I hope you enjoy these ideas for a design wall. I cannot believe the different they have made to my quilting by having a place to play out ideas. I am endless fascinated by how different blocks and patterns appear up close with far away. I have used all of these ideas at one time or another. I hope they inspire you to try your version. Enjoy.
I write fiction as well as quilt and last year, I broke down and bought a 4' x 6' cork bulletin board to outline my novel. And when I'm not writing, I cover the board with flannel to hang up quilt blocks.
I've been using method #3 for years. Works really well. A couple comments: I added a 3rd command hook in the middle to avoid sagging. When I take it down at Christmas, I use the hooks for decorations. I also needed to hem the bottom to make it fit the space which created a channel. I put another dowel in this channel and find that it really makes the sheet hang straight. My final comment is to look for a sheet that has an even pattern, like a plaid or stripe. this really makes block placement easier.
I’m still using your dollar store hack - the flannel backed table cloth! I’m lucky to have an old wooden closet rod attached to the bottom of a shelf in my space, and hang the tablecloth over the rod. There’s enough room behind my ‘wall’ for a bookcase, so I use that for seldom used items. Easy to get to, but not too often to disturb projects on the wall. Thank you for all your ideas!
You inspired me to use flannel backed table cloth. I put in an oversized frame that was missing the glass from Goodwill. I white wash painted the frame and love the framed look that can stay up in the shared space.
Karen I’ve never commented on a RUclips video until now. You are a fabulous presenter, very engaging and animated which is perfect for videos. And your concepts are great, just love your problem solving approach.
Love the video. My solution is a twist on the flannel sheet dowel option. I'm using halfway space for a temporary design wall. I turned flannel yardage into a panel the size I needed. Added a pocket at the top for the dowel. In the hallway outside my sewing room, I have 2 doors on the same wall. I hang the dowel off the door frames at the top of the door. Use a little bit of painters tape to hold the dowel to the frame and voila! I've never had issues with the painters tape damaging the wall and it's easy to take down and store. To keep the flannel panel grippy, just toss in the dryer to get it full of static.
I crafted a design wall early on with 2 1” 4x8 pink foam board duct taped and covered in batting. It nestles into an aluminum base that I confiscated from the menfolks stash of scrap metal. The base allows the board to lean against the wall while preventing shifting.I have lots of wall space and was happy I could move it from one wall space to another easily by sliding the base. I now baste my quilt on the wall which simplifies things mightily. The foam board is quite sturdy. For directionally challenged folks like me who can easily twist or flip rows it sure saves some tears.
this gives me an idea- most of my craft room walls are covered with shelves, except for the wall wtih the window. I'm going to combine the flannel-backed tablecloth and curtain rod methods together- thank you for the inspiration!!!
My husband put a metal strip over the top of my wide closet door in the sewing room. This allows me to use magnetic hooks (for design walls with grommets) or magnetic clips to hang up individual quilt tops.
I love your videos! All these tips. But what I like the most is how you prepare the videos, every detail explained with words and images. I practice my English with your videos because your intonation is perfect! Thank you very much for your dedication, Karen!
All of these are great tips. For me, the bed is out - too many dogs and too much dog hair; and the floor is too tough on me physically. But I love the idea of using foam board and covering with either flat sheet or pillow cases. Genius!!! Thanks. :)
Wonderful ideas! I took over most of the finished basement as my sewing studio, because it is no longer full of teenagers playing pool, playing music, and eating me out of house and home. I have a wall there behind a pole. My husband made a large design wall out of insulation board and cut it to fit that wall. The pole holds it up, and I just lean it there on the wall. It is very nice to be able to arrange my blocks on the wall. I use a flannel design wall upstairs, in my little "pet" room behind the door, to hold my quilt pieces on that I work on by hand, upstairs in my recliner. This works well too. It is behind the door.
Karen~Thank you for all the great ideas you share!! You are such an inspiration for not only sewing and quilting ideas but for storage and organizational ideas as well. Blessings from Southern California!! I've visited Canada as a teenager...we camped around the Ontario area and attended Expo '67...so although it has been a while I still have fond memories of your beautiful country! 🙂
Yes, that was an exciting camping trip as we saw Canada and most of the states in the Northeast as my father was stationed at a naval base in Massachusetts. Thanks for taking the time to answer me. :-)
The dollar store table cloths are great for taking along with you. Just roll it up and unroll it as needed with the project on it. In my house I attached felt to bifold closet doors with carpet tape. Works really well.
Excellent ideas. I often use my living room floor but my cats hate symmetry so they always rearrange the blocks to their satisfaction. Someday I will have a proper studio with a built in design wall.
I’ve taken an old wool blanket and thrown it over the sewing room door to use as a narrow design wall. And taken the flannel backed tablecloth and draped it over the shower rod in the spare bathroom. I’ve hung as little as possible to the back side and pinned in place.
Great ideas! My husband made one for me using foam board. He covered it with felt using hot glue then hinged them together (with felt strips) so they fold accordion style. Open it is 5' x 6' & folded 5' x 2' to fit perfectly in my sewing room closet.
@@annguss555 Sorry I don't know how to add a photo to a RUclips comment. He cut large rectangles of felt (maybe 2" x 5" ... maybe a bit larger) and hot glued 3 per side to act as hinges.
