hdoublej

We are finishing our basement and I will have a craft room! Right now, I have blank wall, I mean to the point of just studs and no walls up lol. I have a space of 6 feet wide by 9 feet tall for a design wall. How would you make the wall? I've had several ideas but I'm not sure of any of them so I wanted some advise from those who have BTDT. Also, if you had something you were really unhappy with that didn't work for you, please tell me that too. Thanks!

Hope2quilt

They have puzzles with thread on them that would look great as a picture on a wall. Also anything that you make since it is a crafty room!

DebbE

I'm envious of all that room for a design wall - how wonderful! The only way I was able to fit one in my quilt room was to put up coat hooks over the closet (one on each side & one in the middle), and I sewed together flannel with a pocket at the top to slide a 1" x 2" long board in (left an opening in the center, so the hook could come through the flannel), and hung over the closet. Works perfectly and now have a design wall that's 7' tall by 8' wide. In your case I'd do the same, only make it larger. Or I'd do a frame out of 2"x2"s and sew white flannel together and staple onto the back of the frame to make it taut and attach to the wall or lean it from the floor against the wall.

I like that its removable - came in handy when I was spring cleaning, and needed to get to the closet to clean it out and re-organize. I don't have doors on the closet, so putting it back up was easy (and its still easy to get to the closet) and I have my design wall back up.

AliKat

I still prefer the thicker insulation sheets. They come 4' x 8' but are easily trimmed down to fit a space. Hinge 2 pieces with duct tape. Have 2 people and batting or flannel larger than the size you have. Check for size so you can trim to about 2" bigger than sheets. Remove batting from one corner. Then spray that sheet area with 3M 77 spray, available at office stores. Gently place batting in position starting at one corner, and smooth it out as you go. Continue the process til all of the sheets are covered.

I have mine hinged closed at present as I usually don't need a lot of design wall. I sprayed the back of 1 sheet like I did the fronts. when I have a larger project I simply open up the design wall.

After we completed my wall a friend came over and we gridded the wall using colorful ribbon in a 12" x 12" grid and diagonal lines corner to corner.

There are lots of methods to use. Choose one you like.

NJ Quilter

I bought two flannel-backed plastic tablecloths and sewed them together. I can put it up with skirt/pant hangers and take it down when necessary. Not ideal but it's the only thing that will work in a house with no space.

ManiacQuilter2

GO with insulation!! You have the space, this is the only way to go. I have used 1" insulation covered with flannel. You can easily use pins if needed. MUCH easier to clean with a stick roller than batting. I know that EB uses the material that is used for the inside top of cars. Use ever square inch you have. Remember that queen size quilts are 9 feet tall. You will regret if you don't use ever inch. A member of this board Dina posted a few weeks ago about the problem she encountered over a her design wall being too short. ENJOY your space.

ghostrider

I agree, use the insulation. It's important that you be able to pin to whatever your design wall is made of...maybe not for all projects, but you'll really miss it if you need to pin and you can't.

Another excellent option, since you're still at the building stage, is to put up homosote, either over or instead of, drywall. You could then just hang or permanently adhere your batting/flannel/felt to the homosote, depending on how you want to impact the resale value of the house. Homosote would be more sturdy than foam insulation, yet just as easy to use.

thimblebug6000

Lots of great info out there...what a super size you'll have! http://www.ohfransson.com/oh_fransso...sign-wall.html

hdoublej

Thanks for all the great tips! My head is spinning lol but I'm loving the advise!

Dina

Mine is the one that ManiacQuilter2 mentioned, as being too small. Mine is insulation board (with pink panther guy on back) covered in Warm and Natural that is duck taped to it. It leans agains my closet door, as mine has to be portable. But it is too small because I cut off the top two feet of the 4 x 8 foot piece. (My husband told me I would regret it, and he was right, darn it!!)

I don't have wall space for a larger one....but....my sister built a quilt studio and she put up 3 of those 4x8 boards, right together on one wall. I thought she was making it too large at the time, but now I envy it. I am not sure how she attached the 3 boards, but she used glue to attach the Warm and Natural and then put wood trim around all of it. Works very well.

I am very happy using Warm and Natural batting. Everything sticks, unless it is too heavy, and that is when pins work. I don't even try to get the threads off the Warm and Natural. They just add a touch of reality to the room, and my fabric sticks right on top of those threads anyway.

Enjoy your new room. It sounds wonderful!!

Dina