World Wide Quilting Page
Question of the Week
Question for the week of April 19, 1999:
Our question this week comes from Cheryl Costley
What hints are out there for creating a wall for designing quilts?
Betty Hamilton :
For a very portable designing wall for
quilt making, take a 4' x 8' sheet of
1" steroform (like what is used in
construction for insolating walls).
Cover the sheet with a thick flannelette
banket or use a extra piece of quilt batt,
like warm and natural or cotton choice,
etc.. Your cotton fabric pieces will stay
in place, and your display board can be
moved easily, so it is near your sewing
machine & iron, but can also be moved
quickly, if someone comes in, if you don't
want the whole world knowing what you are
working on.
Elaine Bodven-Refsland :
I have made a felt board to "piece" different parts of a large quilt and that seems to work great.
You have to use foam core board, I put two large pieces together (1/2) works the best and then I covered
it with flannel. Your pieces don't fall off.
Betty Streck :
I brought a flannel back table cloth for a dollar and hang it on the wall in the hallway. Now, whenever I have company, that's where they go to see what I'm working on now.
Marguerite in Alaska :
I have not seen this listed so I will add: I bought some craft felt (off a 100" wide or more bolt) at Jo Anne's. This stuff is on a large bolt and fabric sticks to it like glue! I bought about 3 yards and re-folded to fit the area of my wall that I wanted to have as a "design wall". I used an electric craft stapler (not office type - heavier duty) and stapled it to my wall. I can attach blocks just by pressing them to the wall by hand. If this is not clear or I left something out - email me at nqd@alaska.net
Gretchen Jennings :
My husband bought two sheetrock sized pieces of 1-1/2" foam core at a local building supply place. I covered them with 90" felt and then we screwed them to the wall, giving me approximately 8' x 8' of design wall. It was quick, easy, and very cheap. I had bought the felt at a 40% off sale. The whole thing cost about $50. Also with the foam core you can cut it to any size you want - just like sheetrock.
Susie Downs :
I purchased some light weight insulation board and covered it with a fannel backed table cloth. A 4x8 wall will cost less the $30.00
Ellen Yeates :
I have a 6'x 6' piece of polyester batting on which I have sewn grid lines horizontally and vertically to make the 2" squares - this helps in piecing the watercolor quilts. I then intalled a removable curtain rod above the sliding closet doors in a spare bedroom and hang the gridded batting from this. It's easy to pin,rolls up when done and keeps it out of everyone's path.
Georgia M. :
You could get a large piece of foamcore and cover it with white felt. You can then hang it on your wall lean it up against it. You could also stand it up on two chairs, using the chairbacks as the area that your homemade design wall leans on.
Mindy Marik :
I learned a trick after taking a workshop with Lois Smith, an author and instructor. She suggested using Polyster Batting for positioning blocks before quilting, and to help in the designing process. I found that the cotton blocks stick to the polyester really well. I always use cotton batting for quilting and never really liked using the polyster, but Lois showed me a use for the stuff.
Ellen Marsilii :
I bought a 40" by 50" sheet of foam board at my local art supply store (I think it was $15). I covered it with a cotton batting that I had bought but was unhappy with (great way to use it up). I used an adhesive spray to affix it. Trimmed the edges with my rotary cutter and mat. I have it propped vertically aganist the wall at the end of my work table or I could hang it horizonally if I wanted, depending on the dimensions of my project. Also, it's moveable. I can lay it on the dining room table or on the floor and work there, then prop it against the wall to see it from far away. I can also pin heavier basted projects up to see the effects of a quilting design.
Willie Loudermilk :
The best thing I have found is a product
called Blue Board.It a foam insulation board
It is sold at Lowes and other building stores.
It is 4 ft.x8 ft.for about $8.00.You can cut it
into any size you need.
Sharon Moos :
I have a piece of polyester batting that's 6 feet wide and about 7 feet long. I put a sleeve on the top and an inch wide board through it when it's hung. When it's not hung, there's a small wall-hanging underneath I get to enjoy. When it's not in use, the wood and batting go in the closet. Once in a while, I have a bare wall and enjoy the wall-hanging but most of the time the batting is on the wall. It works great.
Carolee Loewen :
The single walls used for "Cubicles" in offices makes a great wall and they can be free standing.
Lois elliott :
I have a 4ft square piece of cement sheet, covered with a muslin and a huge sheet of "Pellon". I find this is very transportable, from my lounge to the kitchen where I sew.( No, I am not LUCKY enough to have my own sewing room!)
Maureen :
Just plain flannel used to make clothing can be used to put on your wall with maybe a cardboard backing so you could also put pins in it. Also I was at a quilt shop this past weekend and in their classroom they used a great piece of white insulation that was about 4' wide and 8' high. You would have to use pins to hold your project but looked like a great idea.
Donna Dyer :
I like to also use the flannel back tablecloth. I don't have much space to sew. Actually I have a card table in the basement. I hang the table cloth on the wall upstairs. Then when I am ready to sew I carry it downstairs.
Lori Peters :
I just used an old flannel backed vinyl tablecloth. Since I have limited space in my sewing area, it was easy to just cut it to the size I need. I do wish I had a huge wall though :-)
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