I’m like you in the morning. My husband, who is definitely NOT a morning person, finds that my rapid fire conversation and “getting things done” in the mornings make him feel as if he’s drinking from a fire hose.🤣
I used 2 of the insulation board, 4x8 ft. Used batting (had on hand.) Then joined them with duct tape so they could fold onto each other. I have it up folded for everyday use & placement in my sewing "studio." Then when working on a larger quilt they can be unfolded for more area & placed in the living room. I can design, take pictures, fold up the wall, & repin overlapping blocks to sew. Wall also has ribbons pinned on it for a 12" grid.
My sewing room is small and all the available walls have shelving. But for a design wall, I use the double bifold doors of the closet. I used dollar store foam core board, wrapped in flannel and mounted it with 3 M Velcro removable tabs. It's enough to see how blocks are working.
I needed a quick design wall for my latest project. I placed 2 contact hooks on the wall. Bought a piece of wood trim 7ft long. Bought a plastic lined tablecloth with flannel. Sewed a rod pocket. Inserted the rod and hung it on the 2 hooks. Works great. Flannel on back of tablecloth keeps your blocks up forever.
I have done the same thing with flannel backed table clothes. They can also be folded up and stored if you don’t have a designated sewing space or sew in a common space of your home like I do.
I used foam insulation board that I got at Menard's. It's 4' x 6' & approx 3/4" thick. I just wrapped it in batting and it works great. It's leaning up right now, but my plan is to actually put a couple of screws in it and attach it to the wall. LOVE it!!!
New hairdo! Looks great! I have drop ceilings in the sewing area and I attached some clips I used when adding flowers to the church pews to the metal piece between the ceiling and the tile; then added curtain rings (curtain rod with ring) and I attached the flannel to the rings. I used about 25-30 of them. I also sewed some fabric (binding) across the top of the flannel. I love it. It's about 72"x72".
People are always asking what to do with scraps, and I am so very glad you are showing people these crumb blocks. This way people can visualize better "Scraps" some people are trying to save pieces, that unless they are held in place with netting or completely top stitched won't show. You are so helpful to so many people. Have a great day!
Good morning. I click on a comment below thinking someone was sharing a design wall. It came up with a nude picture so I reported it and it's gone. I USED batting on my sliding closet doors. Works great. Happy Tuesday.
My design wall is also those Styrofoam insulation boards about 2 inches thick, because I wanted to be able to use pins on it, I just covered it with flannel, and stapled it to the back..has worked real well for about 5 yrs not, and I leaned it on the wall, so that I can move it if need be..I just love mine..
I don't have a lot of reachable wall space so I purchased a retractable design wall. Basically a large shade. I have it over my sliding closet doors. It works.
Oh, the color change you made to the writing on your cross stitch is wonderful. What a difference it makes. I have been using a journal to make some changes in my life. I'm thinking that your calendar would be a better in my face to place my progress. At a glance kind of thing. I had to chuckle when you said you start your day on fire. Unfortunately for me...my start of the day is like the aftermath of putting out a fire. Takes me a while to get the go a going, haha. But there is always hard work and hope to keep us motivated. Your videos actually have been great inspiration. Thanks, Pat.
Love love love your cross stitch. I am doing the serendipity roll by roll. It is so much fun. Did roll two the other day. You aren’t talking about the Stay At Home block a day for April. Is anyone doing it ? Starting mine today from my old old old wizard of Oz fabric. Should be fun and cute.
A design wall is so, so helpful! It makes a big difference. I have a curtain rod with clips and I’ve hung a large piece of batting. I have the Home is.. blocks on it and I love seeing the blocks and how they look all together. I used to put them out on the bed, but it is much better on a wall. Thanks for your ideas Pat! I may get my husband to make one with the insulation and attach it to the wall someday.
Loved this tutorial! I have a design bed🤣 My quilt space is over our garage and I have half walls and then an extreme angled wall to the ceiling, but I love my design bed. It works for me in my space. You have to repeatedly do something 10 times for it to become a habit, and you need to like what you are doing. Thanks Pat for all the content you bring to us daily! I am a subscriber and I hit that like button!😉
Good morning, Pat. I just bought foam board yesterday to make myself a design wall. So excited. I like your crumb blocks, I think leave the string one. I did one like that the other day and too thought it was plain. But... once all thrown together it adds interest, place for eye to rest. I’ll post a pic in community. Thank you so much for helping me to find some focus and organizing plans in sewing room. What a blessing you have been for me. 🤗🤗
I have 2 of those and they work great, I used 1 inch foam insulation board from Lowes and also cheap. usually they are 4x8. I cut off the extra 2 feet to use as small ones to move around
I used batting and over the years it has stretched and sagged. They use car headliner fabric for the design walls at Quilt in a Day and it's lasted well for the 15 years that I've been going there.
I already have a similar design wall. When I know I’m going to a sew day I lay my blocks out in rows and columns on a flannel backed plastic tablecloth and fold up neatly. I can easily transport it and only have to Reid on a few blocks. I don’t have to lay it out all over again.
I used a king sized sheet and wrapped both of my boards . I just put the edges of the sheet around the the boards and my husbands screwed the whole unit to the wall.
As an alternative to bolting the design wall to the wall, I found that 3M picture hanging strips (which work like Velcro) work well to hold the light weight insulation board. No holes in the wall; the tape is removable following the directions carefully, and I easily moved the design wall when I re-organized my sewing space recently. All I needed to do was use new self adhesive strips on the wall in the new location.
I did this as well...Foam Insulation boards 1/2" thick and 4ft x 8ft tall. Honestly too tall for me so my husband cut them down to 7ft tall. Still too tall but they will stay that tall. I did not mount them to any walls because I don't have any wall space. I let them lean against a wall near my front door. I also did not spray any glue to keep my flannel in place. My husband recommended "T Pins" on the sides all the way around. It does work just as good for me if they were glued. Both my boards are in 2 pieces. My husband will be cutting them so that I am able to fold them up and can put them in the closet under my staircase. It really is a great way to set up your quilt top and get a great visual of your work! I got my foam insulation from Lowe's and my T pins from Joann's.
I’ve been crumb quilting too! It is so relaxing for a relatively new quilter. I’m using Pat’s rainbow quilt as inspiration, making my blocks all from the same color. This is my third crumb quilt -love to do these.
I really like your design wall idea. I like how light insulation boards are. I am going to make it like that. Thank you for excellent information. Thank you for sharing this with us ☺️ Have a blessed day 💕🙏
I think the term for the boards you used is sheet rock. That’s a great idea. I have a magnetic, dry erase board that is 4’ by 6’. It worked better in my space to hang it vertically instead of horizontally, which made it perfect for a design wall. I bought the flannel that said it was for design walls (don’t know if that was necessary or not) and cut it to size and simply hang it with some strong magnets! Works great. Left drawings my grandkids did on the board and when I take it down they are all still there. I have used the magnetic board for so many things. Since the flannel is just held up with magnets, it is very easy to take down and fold up for when you need it next. When I was making masks or doll clothes (4 granddaughters) I would put the patterns on the board with cute magnets. Very handy to go to the board and get those little pattern pieces with the instructions. Those are all off now, for awhile, ready for the next thing. Probably be another quilt, so up goes the flannel again!! Love your videos. I always learn something new.
I just got my design wall!! 🌸🎉 I’m using felt and it seems to be working fine. Initially I ordered a 72” square but quickly realized I need more space so I ordered a 36”x72” panel. This will really help me as I resume work on a half hexagon quilt! 🌷