I was just reading about some of the design walls you all have and one of the posts mentioned dying the flannel. I'm wanting to do that, too, because it is so stark white when there is nothing on it. Mine is flannel backed vinyl hung from a long curtain rod. Has anyone tried to dye flannel backed vinyl? My DH is afraid the flannel might come off the vinyl.

I think it would be like washing a vinyl table cloth. I've done that, but the vinyl tends to pucker because of flannel's shrinkage.

What color is everyone dying their flannel?

you could possibly use a fabric paint that does not have to get hot..or maybe just try tea or coffee to stain the white and take the 'stark-ness' of the white out. usually you do not want your design wall to be 'colored' because then some blocks may disappear, or just not look right, white or some toned down neutral is best. i don't think actual dying would work too well with the vinyl back

Why not purchase a cheap flannel sheet and dye that? I got one at Walmart and put it up on a curtain rod. I haven't dyed mine but I think it would be easier than dying something with vinyl backing. Just my humble suggestion.

:lol: I think it will be a mess to try and do. :lol:
Do you have extra vinyl you could do a test on?
My mind's eye sees the dye bath running off of the vinyl. What kind of container are you going to have your dye bath in?
I might like to be a fly on the wall so I could watch. I get myself into all kinds of messes because I am a 'try it and see what happens' person. Can't wait to see how you master it. You will do good.

There are dyes that you can use that don't need heat, it's a cold immersion.

Procion MX is one brand that I have used when making hand-dyed FQ's.

I agree with Dorothy, sounds like a bit of a messy project on a piece so large.

The main reason that people choose white is so the colors of the work is not affected. I actually have one white one, one black one.

If you do want to have a design wall in color, rather than a dying project have you considered buying 72" wide felt? It comes in many colors. I feel felt makes a nicer surface than flannel for this purpose. Just a thought.

Here's an example:
http://fabricdepot.com/index.php?pag...rchstring=felt

I actually like the stark white. It really makes my quilts and blocks show up. I don't want them to blend into the wall. I need to see how they really look. I always keep a quilt on mine, it is very seldom blank. I have a lot of UFOs. LOL

I actually like the stark white. It really makes my quilts and blocks show up. I don't want them to blend into the wall. I need to see how they really look. I always keep a quilt on mine, it is very seldom blank. I have a lot of UFOs. LOL

When we made my design wall, we made it out of z max insulation board from Home Depot. We covered it with batting (glued that on), then covered that with a very light tan flannel. It is 6ft x 6ft. Mine is big and plain looking too but the advantage to having made this type of design wall is I can use it as a bulliten board when not using it for quilting. I have photos of the grand kids up with stick pins. I also have pattern directions and fliers of quilt shows stuck up there. It is handy so I have somewhere to put that kind of thing and not forget where it went. It is nice to look up there when I am sewing and see photos of my grandkids! :o)

I used white anti pill fleece on mine.

I'm only looking to 'knock off' some of the sharpness. I would be happy with a kinda of antique white look. And I don't expect the vinyl to hold any of the dye or even tea stain - just the flannel fibers on the back. This is a large piece - about 86" wide by about 70" high so I was thinking about folding it over once and using the bathtub or folding it a couple of times and using a large bin we have for storing stuff in our motorhome. I like the tea dye idea, but it sure would take a lot of tea bags!!! I do have some scraps to play with, I'll try that first and let you know. I'm also wondering about using a spray bottle rather than soaking it. But I bet it would look splotchy if I did that.

Thanks for all your comments and help. This is a great board to get all kinds of information.

If you were just wanting to slightly darken it, I would think it wouldn't take much tea water to do that.
If you have access to a clothes line, spray it while it is hanging. A gallon of water and 3 tea bags would go a long way if you sprayed it on. The tea shouldn't hurt the grass any either. Using the same water throughout shouldn't make it splotchy, as it is going to run off, and not pool if it is hanging up.
Soaking it, it is going to try and float, the folds and creases could get less/more dye water depending on how it is laying in the water.

:thumbup: What amma said. :thumbup:

As I was reading this, subconciously I was thinking about the coffee stain on one of my blouses that won't wash out. I must have laughed in my coffe cup when I was reading the quiltingboard. If the tea doesn't stain dark enough make a pot of coffee and put that in the sprayer bottle. Hope you have enough pieces for a few test runs.

:thumbup: What amma said. :thumbup:

As I was reading this, subconciously I was thinking about the coffee stain on one of my blouses that won't wash out. I must have laughed in my coffe cup when I was reading the quiltingboard. If the tea doesn't stain dark enough make a pot of coffee and put that in the sprayer bottle. Hope you have enough pieces for a few test runs.

can you post a picture of your design wall, please

Karen: here's a pic of my cheap, but effective design wall. I used CommandPerformance hooks, a cafe curtain rod with extension, and a $5.00 double bed size flannel sheet from Walmart. I folded the top of the sheet over the rod and pinned it so I can make it longer if needed. My space is small so the sheet's folded in half (about 48" wide folded.) It's basic, but works for me. I made the OBW blocks and they looked fine on the work table but once they were up on the wall, I could tell there was no contrast. I'd love to have a larger and more permanent design wall but space is too small.

That's a neat idea Jan!