Creating A Quick And Easy Quilt Design Wall

Do you have a WIP (Work In Progress) quilt project that you've cut out and are excited to finish but dread the discomfort of arranging and rearranging your quilt blocks on the floor? One lay out is fine but by the second or third pick up your legs are done? If so, you're not alone. Lots of us feel the same when it comes to laying out our quilt designs. 

Inspiration Strikes

This solution to the discomfort of laying out pieces came to me when I stumbled upon a long-forgotten WIP quilt project in my stash. Memories of sore hamstrings to save my knee flooded back, motivating me to find a better way to design and arrange my quilts. I knew about covering a board and adhering it on but I wanted something quick, easy and I didn’t want to leave the house. I had quilting to do!

That’s the project on the bottom right. All the pieces were cut out and ready to go.

The Quick and Easy Quilt Design Wall Solution

A quilt design wall is a dedicated vertical space where you can easily place and arrange your quilt blocks or pieces, allowing you to see the overall design without the physical strain of working on the floor. While there are various materials you can use to create a fancy, covered board design wall, I opted for just quilt batting due to its quick and easy installation.

Materials You'll Need:

1. Quilt batting (enough to cover your desired wall space)
2. An clear and clean wall (preferably near your sewing area)
3. Tacks or pushpins
4. Painter’s or masking tape 
5. Scissors

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Quilt Design Wall:

Prepare Your Wall:

1. Plan out the area of your wall where you plan to create your quilt design space. Make sure it's clean and free of anything that might get in the way, like plugged in cords.

Unpack or Cut the Quilt Batting Off The Roll:

1. If you’re using bagged batting take it out of the bag and let it relax the wrinkles out.
2. Using your scissors, cut the quilt batting to the desired size, ensuring it's the size of the largest quilts you make, or what you have room for.

Attach the Batting to the Wall:

1. Pin the batting to the top of the wall. Then pin out from the center.

Secure the Quilt Batting:

1. Use tape loops to secure the side edges of the batting.

Begin Arranging Your Quilt Blocks:

1. Now comes the fun part! Start arranging your quilt blocks on the quilt batting. Because the batting is slightly textured, your fabric blocks will adhere to it naturally, making it easy to rearrange and adjust your design as needed.

Step Back and Evaluate:

1. Step back to get a better perspective of your quilt layout. The beauty of a quilt design wall is that you can stand comfortably and view your progress, making it easier to make design decisions.

Make Necessary Adjustments:

1. If you're not satisfied with the arrangement, simply move the blocks around until you achieve the desired design. No more sore hamstrings or aching knees!

Benefits of Using Quilt Batting for Your Design Wall:

1. Cost-Effective: Quilt batting is an affordable option for creating a design wall, making it accessible to quilters of all budgets.
2. Flexibility: The quilt batting surface is forgiving, allowing you to easily rearrange your blocks until you're happy with the design.
3. Space-Saving: A quilt design wall takes up minimal space and can be positioned in any room with a clean wall, making it a versatile addition to your quilting setup.
4. Improved Comfort: Say goodbye to the discomfort of working on the floor. Designing quilts on a vertical surface is much easier on your body.

Creating a quilt design wall from quilt batting is a practical and cost-effective solution for quilters who want to save their backs, hamstrings and knees from the strain of arranging quilt blocks on the floor. With just a few simple materials and steps, you can transform any clean wall into a dedicated design space that will make the quilting process more enjoyable and comfortable. So, grab your quilt batting and start designing your next masterpiece with ease! Your hammies will thank you, lol!

If you make one I would love to see how it goes or how it turns out. To share I’m on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/josimpsondesign or email jo@josimpsondesign.com

Here’s the printable pdf version of how to Create a Quick And Easy Quilt Design Wall:

Happy Creating,
Jo Simpson