I use a long tube given by the fabric store to roll the flannel back tabletop containing the pieces I place for design test or the blocks already done. Just unroll on the floor when I need it. Everything stay clean and can be put away in 20 seconds.And I can have as many tube as I work on many projets at the same time.
Wow! Love the pillowcase boards! Your videos are great, you get right down to business and explain clearly in a short amount of time. Right now my design wall (with my improv class piece! Like yours!) is a piece of the design wall fabric folded in fourths with the top edge closed in the top drawer of a chest of drawers. It works for now but I think some foam board is in my future!
These are excellent ideas! I just bought a new machine and want to start quilting but I’m in a very small rented house and the tablecloth and pillow case ideas will work great for me! Thank you!
I love it! I used my living room floor one evening... When I awoke, I discovered my blocks scattered down the hallway. Yes. it was Oatmeal! My son came home from college one Christmas and went back without Oatmeal, a Himalayan kitten who has taken over our house and grown to be a fat cat 🙀 with long hair! My husband has to vacuum every day... there's so much hair! ❤️
I have a flannel sheet that I taped to the wall with painters tape. But it was too heavy for the painters tape, and even duck tape, and kept falling down. So I made a no-money sheet holder. Two yardsticks duck taped together to the right length of my wall, then I sewed a hem on the sheet and put the long yardstick through the hem and put a large binder clip at each end to stretch the sheet tight. I measured the length between the clips and hammered a nail at the top of my wall for one binder clip and then on the other side of the wall for the other binder clip. It holds like a champ and the angle of the binder clips hold the long yardstick and sheet flush against the wall. It’s great. I wouldn’t have done it without the inspiration of Karen’s video!! ❤🎉😊
I found some magnetic board wall paint... i thinking of paint a part of my wall with it... it would be designish... and i can clip my blocks with some magnets...
I work from home and my office area was in my sewing studio. I made a 10 foot tall quilt half the width of the room to divide the space like a wall - it was hung from a curtain rod attached to the ceiling so it could be pushed out of the way when not needed. Then I moved my office to another room in the house and I didn't know what to do with that humongous quilt. Eureka moment because I remembered the original video you did about dollar store flannel backed tablecloths. I pinned one of those tablecloths to the back of that quilt and it's been working fantastically! It's out only when needed and pushed out of the way when it's not, just like a curtain. Thank you.
Hi Karen, I've been using the flannel backed table cloth for a few years now and it has a lot of pin holes, I have it clipped to pants hangers that are hung on command hooks lined on the top of an open doorway. I do love your idea for the insulation board. Thanks for sharing your ideas.
This is such an inspiring video for me. After experiencing a misplaced quilt block, in an otherwise good looking quilt, it was off to Home Depot. Happened to have space behind the door to my sewing/office room. Thank you so much for all your helpful sharing.
Brilliant, your timing on this video couldn't be better as I have been figuring out how to accommodate a design wall! Today I happen to have been cleaning out my linen cupboard, washing all the winter sheets (NZ going into autumn) and deciding what needs to go to charity. Bingo! I can definitely use one of these winter sheets for design boards, small and large, I also have a flannel-backed picnic cloth stashed away so that will come out too so a big fat thank you from me today :-) xx
I ended up using shipping cardboard: Lining the back with scrap yardage to protect the back and lining the front with flannel found on sale at Hobby Lobby. The great thing is that the scrap cardboard has folds in it so I can fold up the pieces and store when not in use. However, If I ever get a bigger sewing space with permanent wall space for a design wall! I love the idea for insulation boards! and your modular foam board ideas!!! Thank you for all you share!
Thanks for the ideas and the foam boards wrapped individually which can the be stored under the bed are perfect for me as my great grand children have sleepovers...💐💐💐💐
Karen loved all your ideas. My hubby made my design board, he used three 1/2 “ ( 4x 8 ) installation boards, then duct taped them so that I could fold them like a accordion for storage under the bed when not needed. I too covered it with pieced batting, works great. Thanks for sharing your ideas, love the flannel pillow case one. 👍❤️😊
I was just thinking about doing an accordion pleat sort of form. I have small house and no garage or basement so household goods--aside from what can be stored in a 6x8 garden shed--are kept indoors. (Okay, the grill just sits under its own cover on the patio.) With an accordion pleat, it could be folded and stuffed into a case for under-the-bed or behind a door storage; it would need a storage case because the cat sleeps under the bed or otherwise spreads her hair on things. In my case, perhaps pieces of flannel might be a better option because I could run the vacuum over it to keep it free of pet hair. Oh, my imagination is working overtime!
I failed to say my husband cut the sheet so I have 3- 2’ feet wide pieces., they are duct taped one on the front side, then fold and the third taped on the backside. It folds up in 2” wide. Depending on how wide I want my display board, I can use 1, 2 or all three at a time.
Fun fact, those are bulldog clips. Thank you for these amazing ideas. As a sewist for over 40 years, I drew a blank at the best way to create a quilt design wall. These are ALL fabulous ideas!
Boy howdy, what a solution wizard you are! That pillow case business Blew My MIND! Sharing with my crafting group, we're just talking about design boards today. Amazing.
