Heavy duty design wall
 

I purchased, several years ago, the largest "collapsable" design wall I could find, and found it terribly frustrating. Pieces would not stay on the flannel...it was wobbly, flimsy, etc......so for the past 2+ years I have used my floor as the design wall. Needless to say, this was not optimum, but certainly was better than what I had.

Fast forward to a visit with my neighbor, and spied her design wall (she does small quilts and wall hangings)....She had a strip of powder coated metal 6 feet long by 2.5 inches wide fastened to her wall with dry wall screws.....very un-obtrusive. She had heavy duty magnets that were shaped like push pins ( from KJM Magnets ) that held her batting to the metal........When I oohed and ached....,she said if I wanted one, she would get her husband to do it for me!!


I wanted a metal strip 120" long ( I make king and queen sized quilts mainly ) mounted at the top of the wall, abutting the ceiling. Ron provided website for the magnets (delivered day after I ordered them) and showed up to install the metal strip. (Metal strip is pre-drilled every 6", and comes in various lengths...sold by Lowes, Home Depot,. etc.)

Since I was in a hurry to start using it, I opened a package of the Dream Green batting, and fastened it up to the bar with my new magnets ( I got 18 so I could hang something heavy on the 120 inch width)....and started adding my units........the fabric sticks to this batting just like it had been sprayed with 505!! I had 11 rows of 12 pieces each row up on this, re-arranging, and not one piece fell off!!

Since I had this mounted at the top of the wall, when the batting, etc is off, you do not even notice the bar! Since Ron had said how strong the magnets were (warning to keep away from computerized machines, cell phones, credit cards, etc)...I tried hanging a full size finished quilt........and it stayed up with no sagging!!! So I can use this to "hang" a quilt to decorate my sewing room when I am not using it as a design wall.

After reading a post that said chenille squares would not stay up on member's design wall, I thought I would post this...........This one will hold just about anything if you have a sufficient number of the magnets......and with their shape, they are easy to remove as well.

Great idea! Even though the metal strip is unobtrusive, you could paint it to match your wall.
I also used a 'design floor' and was amazed at how much better my quilts were when I finally got a vertical display. I do a lot of scrappy quilts and it makes it much easier to distribute the colors.

I am in an apt so I couldn't use that but it works for you, that is terrific. I still use the 1" insulation covered with flannel. It has worked for me for over 15 years.

I love this idea - Does the batting just hang from one bar at the top?

What a great idea!!! Thank you for sharing.

Please post a picture or two.

I use insulation board too, but I really link the idea of magnetic push pins. Do they just hold the batting? And the pieces are held to the batting with 505?

a picture would help

I use the same. If things are a bit heavy or the a/c blows them off, I just stick a pin in them. I've made 2 of them and can put them side by side if I need a larger space. When not being used, they can be stored one in the front of the other or one can go in the other room. I've also used mine for nearly 15 years.

Could you please post a pic? thanks!