the casual quilter

I have one of those cardboard cutting mats that I didn't use. I "repurposed" it by stapling flannel to one side. It's big enough that I can lay out a lot of block pieces (or blocks) and I can fold it up and stash it when I'm not using it.

OmaForFour

A teacher just recommended to me to get 3 yards of flannel backed vinyl and the stuff that when you hang something (it looks somewhat like putty), you just stretch it to get it back off the wall. (No pins, nails, frames).

cindyg19

I think a large plastic tablecloth with flannel back will be less expensive. Some can even be found in a discount store.

OmaForFour

Mardens has the flannel backed vinyl for $1.99/yd. I am not sure but it may be wider than the tablecloth. Also, since she recommended 3 yards to make sure you have enough for any size quilt (fold back what is not being used), I think this would be better than having to seam a couple of table cloths together. At this price, it might come about about the same unless you find them on sale for about $1. I had mentioned the tablecloths to her and that is when she told me about the vinyl. I saw her piece of vinyl and it is very sturdy. I think it would hold up better than the tablecloths also. I do agree, though, that tablecloths are another way of doing this.
I am in a class with this teacher for OBW and it is fabulous. That is why I need to get the vinyl.

Kathi in PA

My design wall is a large piece of white felt stapled to a thin board that is screwed into the wall in my sewing/quilting room. It cost me about $10.00 and it works great! If i need to move my blocks around i just remove and reposition!!

Kathi in PA

Antdebby1

After reading this thread with all the great suggestions, I went to Target and bought a cheap flannel back tablecloth. I used pushpins to attach it to the wall. I am so pleased!!!

denilynne

I use those flannel backed table covers from the dollar store, tacked it to my wall, fabrics stick to it great.

Kathy9052

I just took a class with Pat Speth (Nickel Quilt lady). She gave the following directions for a design wall. Use the cardboard cutting mat for sewers that folds up. Using extendable curtain rods that have the bent ends, fasten a flannel backed tablecloth (with flannel side out) to the cardboard mat with 2" binder clips over the flannel and curtain rod. The rods are used at the top and bottom to hold the mat open. The size of the design wall can be full size or smaller if you are working on a wall hanging.

Nolee

I use a big sheet of white flannel, made a curtain-like pocket on the top to put one of those small, expandable tension curtain rods through, then put it between my window frame and a wall. It works wonderfully, then I take it down and stand it up, all rolled up, in the downstairs closet. Takes up hardly any room. Here is a picture of a quilt hanging on it, so you can see how I hang it up. It's against the window frame on the left and the wall on the right.

edensgaite

I also use the flannel back table cloth..works fine for me.
mikki