Easy DIY Design Wall Using Felt Squares

I had a design wall that I kind of slapped up quickly using a piece of batting and the design wall felt fabric on top. It was ok, but I knew it was temporary. After him-hawing over a few options, I decided to explore the felt squares.

These were CHEAP and they seriously worked great!

Couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.

Here are the supplies I used:

* Felt squares – https://amzn.to/47cXYnu – I bought 2 of these for a total of 40 squares. These are 12″ x 12″ I had 3 squares leftover after I put together the wall.

* Pearl head 3/4″ pins – https://amzn.to/3z2Kyhh – these won’t poke a hole in your fabric if you use them and they are shorter so they shouldn’t poke your wall.

* Instant flannel design wall – https://amzn.to/3Zeodbi – I’ve used this for a few years and it has held up nicely and is the perfect size for my design wall.

This specific felt square is a little flat or compressed on the top. While it does grab your fabric, it’s not the best so I opted to put the flannel design wall I was already using directly on top and that works perfectly.

You could use these as they are, just know you will end up using pins because of they aren’t as grabby as you may like.

Cute the back or the sticky side with your rotary cutter and a ruler. I measured 1 1/2″ from the edge.

Push slightly on the rotary and you’ll hear when it is cut through the paper. You don’t want to push so hard that you cut the felt. You only want to cut the paper.

I did this so I didn’t have the whole square stuck to the wall. Hopefully will make it easier to remove it if I need to or decide to change something.

You can also not use your ruler and just wing the cut 🙂

Peal the paper back ONLY ON THE EDGES!! Leave the center sticky area covered.

Stick it to the wall. I started sticking them to the wall at the top. I didn’t care if it didn’t go all the way to the floor. You can decide for yourself.

I didn’t draw a line to keep it straight, but probably could have to make it easier for myself – but overall it went together easily and quickly.

Cover the squares with the flannel design wall.

I had 7 squares across the top and 6 squares down. This was the perfect size for the flannel design I had been using for years.

It worked out perfectly.

Here’s a look at the previous design wall I made. It was wavy and looked a little sloppy.

Here is the new design wall. It looks so much cleaner and nicer!

Since the picture I did go and add some of those tiny pins to the top and sides to secure the flannel in place. It was fine, but I didn’t want to deal with smoothing it out – so I added pins.

I pushed the pins a little sideways so they lay flat and out of the way.

Here’s a look at how the felt squares butted right up to each other nicely. The sticky along the outside edges worked perfectly.

If there was one that I didn’t love how I put it, I peeled up the square and repositioned. It was pretty easy to do that!

Video Showing the Easy Design Wall with Felt Squares

Here’s how I am storing my pins! I picked this bird up at the thrift store and wanted to use it for something, so I filled the bottom with some batting and dumped the package of pins into it. It’s ready to use!

More Quilting Resources

• My Previous design wall – using only batting and flannel!
• Organize your sewing room
• Kitchki Pincushions

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