How to Create a Quilting Design Wall

A design wall is a place on a wall where we can hangrequire seaming together the fabrics, using a flannel
units of a quilt. This permits the quilter to stand backsheet can be considered. It is a good idea to pre wash
and scrutinize the design before sewing the quilt.all fabric used.
Quilters often dangle batting or plain white flannel on� The batting - Polyester is not a first-rate
their design walls, because quilt blocks tend to stick tooption for a design wall since it tends to have a good
it effortlessly without pinning.deal of loft and pills. A total cotton batting is the best
A design wall is one of the tools that are of immensechoice. Quilts made with cotton batts are popular all
advantage to any quilt-maker. It allows her to standthe year round. They do not hold heat and make you
back and assess the flow of colors, the combinationfeel cooler during summers. At the same time, they
effect and the effects of various patterns in a currentabsorb and trap air and keep you warm on cold wintry
quilt making project. In the initial stages, a design wallnights.
helps us to cut out and accumulate block orFor making the design wall, we need to stick the three
appliqu� pieces to assess whether thelayers of fabric that go into the making of the quit,
selection and combination of colors are working. Asbatting and fastening them together with the help of
work progresses, we can also mount each newsafety pins. Using a walking foot, we need to stitch on
section as and when we finish so that we can assessthe vertical, marked line down the center of the fabric
the work and make necessary changes. You canand continue sewing vertical lines out to the rim of the
make various color adjustments in the borders basedfabric. Once that is done, we need to stitch the
on what you perceive about the middle of the quilthorizontal lines in the same manner. Once the entire
while it hangs on the design wall.vertical as well as the horizontal lines is sewn, we need
How to Create a Design Wallto straighten and square the edges.
A further piece of good news is that a design wall isNow we are ready to hang our design wall and start
not difficult to make at all. However we must takeusing it. We just need to place bits of fabrics, blocks or
certain aspects into consideration.quilt tops on the design wall, bring into line the corners
� The size � The larger the area ofand boundaries with the stitching lines. The consistency
the wall, the bigger the design wall can be. It is best toof the flannel will cause the fabric to fasten. There are
have the design wall on a wall that you can stand attimes when we can use straight pins to break through
least eight feet away from. The best way to analyzethe batting. This proves helpful in keeping all the
a design is to review it standing away from it. Thesections in place.
next decision to be taken is whether the design wallUsing a design wall will add a new level of creativity
needs to be portable or fixed. If portable, then it needsand life to your quilting and assure a design you'll be
to be small in size.happy with for years to come.
� The fabric � Depending on theJan Myers is the author of numerous free articles
size of the design wall, we need to buy fabric for bothabout quilting, including quilting
the front and the back, and cut it to the preferred size.�how-to�s�, the historical
The fabric used at the back can be the same that issignificance of quilts, and stories about quilts through
used in front. We must keep in mind not to use toothe years that warm the heart. She is the found of the
heavy a fabric. If the design wall is big enough toQuilting Resource Center at .