Design wall ideas Anyone?
 

I have searched the board but cannot find design wall ideas. Can anyone direct me to them?
I need to be able to stick pins into it and it can't cost a fortune. Pink insulation boards were my first choice but the cost is outrageous--$38 for a 2" 4x8 sheet. Of course I want two. Hubby told me to find a less expensive method. I can't find one.
Your help is appreciated.

Grammahunt

Grasping at straws - but have you considered going to an appliance store and asking for a box for a refrigerator? My husband used them when making back drops in haunted houses. My nephew got a couple, put them together and made an indoor play house for his twins. They used that for years.

Mine is a $2 flannel backed tablecloth from Big Lots.

Cari

I use a flannel back tablecloth also -- works great and since it is only attached at the top, I can pin to it if needed. I'm not sure why you want something 2" thick? Seems that 1/2" would work fine as long as you stick your pins at an angle.

I used 1" thick for my design wall and it works great. I covered it with flannel.

Just curious why you need to use pins? I use flannel & everything sticks just fine by itself.

When we replaced a glass door, I used the box it came in for a "design wall". I covered it with an old mattress pad from a twin bed we didn't have any longer. Cost nothing, but I DID have to use pins to keep the blocks attached. Just keep the box intact so you have those "spare inches" between the front and back of the box.

I use a queen size batting (cotton) push pinned into the wall. Everything sticks really well except when I have on the ceiling fan. Then I just use regular sewing pins. We rent and these push pins leave very small holes in the wall. Paint covers them up.

I have 1/2 inch insulation board and it was nowhere near that expensive. I have an 8 foot by 8 foot design wall covered with felt and the total cost was about $25. So look for another type of insulation or another source, because that just doesn't sound right.

I like using pins too. Individual blocks will stick nicely to flannel of felt, but when you have a whole row, or lots of piecing, they can fall off. I also like having an open window and a ceiling fan going in my sewing room, which often blows blocks off the wall without a pin here or there.

I don't know if your area has a recycling depot for styrofoam or not, but if it does, you could pop down to see if they had any sheets brought in from packaging of large items. I used to have a sheet about 4'x 8' and stitched an old flannel sheet into a pillow case for it and then just tacked it to the wall. It was great for smaller projects but then I decided to hang more wallhangings in my sewing room so just use a flannel sheet now that I made a pocket for and hung from a curtain rod. It's not the greatest but works for my needs.