Build Your Own Design Wall

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1 Build Your Own Design Wall Jenene and Alice can show you how. You can find us every day at Quilting-Tidbits.com

2 Permanent Design Wall This is a permanently installed design wall using stiff foam insulation for the backer board, albeit, a little worse for wear! But, there are a couple ways to secure this type material to the wall. The first way is to glue two pieces of board to the wall making it permanent. However, if you decide to glue anything to your wall be aware that if you need to move it, there would be some clean up. At a minimum, you will need to remove the glue residue; and then you will need to repaint the area, maybe several times to cover the mistake. I call it a mistake because I move my board around frequently. This type of installation does not fit my needs. I learned the hard way! But it may be just what you need. There is an alternative to glue for the do-it-yourselfers. You might want to use Velcro to attach the board to the wall. Read on!

3 Velcro Verses Glue Velcro comes in black, white and taupe. Look for the twopart Velcro with sticky back. Cut a piece of rough hook the length of your 1 by 1 board, peel the backing from the Velcro and press Velcro on the piece of wood. You might want to do this before you secure the wood to the wall. Next, cut a piece of soft loop Velcro, the same size, and press to top edge of the backer board. Velcro works its holding magic when the rough hook surface is pressed to the soft loop surface. You can even cut two or three small blocks of wood from your scraps of furring board you used at the ceiling and Velcro the blocks to the bottom of your backer board to make the board hang perfectly level. Another way is to use a decorative rod with clamps. The jaws of the clamps should fit around the rod. The red tips of the clamp grab on to the backer board. The board should recess between the rod anchors to fit against the wall. Be sure you have ceiling clearance to operate the clamps.

4 Instantaneous Stick and Peel Design walls must have a fuzzy surface. The object is to find a surface that allows your quilting pieces to cling when pressed in place. Flannel backed vinyl by the yard from a fabric store works well but make sure it is wide enough to cover your frame. A Picnic tablecloth will work too, provided it is large enough. A flat flannel queen size bed sheet from an outlet store may work too; again provided it is large enough. 100 percent cotton batting is a good choice. Again, get the right size. If you chose the flannel bed sheet or cotton batting buy enough for a double layer that can be stitched together at 2-inch intervals forming a grid pattern which makes it easier to align your quilt pieces. Whatever you decide, make sure the flannel side is fuzzy and not low nap. One last thought, avoid seams at all cost!

5 To Use a Backer Board or Not Search out the kind of backing material you want to use, if any. Stiff foam insulation or building board can be found at your local building supply store and will come in a 4 x 8 foot sheet; better buy two pieces for an 8 x 8. Foam core presentation board can be found at an office supply store and is better suited for a portable desk top design wall that can travel with you. If using either the stiff foam insulation, building board, or foam core presentation board, simply lay your choice of flannel over the front of the board and slightly extend the flannel over the edges and secure with duck tape or staples to the back side.

6 Free Standing Design Wall light weight and Semi-permanent Design Wall. It is portable enough to place against a wall. When not in use, maybe slide it under the bed.

7 Free Standing Semi-Permanent Design Wall For a semi-permanent free standing design wall build a frame using furring boards which you can pick up at your local lumber store along with a few wood screws and wood glue. They may cut the furring strips to length as well as four gussets. You will need two 8- foot long and two 9- foot long furring strips. Be aware of how high your ceilings are when deciding on the size. Using wood screws and a little wood glue, secure the frame s top and sides together; then glue the gusset in the corners forming a 45 degree angle. Next secure with a couple of screws or staple gun. But first using a square, make sure the frame is square before you screw it together and before the glue dries. This type frame will not have a backer board. Do not sand the pieces as the slightly rough boards will help secure the flannel. Stretch the flannel over the frame and make sure it is tightly stretched then secure with staples or small tacks which you can also pick up at the lumber store.

8 Adding Grid Lines Next draw a 2-inch grid on your flannel. Using hash marks, mark the sides, top and bottom boards at two inch intervals starting at the middle of each board and working to the outer edges. Then connect the hash marks using your Sharpie and a straight edge such as an extra 9-foot furring board. Or grab a friend to help and use a chalk-line to snap a straight line. Then use a yard stick to connect the lines to form the grid.

9 If you like this Mini-Book you may also want to return to Quiltingtidbits.com and learn how to build a basting frame. You know, a light box is a must but soooo expensive! Let me show you how simple it is to put one together using things that you probably have on hand. Want to see how to draw your pattern directly in the hoop when hand quilting? You re going to like it! Can t wait for you to see the FREE pattern for Sam and Sun Bonnet Sue using pre-stamped fabric. Take a look at the other FREE patterns!