For years, I have used a patchwork of batting scraps pinned to the wall to the left of my sewing table as my “design wall”. It has collected stray threads and I have lint rolled it repeatedly, and between the lint rolling, frequent use, and general age, the batting has all begun to sag and look rather ratty. Just take a look at my recent blocks from the Modern Plus Quilt Along on my old design wall to get an idea:
Modern Plus Sampler Tribal Rows
The batting was applied in stripes to fit the general area. I concluded it was time for a much needed refresh of my design wall, and it took me about 15 minutes to do the full change.
Design Wall Refresh
I used 80 inches off of my Quilter’s Dream Dream Green queen size folded batting roll. I tacked up the upper edge and down the left side about half way, then I was able to cut a notch out of the right hand side to fit the batting around the desk with my sewing machine.
UPDATE: I use flat thumb tacks around all 4 sides of the batting to tack it to my wall.
It is so much better! I have honestly been dreading the task for a while, but it made a huge difference and took way less time than I had anticipated. Is there anything small you can do to refresh your sewing space, or perhaps something big like this that you have been putting off? I’m glad I made the change.
I’m biting the bullet and ordering floor to ceiling storage from Ikea. Plan is to hide everything behind clean doors! Probably take forever to build and only add to the clutter but I have high hopes!
Nothing like a clean and fresh design wall! Looks great!
What type/size pins did you use? Looks wonderful.
It looks great Yvonne! I hate picking off all those stray threads so yes, I could use a refresh on my wall as well. I also have a machine that needs to go. Moving it out of my sewing room would give me more space to work in – I’ve just been putting it off.
It looks great! Do you tack it on top, bottom and sides or just the top?
So clean and fresh. Love it. How did you tack it to the wall?
I can’t touch my sewing space as major renos will be happening up there come Spring. I get some good exercise running down to the spare room where my design wall is, temporarily, so yep hear ya on the sag as mine is a gridded flannel I have pinned into styrofoam wall insulation boards. Normally we’ve attached those boards to the wall but not this time. Yours looks great!
This task – it is so overdue in my space. Good for you, I am inspired.
Looks great. I really need to figure out a design wall in the apartment. On the other hand, I really want to sort through my scraps – there is some general disorganization there.
I have done something similar but put it on an IKEA wire with clips to hold up my white felt because to extend it fully I have to cover a door into a guest bathroom. I’d love to see how you’ve organized the rest of your sewing space, particularly how you fit a longarm in there too.
Hello Yvonne!! Sorry I have not been around…busy doing quilt projects. Your new batting wall is fantastic. It is a great idea, also. I have several places that I have tried, they only work for certain sizes. So, my design wall is moved constantly. It is fine and keeps me on my toes. LOL. Have a fantastic day working on your lovely quilt!!
Looks great, isn’t Dream Green wonderful!! I love it for quilts. Your wall looks so useful. I do not have a wall I can use, my sewing room is all open with windows on two sides, and open to the next room on one side. The last wall is covered in bookshelves.
Congrats on your new design wall. A good design wall is definitely an essential piece of studio equipment for a designer! Yours looks very handy, right next to your work station, and a good size.
Boy I bet that feels good!
I, too, am wondering how you tacked the batting to the wall. I have a design wall hooked onto Command strips but it’s only 56″. I’ve got another 3 ft to the corner and would like to have that extra room when working on some projects.
A new ironing board cover is on my list – the grotty state of my current one makes me wince every time I press a seam! Thanks for the inspiration to employ a bit of the ‘just do it’ attitude to jobs in the sewing room! 🙂
It is amazing how different it can feel with small changes. Your wall looks great.
I could start with followng your example and pinning some batting to a wall (there must be somewhere in the house I could sneak this in without anybody noticing!)
I love design walls! And especially fresh clean ones! It’s funny how we dread a project like that yet it really takes no time at all to accomplish! I changed my design wall a year ago and I’m happy to say it looks just as clean today as it did when I changed it. Thank goodness for lint rollers!
I am jealous of your design wall! I haven’t one!