opening where I could run a curtain rod, or piece of light weight pipe. My husband put up 3 curtain rod hooks over the top of my 4 door closet in the guest room. It's huge, easy to use, and easy to take down and fold up if I have company come. Plus it was super cheap!

I would adore being able to go to Staples again. One small problem is that I live in La Grande, OR and my shopping resources are "limited" (can't think of a better word for SUCKS!!). :lol: "If you build it, it will come." Kevin Costner movie I believe.

You have a guest room??? With a 4 door closet?? :lol: Gosh, can I move in to your closet? I really don't have the space for HUGE. I live in a one BR converted house apartment. I don't even have space to roll out a pie crust on my kitchen counter. Anyhow, BU BU gives you two :thumbup: :thumbup: for your suggestion. Maybe someone else will read what you have posted and will use it to motivate their DH's as well. :lol:

If you have a Dollar Tree store go there they sometimes have the table cloths.

That's exactly what I did for a design wall -- I put white flannel on mine, and when I'm finished, it just folds up under my counter.

Here is super easy - buy a wood towel rack at Home Depot or Lowes. Toss the dowel that comes with it. Buy a long wood dowel (the length you want to be able to slide the deign wall back and forth). Take a piece of inexpensive batting and cut to the width and height you want. Use clip on shower curtain rings at the top. Assemble the towel rack with the new dowel and mount it starting from behind a door in the room you want the design wall. Hang the batting with the clip on shower rings. This way you can leave it behind the door and slide it out when you need to, or roll it up like curtain, or unclip it, roll it and stash somewhere. Works really well.

The folding thingy (words elude me as well) is an awesome idea!! I would never have thought of that!! Please let us know how it works out, because if it does, I may 'borrow' your idea!! A definate :thumbup:

Sounds like a plan to me. Let us know how it turns out. ;-)

Sounds like a great idea. A design wall is the one thing I don't have room for in my sewing room that I wish I had room for.

I say go for it! If that doesn't work for you, try something else. I have used flannel backed tablecloths, batting hung on a wall with push pins and now I have a light gray felt stapled on insulation boards and hung on the wall. I also made a couple of small boards the same way for blocks by the sewing machine to keep all those small pieces in the right order and not have to traipse back and forth. I just lean it on a chair by the machine. It's usually just a trial and error thing until you find what's right for you.

Just FYI - I have a VERY small sewing room - only 10 x 12! I maximized everybit of wall space I could to fit everything in and I REALLY wanted a design wall. Here's some pictures of what I did (my dad built the sewing cabinets, gotta love him....)

I believe it's a science project display board, anyway doesn't matter what it's called! I like that idea so much that I am going to go get one today!

I love the creativity of this post and the people on this board!

Thanks!

TreeFrog

I am going to try using a vinyl rolldown shade for a display wall. My 'thought' is to take a flannel backed table cloth or a piece of thin batting and stick it to the vinyl shade. That way I can roll it up/down as needed. I haven't figured out how I'll 'stick it' yet, but my thought is with some sort of glue.

My sewing room is in a spare bedroom so I am in search of a very wide shade to go across the top of the closet. I'll have my dad build a nice shelf (or whatever) to hide the shade when it's not in use.

Do you think it would work?

Sounds like a great idea can't wait to see pics.

I thought about that one but I was afraid all the pieces of fabric would get crunched or just fall off. Spray glue should work great to stick the batting to the shade.

I used the box our new flat screen TV came in & covered it with some light fabric ( T- shirt type made in a tube) stretched over it.
I have low ceilings in the upstairs ( was attic space) rooms. ;-)

I bought a dowel, approximately 3/8 inch in diameter and then hung hooks on the wall. I will rest the dowel in the hook. I then took a black piece of fleece and sewed loops at the top to slide on the dowel. I can hang it when I need it and put it away when I don't.

I think it sounds like a really idea, please let us know what you think of it if you decide to try it.

I think it sounds like a really idea, please let us know what you think of it if you decide to try it.

Tonnie, this is what I use for designing individual blocks and keeping the block pieces together while sewing. I made a flannel "envelope" for it from an old sheet, which launders easily when needed. It sits on a small table next to my sewing machine and, as you noted, can be folded and moved. I like that it was an inexpensive solution to my need.