Design Wall
 

I took a class recently and the teacher suggested we put up a queen sized batting somewhere in our houses to use as a temporary design wall since the pattern was rather complicated. I didn't think it would be much different than my normal method of laying all the pieces out on the floor or my bed, but it really makes a difference! So now I'm thinking of making a permanent design wall in the room designated to hold my long arm (when I finally choose one!). It would go on a wall that is 14' long, but there is a door on the end of that wall, so I'm thinking maybe 10-12' wide and more or less the height of the wall.

I'd love to see pictures of your design walls. Maybe something will inspire me. DH has volunteered to build/frame out/whatever I need, but I'm decorating challenged and it's a big space so I want to get it right the first time.

Thanks in advance. I really appreciate the help I receive here!

Yes, it is amazing what a difference it makes.
There have been lots of posts on this here's some:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/search....archid=5255550

You don't actually have to build or frame anything. You can use a flannel sheet or flannel backed tablecloth and just staple it or tack it to the wall along the top edge. I have a Wonder Wall. It's similar to a flannel backed table cloth but it sticks better and has grommets along one edge that make it easy to hang from picture hangers.

PaperPrincess, I couldn't get the link to work.

ScissorQueen, Right now I've just got a queen sized batting stapled to the wall, but it's temporary. I want something permanent and I like everything in my sewing areas to be lovely and organized so I would definitely not let it the way it is now. I suppose we all have our quirks when it comes to our sewing spaces. I need my space to be organized and pretty or I get distracted.

I don't have enough wall space for a design wall. I use my bed.

In my dream studio, I think I will copy Ricky Tims idea. I don't have my notes with me, but I think basically it was use 12" sq acoustical tiles stapled to wall, cover in Warm & Natural batting, then flannel. He tells about it on the tour of his new studio. The video is part way down the screen.

http://www.rickytims.com/

I took 2 of those brackets that you attach to the back of your bathroom door to hang your robe on. They are large, I got them at Walmart. I put them on the wall in my sewing room, and bought a wooden closet dowel or post and the brackets cradle it. So easy to take down or put up. I put a sleeve on an old sheet and that is my design wall, when not in use I display a quilt on it. My ceilings are 11 foot 8in. high and the wall is about 12 ft. long. Works great for me.

Yeah, sorry, the link expired...
Near the top of the page, there is a link to Advanced Search.
Click it and go to the advanced search page
Enter "Design Wall"
Select "Search Titles Only" from the drop down menu
Click "Search Now"
This will filter out all the misc. mentions of design walls in threads and target the search to threads specific to this topic.
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I have an over-sized tension rod that I put between 2 windows and use a wide, long piece of flannel. I have horsehair plaster in my c1850's home and they don't like too many holes put in them.

piney

I covered a piece of insulation foam board with Warm and Natural batting. It works really well for me. Mine isn't attached to the wall, as it just leans against my closet so I can move it to get into the closet. My sister did the same thing, attaching hers to the wall, though she used three sheets, side by side. She put some sort of wood edging around it. I duck taped the batting to the foam board, wrapping it onto the back and then taping it down. She used a spray glue to get hers to stick to the foam board. I don't have a picture of hers, but I do have one of mine. Let me see if I can find it.

I cut mine down a bit, but it comes in 4 x 8 foot pieces. It has the pink panther on the back, and I got mine at Lowes. I am very happy with my design wall. Maybe it will give you some place to start...

Dina

I got 2 sheets of 4x8 feet insulation at the hardware store and pinned flannel backed tablecloths to them with the flannel side out of course. They are just propped up against the wall behind a portable table. The tablecloths don't cover the insulation completely but I'm ok with that. The reason for the insulation is that it's very light. I would give credit to the person I copied this idea from if I knew who it was.

I'd like something fancier someday, like the hinged ones I saw here not too long ago but for now this is fine for me.

Joan

My design wall is 2 (blue) Tyvek insulation foamcore boards, 4' wide x 8' tall from Lowe's. I covered each in Warm and Natural cotton batting, turned to the back and taped down with duct tape.

The boards are attached to the wall with anchor bolts in each corner and one in the middle of each side. (I will be living in this house for a long while, so am not worried about putting the holes in the walls; they can be fairly easily repaired when/if the time comes.)

This gives me an 8' x 8' space to work with. If you work with larger than 96" wide quilts, I'd suggest buying 3 boards -- they are usually less than $20 each -- and cutting one in half lengthwise for an 8' x 10' space.

Jan in VA

This is what I use as well....love mine.

I really like the quilt on your design board. :-)

I use a flannel backed cheap table cloth from wallmart- biggest size they carry. I hang it up when needed and take it down whn not needed. Also it workes great if laying quilt on bed/floor to lay out. After you have layed out peices then you can roll up the table cloth and take it to the sewing room and pieces do not really move. I was taught that you should place the pieces that you are laying out as to how it is to be used. When making a bed quilt it should be layed flat since that is how it will be seen. If making a wall hanging then it shoiuld be layed out hanging on wall.

Thanks, it is a modified Warm Wishes.

Dina

PaperPrincess, Thank you for helping me with the search feature. I think that will help me a lot in the future!

After looking at so many pictures and reading so many ideas, I'm sure I'll have no problem getting DH to make me a lovely design wall. Thanks everyone!

My design wall is 2 (blue) Tyvek insulation foamcore boards, 4' wide x 8' tall from Lowe's (my room doesn't have the wall space for anything more) . DSIL made a frame to hold the two pieces together. I the whole thing with Warm and Natural cotton batting, turned to the back and glued it with Elmers glue. DSIL then screwed it into the wall at the studs.