Oh my stars! These are all great ideas! I need a design board but don’t have a lot of space at all in my sewing room. Like you, I’ve used my bed to layout my designs and took pictures on my phone as I would try different designs. I’d look at them later and then the layouts I didn’t like I’d delete, until I settled on the design I was wanted. The bed works great till my husband wants to go to bed. That’s why I need a design board in my sewing room. I haven’t decided yet which one I’ll use, but I am thankful a viewer on another channel replied to a comment I made asking Tracy from The Sewing channel to show how she built her design wall. I don’t remember the viewer’s name but I sure am glad she told me to come watch your channel on hacks for design walls. You gave several ideas I can possibly use! Thank you for sharing!
I have been using a flannel backed table cloth for several years now & instead of eyelets I just sew button holes on mine that match up with the command hooks above the closet. A couple years ago I got a larger one, so this time I did button holes along the long side & the short side so I can hang it whichever way is best for the project (or projects). It’s inexpensive & when it gets too fuzzy, you simply get another one & sew some more button holes.
This was just in time! Thank you! I’m playing around with block orientation for a king size quilt this morning…on my living room floor! 🤪 I am going to go to town and get some foam board, great ideas and great tips. I love your vlogs!
Karen, thank you. These are all wonderful ideas. I just so happen to have a new cheap flannel backed tablecloth I am going to use for my first design wall. Best to you!!!
I have been quilting since 1989 and the first thing I do to my sewing room is tack up a flannel back tablecloth to one wall. My last one has been up 20 years. I love seeing the quilt blocks grow on it! It is quick, easy cheap. I use several tacks all around so it is firmly against the wall so in summer with my ceiling fan on high, everything stays in place.
I used 2' Square foam insulation covered with batting and staple gunned them on the back, then used long t pins to attach to my wall. I have 9 of them 3 wide x 3 tall!!!
just to let you know that i don't quilt but your hacks and ideas have helped me with my crafts and sewing. You have taught me how to iron correctly, set up my sewing room. How to store my fabric scraps and use they.
72 years NO design wall. WhEE!!! I have a whole wall now. Full sheet and a half of insulation foam board, duct taped together, covered with seamed sheet of flannel. YOur clip idea is a good one. I just pinned with sewing pins, and leaned the whole thing against a wall. I LOVE IT. I don't have to put EVerything away to make supper now. Happy me!!! )))))
I have a double the old fashioned “folding doors” closet and I bought two inexpensive over-the-door hook hangers that would fit over the top of the closet doors without a problem (the hangers are like what some folks put over a bathroom door so they can hang up towels or bathrobes). I then got a 6’ dowel about 2-2.5” thick (that could rest in the hook of the hanger, and glued the looped side of a long strip of Velcro onto the dowel. Last of all, I bought 2yds of extra-wide (54”) heavy white upholstery flannel, attached the other side of the strip of Velcro to the fabric, attached the fabric to the dowel, and I now have a great hanging design wall. There’s only one drawback: I cannot open the closet doors when the design wall is in use. I take down the dowel and flannel and roll it up until I’m done getting into the closet, then put it back. I’d say cost was about $20-$30 but it’s very functional and easy to move when I need to do so. Thank you for your tips. You share some great ideas!
When my church was discarding classroom dividers, I brought two home. They had right angle stationary feet on the bottom, but I wanted casters on the bottom. My husband replaced the feet with casters and now I can place my scrapbook pages in sleeves, and hang them up, until I’m certain the pages are done. Using straight pins I often hang embellishments on the second side, as storage for planned pages. But the best part is it can be moved and turned.
You are indeed a clever gal! I love all your ideas. Despite its many challenges, one benefit of living in an old home is picture rails. I purchased some picture rail hooks and bought some really heavy flannel, seamed it together to get the width, inserted heavy duty eyelets and was in business. I can slide it curtain fashion, or even take it down when not in use, and no damage to the plaster. Happy quilting!!
Loved this video! My first "design wall" was a 4' x 3' trifold cardboard presentation board that I covered with flannel. With the trifold design, I could either lean it flat against my sofa, or fold the ends in slightly to make it stand up by itself. If I needed to put it away in a hurry, I could fold it up with my blocks still in place on the board, then bring it back out later. It also served double duty as I could store my large cutting mat inside when I was not using them and it would keep the mat flat. Since it was about 1/2" thick when folded closed it was easy to store in a closet or between the wall and my table.
Thank you! I helped my daughter do this for her 4H projects last year so she could laminate her papers with Velcro on the back and change them out and not have to make several different boards. I was wondering what to do with it after she graduated.
Wow! Thank you big time! I’ll soon be going to an 8-hour sew day and was wishing I could think of a way to have a design wall there. You just made it very easy. 😁
I once used the floor as my design wall, but since I can no longer manuever getting down to the floor and getting up again, I use my bed. It's queen-size, which is the largest I ever make. Thanks for great suggestions!
Another busy day for me getting things done and organized for Monday's filming. I so enjoy sitting with my hand quilting and watching your video! I hope you have an amazing day! Thanks for posting this video.
Love, love your videos! I was asked to make five memory pillows and one memory lap quilt. This is my first quilt, and I needed a design wall. Off to the dollar store where I bought a flannel backed table cloth for a buck fifty. Sewed a channel, command hooks on the wall, and a used curtain rod. Voila, a design wall, works perfectly. Thank you so much.
Indeed, not all artists have the luxury of a whole room permanently devoted to our craft. My grandson never knows what he is going to find on the twin bed he uses when spending the night. Even if it's a quilt top in progress he will often just crawl in under it if I forget to move it!
