Well, this is probably old news to a lot of you, but it was new to me!

Anyway, I ran into a lady on TDY at the fabric store that said she uses plastic, flannel backed tablecloths that she buys for $1 as a quilt board. She tacks them to the wall and the fabric sticks to them.

Well, I tried it and it works great! Hmmm...only $2 for an oversized quilt board - leaves more money for more fabric!

Yes, they work wonderful...I've been using one for a number of years now. Want to find a bigger one tho...mine is only 54 x 54 and I always have to use a bed for the bigger quilts, but this works good for my tablerunners and smaller quilts!

Nina, I didn't know that and I have a couple around here, not big ones, but they will work. Thanks :lol:

Are you talking about the ones with vinyl on one side. like the ones you can pick up for a couple of bucks at Wal-Mart???

I have been trying to figure out how to make a design wall area

Could it really be so simple? How did you attach to wall?

Marybeth

I just use push pins to hold mine on the wall but if you are fussy about making holes in your walls that might not be the way you want to go.

I have never heard of this. Will the dollar store table cloths work? I have a wall with nothing on it. I was going to put up cardboard or something. A great tip thanks :D :D :D :D :D

I recently purchased a larger one from a dollar store and it wasn't REAL flannel on the backside and did not work...so now I am just using it for a tablecloth! LOL next time I find one I am going to make sure it says flannel

I'm just wondering if anyone knows if this is the same stuff that WM sells in the big rolls?
I saw some lighthouse kind in the rolls, and I wanted to get some. I'd thought about keeping it in the camper for putting on the tables while camping....or about making some outdoor cushions for the porch swing. I am not really sure what the stuff I saw is for, but the wheels were turning. I haven't really looked close enough.

My wheels are turning slower this morning, but reading this post reminds me to put the WM oilcoth on my shopping list......I'll let you know how it works on my wall and how it works as a dining table protector/slide for machine quilting.

I have never liked that flannel backed oil cloth, since I was a kid and had to wash, hang to dry, and then carefully "press" the stuff after our canning the sticky fruits and vegetables, but maybe it will come back into my sphere of life now.......good thinking and sharing ladies!

One of the good things about this group is that I never open the board without seeing a new way, a new use, or a new shortcut offered up. Thank you one and all!!

Sharon :-)

Thats a great idea I have a few of them myself. I have one drw back I need a wall. Only open one is in a hallway not very big or much light.

Definately need to kick son out so I can have his room for a sewing room.

I got them at Family Dollar and Dollar General - and put them to the wall with push pins. Found them 54" by 90". They were clearing out the Fourth of July items.

The ones I got at Dollar Tree were evidently not real flannel because they did not work.

Wow and a great big thank you for the ides.

I have read about having a flannel "wall" and had no idea it would be so easy :D :D

Push pins sound great to me

Marybeth

I mentioned the other day in the colorwash thread that I draw a grid on it with a Sharpie marker, to keep things aligned. That's really handy!

this just keeps getting better and better :D :D :D

when you drew a grid, what markings did you put or do you think are the most helpful?

one inch blocks, did you mark out 1/2's and 1/4's too

I am so grateful to have found this board. cool ideas and no snobby standards

Marybeth

I got a flannel backed tablecloth at WM on clearance. Just put it up the other day, and it works great. Now my DIL wants to get one too. My SIL did grommets and hooks and cord to roll it up when not in use, but I just use straight pins, and they work fine. I once saw on an episode of "Decorating Cents" on HGTV, where the interior decorator used straight pins to put things on the wall, and I've been using them for most everything ever since. Pictures, plaques, some shelves.

Never thought about using that table cloth for a flannel board. i have flannel attached to a wall that I use, but this will be stronger and straighter!
Can't wait to pick one up! Thanks for the info!!

I would not have thought of straight pins. I guess I thought they would not be strong enough to hold weight.

I definitely am going to try this idea :-) How cool is this?

Marybeth

Because I initially used it for colorwash quilt designing, I marked mine with 2" squares. It's adequate for my purposes. :)

I also got mine at Dollar General/Family Dollar. I have mine hanging in the hallway, there isn't much light, but I have a floor lamp that I move to the area when using it. Also, it can be taken down and rolled with the pieces still stuck on it if you are having company and dont want it out or are taking it to a guild or other place.

I don't have a wall either, but they work great on the living room floor. When things are just right, I can fold them up following the row lines, then unfold one row at a time to sew. I often store things for awhile and when I get back to them the blocks are just as I left them, ready to be sewn. I love those flannel backed cloths. K-Mart had some really big ones for $1.00 in their after Christmas sale. But they aren't all that expensive when they are not on sale. I use mine on a queen size bed also when I'm sewing at my son's house. It is so portable. A quilting essential.

We had a full sized piece of drywall leftover after remodelling, and I draped a large flannel backed tablecloth over it. It works really well for a design board!

It is leaning against the wall so I didn't have to make tack holes.

I think I could have also used plywood underneath.

Until I make up my mind how I want my workspace arranged, that's where it will stay! :roll:

They work great. I hung one up in the back of by door . Used a small curtain rod and flipped over and sewed the top of the vinyl cloth and then put the rod thru .

I can afford the tablecloth but I can't afford another wall. lol I don't have a spare one yet. Can't wait.
Judy in Ohio

Great idea! I think I even have one of those around here somewhere!! I need to go on a hunt for it! Thanks for sharing!

Thank you! A nice, easy, inexpensive way to get a design board! :D

I purchase a white with large black polka dots which are turn to the wall. I too flip the end over a small board strip attach some cording to hang from cup hooks I put in the strip molding up close to the ceiling. :mrgreen: I hung it in my bedroom as that was the only room where I had a suitable wall, my hall too was to short, narrow and poorly lit. :lol: I really enjoying have the blocks on the wall to look at an day dream, working out how and what you want to do. :roll: I also purchased some foam core board (2) and hinged it with duct tape which I plan to cover with flannel also to use as a design board. I just needed more but this will have to be it because storage can be a problem. :shock: