I think that a cotton batting is the best thing. Warm & Natural even the 80/20 blend works well, I found that although I like Hobbs 80/20 for quilting it doesn't work the best for this. I would wait for a batting sale or use a 50% coupon and get one. we just push pinned ours up. Then when it gets lots of threads on it just use a lint roller. We have had ours up for almost 4 years and it is still workin great.

I just use the insulation board free standing so that I can move it around. Also, I don't have anything over mine because blocks just never seem to stick so I use pins.

And another thing - about that carpet. In a sewing room you may prefer the laminate flooring if you have to move your chair from one sewing station to another. I have three machines (sewing, serging, and embroidery) and I have to get up and pull my chair between them, as we installed wall-to-wall throughout the house about ten years ago. Hate it. Also easier to clean up tiny scraps, thread ends, etc. when the flooring is laminate. Just saying...

Thanks everyone for the great ideas and suggestions. I am looking on craigslist now for a cutting table and I like the idea of a portable wall that can be moved around. Will post pics when I've made some progress.

I just took down the flannel-backed tablecloth I have been using for several years. I have just had it stuck up with push-pins in the hallway across from the door to my sewing room/office. We're building a new house and I will have a larger room that will be my sewing room/guest room. So I will be looking for an alternative. The flannel-backed tablecloth worked great but I don't want to put the push-pins into new walls!

I too use warm & natural for my design wall. The only room I had to put one up is in front of my closet that has double bi-fold doors. I bought a dowel that is 8 feet long. Bought a twin sized batting and turned it length-wise and cut it in half. I sewed a curtain-like hem at the now top and slid the batting onto the dowling. My husband hung the dowel over the closet lintel with spacers so it hangs out a bit. The reason I needed to split the batting was so I can get into the closet when needed but when just hanging there I pin the split together to make one sheet 90" wide and 72" long.

The pieces I hang there stick like glue on the batting. When I made a king-size quilt it had to be pinned in order to stay up because it was so heavy and long but it still helped tremendously to see where I was as I was adding blocks to it. I'm making a zig a zag quilt now that's imperative that I can see it as it's progressing just so I don't get lost. (and that's easy for me)

I have a piece of foam insulation board (4' x 8') and got a piece of gridded flannel that is taped to it. You can pin into it as well as the flannel allows blocks to stick. Love my design wall.

I bought flannel material and tried that. It seemed like the fabric didn't stay up very well. So I bought the design wall from Keepsake Quilting and am now using it. To hang it I bought some velcro with sticky back from Walmart and put those on the back of the material and hung it that way. They are clear so if we have company stay in the spare bedroom that I use for quilt, I can take it down and all that is left is some clear circles on the wall. I did have to take the velcro part that sticks to the material and sew it to the material. It works really great and I love it.

I just redid mine yesterday. I have always used a pc of batting but noticed that the blocks recently stopped sticking so i turned it to the other side and it sticks alot more. I know it is better to use 100% cotton batting as the blocks sticks best (so i have been told), but i found out if using the 80/20 use the soft part of the batting as the sticky part (meaning the side with the scrim should be against the wall).
Hope this helps