More excellent info. I have a flannel backed tablecloth on the insulation board and it is just propped against the wall. I need to tighten up my edges - love the thumbtack idea. Thanks !!
This video was very very helpful. My goal for Jan will be to make my first quilt. I will be watching videos and taking notes. I’ve only been sewing for 2 years. So I’ll probably make a lap quilt to begin with. So thanks for all your tips,tricks and strategies.
Good for you Diane. I am finishing a quilt, the 6th quilt but it had been a long time. I didn't remember or realize I needed a walking foot for piecing: even if I pinned and used starch, they were way off. I was at a quilt store and said the sashing and borders that was the next step just cannot be that wonky! She mentioned the walking foot. It helped tremendously. Make use of RUclips, friends, quilt shops. The advice that came with the sashing fabric and thread was priceless.
@@carolg.6838 have the walking foot. I have 12 -9x12 paper piece scrap strips made, I started strip corner to corner. Every time I make a block I freak out on how awesome it is.
Cheers Karen, I'm almost ready to take over my new sewing room. Goodness knows when the builders will be done, but floor tiled in 2 weeks. Never had a proper design board before. I did make use of blackout curtain lining fabric because it was protecting my fabrics, but had to pin and I couldn't see my fabrics. Looking forward to static blocks on their own wall! LOL.
Oh my GOSH Karen...... AWESOME ideas !!! Thank you SO much.... I'm off to the store tomorrow for my items for my own design wall to fit my smaller area.. Hugs & luv
I have a murphy bed in my sewing room that seldom gets used for sleeping. I have used large clips to hang a fabric backed table protector to use as a design wall. When it is needed for a bed I just unclip and lower the bed. I have a clear view from my sewing machine so I can spot errors or block placements quickly
This may be the wrong video to comment but if someone wants to make a more permanent design board I have a pretty inexpensive way to get it done. Instead of buying the large foam boards from the hardware store, I used the dollar tree foam boards and doubled them up for sturdiness. I just used Elmer glue and some books as weights while they dried. Next we duct taped them together (I would recommend white or clear). I then covered it with batting using the spray glue. I then made a binding to wrap around the edge like a frame and hot glued it to the sides. We screwed it into the wall after that. One tip on that is to cut out squares of batting at the points you will screw the board onto the wall. Otherwise you will rip and tear your batting as the screw goes in, ask me how I know 🤦♀️😂. The cut out batting seamlessly fits right back into place with a little glue and fluffing of the edges! I spent about $20 at the dollar store, plus the batting. The binding edge was in my stash. I would say it costs approximately $50. My sewing room may be small, but I am so fortunate to be able to use an entire wall and it really makes a difference in my design process!
I had a similar thought to use the foam boards from the dollar store simply because it would be difficult for me to transport the larger one from Home Depot.
Great ideas! If on the last one you taped 1 seam on the front & 1 seam on the back it would fold like an accordion & wouldn't have to remove tape to move it, would just have to remove flannel & fold.
I hope you enjoy these ideas for a design wall. I cannot believe the different they have made to my quilting by having a place to play out ideas. I am endless fascinated by how different blocks and patterns appear up close with far away. I have used all of these ideas at one time or another. I hope they inspire you to try your version. Enjoy.
No sound.
@@conniejd8046 I’m quite deaf - so sorry I don’t use sound on my iPad
the hacking off the ends of the foam board in the parking lot is so validating. slay queen
I write fiction as well as quilt and last year, I broke down and bought a 4' x 6' cork bulletin board to outline my novel. And when I'm not writing, I cover the board with flannel to hang up quilt blocks.
Hi Kathy, I’m a writer too! I just started quilting. Love this channel 😊
I've been using method #3 for years. Works really well. A couple comments: I added a 3rd command hook in the middle to avoid sagging. When I take it down at Christmas, I use the hooks for decorations. I also needed to hem the bottom to make it fit the space which created a channel. I put another dowel in this channel and find that it really makes the sheet hang straight. My final comment is to look for a sheet that has an even pattern, like a plaid or stripe. this really makes block placement easier.
I found that too
I was going to suggest a dowel on the bottom. Thanks for confirming that works!
Shut the front door! That pillowcase hack is genius!!! I finally have the perfect solution. 🥰
👍 I cannot believe how handy this is…or that I made it this far without them
I’m still using your dollar store hack - the flannel backed table cloth! I’m lucky to have an old wooden closet rod attached to the bottom of a shelf in my space, and hang the tablecloth over the rod. There’s enough room behind my ‘wall’ for a bookcase, so I use that for seldom used items. Easy to get to, but not too often to disturb projects on the wall. Thank you for all your ideas!
I’ve got them too and also learned it here. Her ideas and videos are wonderful. My favorite quilter on RUclips!
Me too!
You inspired me to use flannel backed table cloth. I put in an oversized frame that was missing the glass from Goodwill. I white wash painted the frame and love the framed look that can stay up in the shared space.
Very cool idea!
Karen I’ve never commented on a RUclips video until now. You are a fabulous presenter, very engaging and animated which is perfect for videos. And your concepts are great, just love your problem solving approach.
