Has anyone tried this?
 

I just got through reading a thread elsewhere about how they made a portable design wall ( pretty cool) but I also read somewhere where you can buy a cheap widow shade...cover it with flannel and that you can carefully roll it up ( even with blocks attached) and everything is out of the way and safe. Has anyone does this...and is it worth suggesting that others do the same?

I use the roller shade method in our 5th wheel.

If you roll it up the blocks need to be pinned, otherwise when you unroll some of the blocks will have stuck to the wrong side of the flannel.

I've also tried flannel backed table cloths. Not sticky enough, you still need to pin is what my experience was.

Here are a couple of previous posts.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...l-t241186.html
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...l-t140878.html

My experience with a tablecloth is unless it has real flannel on the back and not that cheap webbing stuff it won't hold blocks that great. I tried the roll up shade and it was more of a hassle then help but if space is an issue it would be better then nothing.

I use one my smaller design wall that is insulation board covered with flannel and move it around to where I can best work with it. My other three are permanently attached to the wall. You can NEVER have too many design walls.

Could this be what you were thinking of?

http://www.vanishingdesignwall.com/

Do you pin to your hanging wall? I find that I have to pin to keep from losing my pieces.

I just sewed a bunch of flannel together and tacked it to my wall. It takes up no room and it's always ready when I need it

I did the same, only I used Warm and Natural batting. It works great.

I use the vinyl table cloths with the checkered pattern on one side and flannel on the other. I attach 2 skirt hangers. I like the tablecloths because it also helps to give indication of the size of the blocks. I like the idea that I can hang it on top edge of shelf. The hooks swivel. I can fold or roll it up and transport it in a tote. Totally portable. Hangers are inexpensive. I can hang it on a curtain rod or closet doors. No pins needed. I have an older Wright's Pattern Cutting Board. I have used that as a design board support. It's 36"X60" and I can attach my hangers/design panel to it for more support. Have had mine for awhile but point is you don't have to spend a lot of money.

One more thing those command hooks work for any wall and will hold up a certain weight just check the package. only making suggestions. Didn't mean to hijack a post.

Before I had a dedicated space for a design wall, I'd use blue tape to tape a batting to the wall; if I needed to take it down while I was still using it I'd pin a sheet over all the blocks and then roll it off of the wall and tuck it away. The sheet helps keep the pieces from sticking to the back of the batting or falling off as you unroll. Unroll the whole thing and secure it to the wall again, then unpin the sheet and carefully peel it back.

Works pretty good. Not fantastic, but pretty good. I usually needed DH's help to get it taped up to the wall, someone has to hold it up while all the tape is being applied. Thumbtacks would have been much easier but I was using a very visible wall so I didn't want to fill it with holes!

No pinning needed for Fons and Porter design wall.

On most flannel ( doesn't matter the configuration) unless it is moved, pinning is not necessary. If you want to make your wall portable, pinning is recommended.

I put flannel (with batting in between the cork and the flannel)on an old cork board that was given to me ( its huge!). Its portable as my hubs put wheels on it (it has a special stand). But the window shade is a great idea for small spaces .. Thanks for sharing the both of you !

I use two of the flannel backed tablecloths clipped to skirt hangers on hooks on the wall. I have had no trouble with things sticking until it becomes at least a full size flimsy, then a couple pins at the top will help.

Maybe I am missing something but what do you attach the roler shade to don't you need to have a window?

You can attach the hardware for the shade wherever you want to hang it.

If you are concerned about hanging it on Sheetrock you can always attach a narrow wood strip to studs and then attach to that.