I like having the insulation since I can stick the pins in it straight if I need extra holding power.

I used the floppy flannel sheet before this and it was a true pain compared to what I have now.

I have a permanent design wall attached to the wall at one end of my studio. This was made of four interlocking Styrofoam panels two by six feet each. I used a wide flannel backing and stapled (tape is fine, too) it to the back before putting it up. As if one design wall is not enough, I copied this idea from a quilt retreat. Use three styrofoam panels or foam boards cut to the desired width and height to fit your needs. Tape the first seam on one side and tape the second seam on the reverse side so that the panels act as a folding room divider screen. I covered mine with an old bed flannel sheet on one side while the screen was folded. The reason is that it is fine when it is open but the flannel needs a place to go over the folded seam before the screen is put away for storage. I have it in front of the sewing machine while I am sewing blocks in proper sequence or trying out design layouts if the first wall is being used for another project. I discovered I can lay it out on a table top if I need to arrange and rearrange blocks a thousand times...far better than going up and down the ladder for a large project or better than doing it on the floor:D. This wall is lightweight and it can be moved anywhere and stored easily. Didn't cost much to make.

Wow! I just got a lot of good ideas for design walls. And the light bulb lit up! I have two sets of the old fashioned quilting frames. I could put them together with the bolts as I usually do, put a quilt on to hold it squared up, and cover that with flannel. If I need to put pins in, the quilt behind would hold them. Some people also spray theirs with adhesive to make it a little sticky. When there is nothing on the wall, I could take the flannel off and have the quilt on display. What do you think?

I have a design floor. I've never heard of using a piece of batting before. I've always heard to use flannel. It never ceases to amaze me at the inventive ideas people come up with.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/members...78-289243.html

I didn't want to put mine on the wall so my husband made me a portable design wall on wheels. It has two panels that can I can slide out to put side by side for the big projects and I can move it all around my room. I really love it. I used foam insulation boards that I cut down to about 4' x 6' and covered with a couple of the Fons and Porter design walls.

Mine is just like yours. I went to Home Depot and bought a thin board and a 1/2 in sheet of foam, covered it with a felt material. It is moveable and I slide it behind my shelfs when not in use.
I pin my blocks to the foam side to see where I'm going. The other side, I lay it across my kitchen counter and tape the backing material of a quilt to keep it straight, spray baste the batting, then spray baste the top. I also pin everything. It really helps to see what you are doing. Total cost 16.00.
Syl

This is what I use as well, and it suits my purposes very well. Everyone is going to have different preferences, and none are wrong :) I love the mobility of the flannel backed table cloths; I have several projects in the works, each has it's own design wall, and I can tack up whichever one I'm currently working. I can roll them up and take to retreats, or my Aunt Wilma's, or my daughter's house, or to work when I need my quilt sister's assistance with something. I hope you find a method you love.

oh, the "command type hooks" would work great. I nailed mine up and will be patching those holes in jan and doing the hooks. thanks!

watched the above mentioned "tour" and saw more of his face than the room bad videographer!!!!!....

Dina - great instructions! Because I don't have any walls to dedicate - and I am still new to quilting - I was playing with the idea of smaller foam boards (from the Dollar Store), cover with a light batting, and then some flannel (as you have) - and that would give me smaller - more mobile boards to work with. (I am always re-organizing my space - I think it is a hobby!) :-)

Marysewfun

What is a wonder wall??

flannel backed table cloth...put it up...take it down...space is at a premium

I don't have a large design wall, but I made a little cornice about 60" wide. On the sides, below the top shelf area, I put a long roller shade with a plastic flannel back table cloth stapled to it. When I want to use it, I just pull it down.When I want it out of the way, I can roll it up with the blocks still on it.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]383277[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]383276[/ATTACH] I hope these pictures come through since it is hard to describe, but it was easy to build.

[QUOTE=Dina;5728002]I covered a piece of insulation foam board with Warm and Natural batting. It works really well for me. Mine isn't attached to the wall, as it just leans against my closet so I can move it to get into the closet. My sister did the same thing, attaching hers to the wall, though she used three sheets, side by side. She put some sort of wood edging around it. I duck taped the batting to the foam board, wrapping it onto the back and then taping it down. She used a spray glue to get hers to stick to the foam board. I don't have a picture of hers, but I do have one of mine. Let me see if I can find it.

I cut mine down a bit, but it comes in 4 x 8 foot pieces. It has the pink panther on the back, and I got mine at Lowes. I am very happy with my design wall. Maybe it will give you some place to start...


I have the same design wall and I absolutely love it! I can move it around the room as I need to. I don't have free wall space so this is perfect. The flannel comes off easily and I can throw it in the washer and put it right back on my board. Also, I can move the board next to me when I'm sewing blocks together and just pull them right off the wall and sew and not get things mixed up.

Here is a post about mine. http://www.quiltingboard.com/mission...l-t193343.html

Oh this is just to clever. Love love love it

I have 8' x 16' felt covered foam insualtion board design wall. It's the best feature in my sewing area. If you use the foam insulation board it will staple to the wall and is easy to remove. The tiny holes aren't noticeable. I have moved mine several times when re painting the walls and DH never fussed at all about having to refill holes, he never saw them. LOL

My problem was I only have one wall that is large enough but it has a closet door right in the middle. My DH hung
a curtain rod over the door the length of the wall, I basted a queen side batt at the top to make a sleeve and put
it through the curtain rod. If I need to get into that closet...which I seldom do, I just slide the batt to the end.
I love all the ideas everyone has!!

Jackson,
Your WHOLE house? Really?