Love the video. My solution is a twist on the flannel sheet dowel option. I'm using halfway space for a temporary design wall. I turned flannel yardage into a panel the size I needed. Added a pocket at the top for the dowel. In the hallway outside my sewing room, I have 2 doors on the same wall. I hang the dowel off the door frames at the top of the door. Use a little bit of painters tape to hold the dowel to the frame and voila! I've never had issues with the painters tape damaging the wall and it's easy to take down and store. To keep the flannel panel grippy, just toss in the dryer to get it full of static.
I crafted a design wall early on with 2 1” 4x8 pink foam board duct taped and covered in batting. It nestles into an aluminum base that I confiscated from the menfolks stash of scrap metal. The base allows the board to lean against the wall while preventing shifting.I have lots of wall space and was happy I could move it from one wall space to another easily by sliding the base. I now baste my quilt on the wall which simplifies things mightily. The foam board is quite sturdy. For directionally challenged folks like me who can easily twist or flip rows it sure saves some tears.
I did not even THINK about taking a picture!!! That is the most important part of all of this! Thank you!
One whole wall in my room is a big picture window, so the curtain rod method is just what I need. Thanks!
this gives me an idea- most of my craft room walls are covered with shelves, except for the wall wtih the window. I'm going to combine the flannel-backed tablecloth and curtain rod methods together- thank you for the inspiration!!!
Awesome info. Thank you ❣❣❣🥰 FLANNEL!? Why didn't I think of that! You're brilliant Karen😊
Glad it was helpful!
My husband put a metal strip over the top of my wide closet door in the sewing room. This allows me to use magnetic hooks (for design walls with grommets) or magnetic clips to hang up individual quilt tops.
I love your videos! All these tips. But what I like the most is how you prepare the videos, every detail explained with words and images. I practice my English with your videos because your intonation is perfect! Thank you very much for your dedication, Karen!
All of these are great tips. For me, the bed is out - too many dogs and too much dog hair; and the floor is too tough on me physically. But I love the idea of using foam board and covering with either flat sheet or pillow cases. Genius!!! Thanks. :)
Wonderful ideas! I took over most of the finished basement as my sewing studio, because it is no longer full of teenagers playing pool, playing music, and eating me out of house and home. I have a wall there behind a pole. My husband made a large design wall out of insulation board and cut it to fit that wall. The pole holds it up, and I just lean it there on the wall. It is very nice to be able to arrange my blocks on the wall. I use a flannel design wall upstairs, in my little "pet" room behind the door, to hold my quilt pieces on that I work on by hand, upstairs in my recliner. This works well too. It is behind the door.
Karen~Thank you for all the great ideas you share!! You are such an inspiration for not only sewing and quilting ideas but for storage and organizational ideas as well. Blessings from Southern California!! I've visited Canada as a teenager...we camped around the Ontario area and attended Expo '67...so although it has been a while I still have fond memories of your beautiful country! 🙂
Expo ‘67 was so cool
Yes, that was an exciting camping trip as we saw Canada and most of the states in the Northeast as my father was stationed at a naval base in Massachusetts. Thanks for taking the time to answer me. :-)
The dollar store table cloths are great for taking along with you. Just roll it up and unroll it as needed with the project on it. In my house I attached felt to bifold closet doors with carpet tape. Works really well.
Excellent ideas. I often use my living room floor but my cats hate symmetry so they always rearrange the blocks to their satisfaction. Someday I will have a proper studio with a built in design wall.
I’ve taken an old wool blanket and thrown it over the sewing room door to use as a narrow design wall. And taken the flannel backed tablecloth and draped it over the shower rod in the spare bathroom. I’ve hung as little as possible to the back side and pinned in place.
Karen, you have such practical and wonderful ideas! I just love watching your videos. Thank you for all you do!
Great ideas! My husband made one for me using foam board. He covered it with felt using hot glue then hinged them together (with felt strips) so they fold accordion style. Open it is 5' x 6' & folded 5' x 2' to fit perfectly in my sewing room closet.
You ARE SO LUCKY- TO Have someone in your life that supports your dreams🥰 Soar like an eagle ❤
What a great idea. (And a great husband.)
thanks, I was trying to figure out the hinges! 10:04
Please explain hinges more, and add a photo if possible.
@@annguss555 Sorry I don't know how to add a photo to a RUclips comment. He cut large rectangles of felt (maybe 2" x 5" ... maybe a bit larger) and hot glued 3 per side to act as hinges.
Excellent ideas! I have to create a design wall for our camper that we winter in…can’t wait!!!🥰
YES!
Command hooks?
I use one or two (+ shoe lace) broomsticks + bedsheet + pins for reversable design walls.
I use a long tube given by the fabric store to roll the flannel back tabletop containing the pieces I place for design test or the blocks already done. Just unroll on the floor when I need it. Everything stay clean and can be put away in 20 seconds.And I can have as many tube as I work on many projets at the same time.
A window shade with a flannel tablecloth works really well also! Just raise the shade when not needed!!
Great idea
Wow! Love the pillowcase boards! Your videos are great, you get right down to business and explain clearly in a short amount of time. Right now my design wall (with my improv class piece! Like yours!) is a piece of the design wall fabric folded in fourths with the top edge closed in the top drawer of a chest of drawers. It works for now but I think some foam board is in my future!
Woohoo - I put a flannel back table cloth over the closet door !! Thanks !
These are excellent ideas! I just bought a new machine and want to start quilting but I’m in a very small rented house and the tablecloth and pillow case ideas will work great for me! Thank you!
