Making a Quilt Design Wall

A quilt design wall can help you arrange your quilt to see if the colors will match before you start stitching things together. You can easily experiment with different designs and move the pieces of fabric around on your quilting wall. A quilt design wall can be a permanent fixture or a cloth-based portable wall that you can quickly roll up and move around. Here are a few tips on how to build the perfect design wall to assist you in creating your next quilt.

Making a quilt design wall: Choosing a background

The background of your quilt design wall should be a neutral color so it does not interfere with your perception of the vibrant colors of your quilt. White is usually the most popular, but light grey or beige can also work well if you prefer something a little less bright. Ideally, you want a material for your quilt design wall that will easily hold the pieces of fabric in place with just a few pins or a bit of tape. Adding a grid to the design wall can be helpful in aligning the pieces of your quilt in a straight line.

Making a quilt design wall: Permanent fixtures

You can either build a permanent quilt design wall or make a more portable one that can be easily folded up and transported. For a permanently installed quilt design wall, you want a stiff, thick surface that makes it easy to pin pieces of fabric to it. Foam insulation sheets can be purchased at Home Depot, Lowe's, or any other home improvement store. The sheets usually come in a standard 4' x 8' size and can be found in a variety of thicknesses. Many stores will cut the sheets into smaller sizes if requested. To use the foam insulation as a quilt design wall, cover it in fabric, stapling or taping the fabric onto the back of the foam to hold it in place. Install the foam onto your wall with nails or wood screws.

Making a quilt design wall: Portable design walls

For a portable quilt design wall, you want a surface that can be quickly folded up and moved to a new location. This rules out the thicker materials like foam or building board. Soft cloth materials like a large tablecloth, acrylic felt, or large flannel sheet. An interesting and unconventional method of making a portable quilt design wall is to actually make a full quilt out of a neutral color with no patterns or designs. You can even draw a grid on this type of quilt to help you keep your fabric pieces properly aligned.