I think this one might have to go on the bed tonight! hehe!
So for February my UFO is #8, this pastel stars quilt, which I loaded onto the frame, gave the machine a spruce up, clean and oil, and she's ready to go.
What I realised today, working in my Happy Daize Studio was that I need never have my frame empty again! It is so great to have all the equipment I need in one place!
Speaking of equipment, one thing I've never had is a design wall, though my living room floor made for a fantastic space to lay out and create.
So my intention is to turn this wall into a design wall....
So here's the thing, I'm thinking polystyrene sheets propped up against the wall covered with wadding (batting) or a flannel sheet, or even both. The slight angle of propping will hopefully stop things falling off.
How have you made your design wall? What would you recommend? I'd love to hear your thoughts, either leave me a comment here or e-mail, either way, make sure I can reply :)
A also had a little play tonight ....
but I can't show you too much .... not yet anyway!
Happy Quilting!
16 comments:
I am afraid I cant help with the design wall ,my kitchen floor has to surfice ,and then using the baby gate to the lounge ,where the dog has to be, because she so likes to help ..love Jan xx
Trudi my design wall is simply a flannette bed sheet pinned to the wall - fabrics just stick to it! The addition of polystyrene behind would be useful but probably not necessary unless you want it for extra insulation! Just a word on the choice of sheeting colour - go for light grey if you can (I have a lilac colour that seems to work ok) as it tends to act as a better background neutral for a wider range of hues.
Like the quilt too btw!
Love the finished quilt as well as the one that is now on your frame. I use just a large piece of flannel pinned to the wall for my design board, and at one point I had 12 inch applique blocks hanging there for over a year & none fell off. (I'm a little ashamed to admit it, but its useful info for you.)
What a great idea from Tracey to just use a flanelette sheet, I think I need to try that, if I can find enough wall space somewhere!
I love your arrowhead quilt, can you tell me where you found the pattern please?
We made my design way with wall insulation board. It's similar in consistency to acoustic ceiling tiles. It comes in 4'x8' sheets at home improvement stores like Home Depot, Lowes. DH glued 4'x8' sheets of 1/4" plywood to the backs to give it structure. Then I upholstered them with a layer of Warm and Natural batting and then covered that with a layer of flannel (a king size flannel flat sheet). DH hung each upholstered 4'x8' unit parallel to each other on the wall to make and 8'x8' design wall. The flannel will hold most blocks in place but the material is of a nature that you can use pins to attach larger pieces if needed. I love it. I know 8' x 8' is rather large but I usually make king size quilts.
Hi Trudy,
Just found your blog and it's delightful.
My sewing studio is in the basement and I have one large wall that I fixed a piece of foam core board to. First I sprayed the foam core board with adhesive and then I wrapped it with an off-white cotten flannel. You'll find that cotton fabrics cling to the flannel easily but even if they don't you can always use push pins with the foam core board.
Gail :)
Love your new look blog Trudi. My design wall is a flannelette sheet (Dunelm) thrown over the door and secured by closing the door so I don't think you'll have any worries with things sticking on your wall! I didn't believe it would work but it does!!
Well I am in a DAIZE as to how much you have finished since your new space got done!! I think you need another quilt frame and some friends to come play!! What a party room!!!
I had a design board at previous house (it didn't survive the move).
I used homosot board which is like a drywall type of board but made from hard pressed paper product. It is pinnable and ironable so I was able to pin large heavy things to it and give them a press or shot of steam if needed. I covered it with flannel and canvas and made a grid pattern marking every inch with a perm. marker. Lots more work then a flannel sheet or back side of a plastic table cloth but it was used alot -- most fabrics were pinned/stabbed on.
have a fun day in your play room!!
Love the makeover.....wow do you love it?
Its a whole new you :0).
My design wall is one of those "batting sheets" that is sold as a "design wall". It works very well, I always have something up on the wall...they don't always get finished but its still fun to play with the blocks. Looks like you have a nice large wall to use!
Happy Sewing
Hi Trudy I have just found your blogI love what you do Will be looking in again I am not good at Quilting I just dabble.I am scottishnanna But I live in Australia And My name Is Mary Wood.Have A good Weekend.
Hugs Mary.
oooh, velly interesting,Ilike it...wot is it?have you been colouring in again?.....niiiice.
Love your new blog look! Very nice! Congratulations on your finish -- it's such a pretty quilt!
I just redid my design wall. I used batting just hung for the top for years. But larger blocks were falling off. Rows had to be pinned but not straight in I had to you two hands to hold and pin. I redid the wall with Two 4 by 8 feet sheets of insulation and then taped the two together. We used long T pins to pin the top to the wall so it should not fall over. I then put unbleached batting and hated the colour so I got out a white flannel backing to see if I liked the colour better good and white. I was lazy and did not take the batting off and it is great this way. The layer of batting and flannel has made the board very fabric sticky. I have not had to pin much on the wall but I can use pins into the insulation. I hope this helps. I design on the wall to much to be with out a design wall hung up.
Love your arrowhead quilt! Great finish! Inspires me to finish mine!
Hi Trudi,
Love your quilts! and regarding a design wall, once you have yours, you will love it! Mine is very similar to Sherri's, two sheets of insulation board which we attached to the wall (actually nailed it up with no-head finishing nails), then covered with gray felt, which I flat-seamed together to make a big enough piece (wall is 7 foot by 7 foot). I used gray on the adivce of another quilter, it is great because it doesn't "get in the way" like white does. fabric usually clings nicely, although I use regular glass head sewing pins to prevent headaches when pieces fall to the floor! Hope his helps!
I went to JoAnn Fabrics (with a coupon and not for quilting fabrics) and purchased two yards of heavy white felt that was 72" wide. I had my husband help me attach it to a wall in my studio. Now, I have a wonderful 72" x 72" design wall that nothing has fallen off of so far. I am really happy with it.
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