Thankyou some fabulous ideas 🧚♀️
I love it! I used my living room floor one evening... When I awoke, I discovered my blocks scattered down the hallway. Yes. it was Oatmeal! My son came home from college one Christmas and went back without Oatmeal, a Himalayan kitten who has taken over our house and grown to be a fat cat 🙀 with long hair! My husband has to vacuum every day... there's so much hair! ❤️
🤣
I have a flannel sheet that I taped to the wall with painters tape. But it was too heavy for the painters tape, and even duck tape, and kept falling down. So I made a no-money sheet holder. Two yardsticks duck taped together to the right length of my wall, then I sewed a hem on the sheet and put the long yardstick through the hem and put a large binder clip at each end to stretch the sheet tight. I measured the length between the clips and hammered a nail at the top of my wall for one binder clip and then on the other side of the wall for the other binder clip. It holds like a champ and the angle of the binder clips hold the long yardstick and sheet flush against the wall. It’s great. I wouldn’t have done it without the inspiration of Karen’s video!! ❤🎉😊
I found some magnetic board wall paint... i thinking of paint a part of my wall with it... it would be designish... and i can clip my blocks with some magnets...
I work from home and my office area was in my sewing studio. I made a 10 foot tall quilt half the width of the room to divide the space like a wall - it was hung from a curtain rod attached to the ceiling so it could be pushed out of the way when not needed. Then I moved my office to another room in the house and I didn't know what to do with that humongous quilt.
Eureka moment because I remembered the original video you did about dollar store flannel backed tablecloths. I pinned one of those tablecloths to the back of that quilt and it's been working fantastically! It's out only when needed and pushed out of the way when it's not, just like a curtain. Thank you.
Hi Karen,
I've been using the flannel backed table cloth for a few years now and it has a lot of pin holes, I have it clipped to pants hangers that are hung on command hooks lined on the top of an open doorway. I do love your idea for the insulation board.
Thanks for sharing your ideas.
This is such an inspiring video for me. After experiencing a misplaced quilt block, in an otherwise good looking quilt, it was off to Home Depot. Happened to have space behind the door to my sewing/office room. Thank you so much for all your helpful sharing.
Brilliant, your timing on this video couldn't be better as I have been figuring out how to accommodate a design wall! Today I happen to have been cleaning out my linen cupboard, washing all the winter sheets (NZ going into autumn) and deciding what needs to go to charity. Bingo! I can definitely use one of these winter sheets for design boards, small and large, I also have a flannel-backed picnic cloth stashed away so that will come out too so a big fat thank you from me today :-) xx
I ended up using shipping cardboard: Lining the back with scrap yardage to protect the back and lining the front with flannel found on sale at Hobby Lobby. The great thing is that the scrap cardboard has folds in it so I can fold up the pieces and store when not in use. However, If I ever get a bigger sewing space with permanent wall space for a design wall! I love the idea for insulation boards! and your modular foam board ideas!!! Thank you for all you share!
Thanks for the ideas and the foam boards wrapped individually which can the be stored under the bed are perfect for me as my great grand children have sleepovers...💐💐💐💐
Karen loved all your ideas. My hubby made my design board, he used three 1/2 “ ( 4x 8 ) installation boards, then duct taped them so that I could fold them like a accordion for storage under the bed when not needed. I too covered it with pieced batting, works great. Thanks for sharing your ideas, love the flannel pillow case one. 👍❤️😊
Nice idea
I was just thinking about doing an accordion pleat sort of form. I have small house and no garage or basement so household goods--aside from what can be stored in a 6x8 garden shed--are kept indoors. (Okay, the grill just sits under its own cover on the patio.) With an accordion pleat, it could be folded and stuffed into a case for under-the-bed or behind a door storage; it would need a storage case because the cat sleeps under the bed or otherwise spreads her hair on things. In my case, perhaps pieces of flannel might be a better option because I could run the vacuum over it to keep it free of pet hair.
Oh, my imagination is working overtime!
Ooh, I love this idea. Thanks for sharing!
I failed to say my husband cut the sheet so I have 3- 2’ feet wide pieces., they are duct taped one on the front side, then fold and the third taped on the backside. It folds up in 2” wide. Depending on how wide I want my display board, I can use 1, 2 or all three at a time.
Great ideas, and as always, your enthusiasm makes my day!
Great ideas Karen!
Thankyou!
Fun fact, those are bulldog clips. Thank you for these amazing ideas. As a sewist for over 40 years, I drew a blank at the best way to create a quilt design wall. These are ALL fabulous ideas!
Boy howdy, what a solution wizard you are! That pillow case business Blew My MIND! Sharing with my crafting group, we're just talking about design boards today. Amazing.
I use those pillow boards all the time when I am making complex blocks and I need to keep all the pieces organized
I live the big semi permanent board. That is brilliant!!!!
Oh my stars! These are all great ideas! I need a design board but don’t have a lot of space at all in my sewing room. Like you, I’ve used my bed to layout my designs and took pictures on my phone as I would try different designs. I’d look at them later and then the layouts I didn’t like I’d delete, until I settled on the design I was wanted. The bed works great till my husband wants to go to bed. That’s why I need a design board in my sewing room. I haven’t decided yet which one I’ll use, but I am thankful a viewer on another channel replied to a comment I made asking Tracy from The Sewing channel to show how she built her design wall. I don’t remember the viewer’s name but I sure am glad she told me to come watch your channel on hacks for design walls. You gave several ideas I can possibly use! Thank you for sharing!
OMG thank you. All suggestions so simple - why did I not think of these!!!
I have been using a flannel backed table cloth for several years now & instead of eyelets I just sew button holes on mine that match up with the command hooks above the closet.
A couple years ago I got a larger one, so this time I did button holes along the long side & the short side so I can hang it whichever way is best for the project (or projects).
It’s inexpensive & when it gets too fuzzy, you simply get another one & sew some more button holes.
Love them ALL!!!! Thanks so much.
This was just in time! Thank you! I’m playing around with block orientation for a king size quilt this morning…on my living room floor! 🤪
I am going to go to town and get some foam board, great ideas and great tips. I love your vlogs!
Karen, thank you. These are all wonderful ideas. I just so happen to have a new cheap flannel backed tablecloth I am going to use for my first design wall. Best to you!!!
I feel so validated by the hanging the design wall on nails/hooks! I bought some gridded flannel, sewed button holes and hung it up on hooks.
That's a great idea!
Thank you Karen! I love your helpful ideas!
I have been quilting since 1989 and the first thing I do to my sewing room is tack up a flannel back tablecloth to one wall. My last one has been up 20 years. I love seeing the quilt blocks grow on it! It is quick, easy cheap. I use several tacks all around so it is firmly against the wall so in summer with my ceiling fan on high, everything stays in place.
Fantastic! I haven’t started quilting yet so I am learning lots of tips and techniques.
Some amazing ideas here! I will be looking for flannel sheets and pillowcases at the thrift store.
Love the lines on the table cloth and the sheet. I like to keep things square, and those would be very useful.
These are some awesome ideas! Loved the pillowcase idea! Now to pick out which one will work best in my space! Thanks!!!
I used 2' Square foam insulation covered with batting and staple gunned them on the back, then used long t pins to attach to my wall. I have 9 of them 3 wide x 3 tall!!!
i been using the table cloth since i saw your hacks videos and still doing great after a couple years!!! Fantastic ideas thank you Karen!! :D
just to let you know that i don't quilt but your hacks and ideas have helped me with my crafts and sewing. You have taught me how to iron correctly, set up my sewing room. How to store my fabric scraps and use they.
👍 Excellent
72 years NO design wall. WhEE!!! I have a whole wall now. Full sheet and a half of insulation foam board, duct taped together, covered with seamed sheet of flannel. YOur clip idea is a good one. I just pinned with sewing pins, and leaned the whole thing against a wall. I LOVE IT. I don't have to put EVerything away to make supper now. Happy me!!! )))))
I have a double the old fashioned “folding doors” closet and I bought two inexpensive over-the-door hook hangers that would fit over the top of the closet doors without a problem (the hangers are like what some folks put over a bathroom door so they can hang up towels or bathrobes). I then got a 6’ dowel about 2-2.5” thick (that could rest in the hook of the hanger, and glued the looped side of a long strip of Velcro onto the dowel. Last of all, I bought 2yds of extra-wide (54”) heavy white upholstery flannel, attached the other side of the strip of Velcro to the fabric, attached the fabric to the dowel, and I now have a great hanging design wall. There’s only one drawback: I cannot open the closet doors when the design wall is in use. I take down the dowel and flannel and roll it up until I’m done getting into the closet, then put it back. I’d say cost was about $20-$30 but it’s very functional and easy to move when I need to do so.
Thank you for your tips. You share some great ideas!
Excellent idea
Great ideals, I am going to use some of these.
Brenda
When my church was discarding classroom dividers, I brought two home. They had right angle stationary feet on the bottom, but I wanted casters on the bottom. My husband replaced the feet with casters and now I can place my scrapbook pages in sleeves, and hang them up, until I’m certain the pages are done. Using straight pins I often hang embellishments on the second side, as storage for planned pages. But the best part is it can be moved and turned.
Sounds like a great repurposing
Karen, thank you so much. Great ideas.
You are indeed a clever gal! I love all your ideas. Despite its many challenges, one benefit of living in an old home is picture rails. I purchased some picture rail hooks and bought some really heavy flannel, seamed it together to get the width, inserted heavy duty eyelets and was in business. I can slide it curtain fashion, or even take it down when not in use, and no damage to the plaster. Happy quilting!!
Loved this video! My first "design wall" was a 4' x 3' trifold cardboard presentation board that I covered with flannel. With the trifold design, I could either lean it flat against my sofa, or fold the ends in slightly to make it stand up by itself. If I needed to put it away in a hurry, I could fold it up with my blocks still in place on the board, then bring it back out later. It also served double duty as I could store my large cutting mat inside when I was not using them and it would keep the mat flat. Since it was about 1/2" thick when folded closed it was easy to store in a closet or between the wall and my table.
Thank you! I helped my daughter do this for her 4H projects last year so she could laminate her papers with Velcro on the back and change them out and not have to make several different boards. I was wondering what to do with it after she graduated.
Watching from India, twelve hours after the video was uploaded!!! Thank you so much for your great and practical ideas... will definitely use them....
Wow! Thank you big time! I’ll soon be going to an 8-hour sew day and was wishing I could think of a way to have a design wall there. You just made it very easy. 😁
Fabulous ideas, Karen! Thank you. 👏👏👏
I once used the floor as my design wall, but since I can no longer manuever getting down to the floor and getting up again, I use my bed. It's queen-size, which is the largest I ever make. Thanks for great suggestions!
Great tips. I'm going with a curtain rod laying on top of 2 doors, with a flannel sheet. Luckily the curtain rod has a flat side.
Another busy day for me getting things done and organized for Monday's filming. I so enjoy sitting with my hand quilting and watching your video! I hope you have an amazing day! Thanks for posting this video.
Thank you for these tips. We’re trying to decide on the insulation board method. Great idea to cut it down at the vehicle.
Thank you for so many great ideas. I will try to make the pillow case and the last one. Wish you well! 🤩
Thank you! I now know what to do with my old tablecloth.
Love, love your videos! I was asked to make five memory pillows and one memory lap quilt. This is my first quilt, and I needed a design wall. Off to the dollar store where I bought a flannel backed table cloth for a buck fifty. Sewed a channel, command hooks on the wall, and a used curtain rod. Voila, a design wall, works perfectly. Thank you so much.
Funny how much looking at your blocks at eye level helps
This is so helpful! Thank you! Also, I recognized that final quilt as Tula Pink's 100 Modern Quilt Blocks! I'm working on mine now!
Thanks, Karen! All great ideas - so helpful to all of us confronting space (& permanency!) issues.
Indeed, not all artists have the luxury of a whole room permanently devoted to our craft. My grandson never knows what he is going to find on the twin bed he uses when spending the night. Even if it's a quilt top in progress he will often just crawl in under it if I forget to move it!
I have the same murphy bed in my craft room! Love your videos and as a new quilter I am learning so much! Thank You
My new sewing room is a loft with no usable vertical space. Thanks for several great ideas!
Your last demo....the foam core boards taped together is the answer for me. Easy, physically doable, inexpensive, customizable. Thank you so much.
I love your common sense ideas. Thank you!
More excellent info. I have a flannel backed tablecloth on the insulation board and it is just propped against the wall. I need to tighten up my edges - love the thumbtack idea. Thanks !!
Excellent ideas Karen.♥️
This video is what I need. Thank you very much.
This video was very very helpful. My goal for Jan will be to make my first quilt. I will be watching videos and taking notes. I’ve only been sewing for 2 years. So I’ll probably make a lap quilt to begin with. So thanks for all your tips,tricks and strategies.
Good for you Diane. I am finishing a quilt, the 6th quilt but it had been a long time. I didn't remember or realize I needed a walking foot for piecing: even if I pinned and used starch, they were way off. I was at a quilt store and said the sashing and borders that was the next step just cannot be that wonky! She mentioned the walking foot. It helped tremendously. Make use of RUclips, friends, quilt shops. The advice that came with the sashing fabric and thread was priceless.
@@carolg.6838 have the walking foot. I have 12 -9x12 paper piece scrap strips made, I started strip corner to corner. Every time I make a block I freak out on how awesome it is.
You are a life saver.Wonderful ideas you have helped me so much.Thank You
Cheers Karen, I'm almost ready to take over my new sewing room. Goodness knows when the builders will be done, but floor tiled in 2 weeks. Never had a proper design board before. I did make use of blackout curtain lining fabric because it was protecting my fabrics, but had to pin and I couldn't see my fabrics. Looking forward to static blocks on their own wall! LOL.
Oh my GOSH Karen...... AWESOME ideas !!! Thank you SO much.... I'm off to the store tomorrow for my items for my own design wall to fit my smaller area.. Hugs & luv
I couldn’t think of 1 let alone 7, you are such an inspiration! Thanks for the tips.
I have a murphy bed in my sewing room that seldom gets used for sleeping. I have used large clips to hang a fabric backed table protector to use as a design wall. When it is needed for a bed I just unclip and lower the bed. I have a clear view from my sewing machine so I can spot errors or block placements quickly
Great idea.
Shirley here from Canada. Thanks for sharing these great tips.
This may be the wrong video to comment but if someone wants to make a more permanent design board I have a pretty inexpensive way to get it done. Instead of buying the large foam boards from the hardware store, I used the dollar tree foam boards and doubled them up for sturdiness. I just used Elmer glue and some books as weights while they dried. Next we duct taped them together (I would recommend white or clear). I then covered it with batting using the spray glue. I then made a binding to wrap around the edge like a frame and hot glued it to the sides. We screwed it into the wall after that. One tip on that is to cut out squares of batting at the points you will screw the board onto the wall. Otherwise you will rip and tear your batting as the screw goes in, ask me how I know 🤦♀️😂. The cut out batting seamlessly fits right back into place with a little glue and fluffing of the edges! I spent about $20 at the dollar store, plus the batting. The binding edge was in my stash. I would say it costs approximately $50. My sewing room may be small, but I am so fortunate to be able to use an entire wall and it really makes a difference in my design process!
I had a similar thought to use the foam boards from the dollar store simply because it would be difficult for me to transport the larger one from Home Depot.
Great ideas! If on the last one you taped 1 seam on the front & 1 seam on the back it would fold like an accordion & wouldn't have to remove tape to move it, would just have to remove flannel & fold.
I would have to cut and do some other adjustments. Which I might have done if I thought I was going to move it more than 3 times a year.
Great ideas Karen.
These are all genius 👏, I like the easy pillow case method
That is such an easy one. I am using two right now