How to Make a Quilt Design Wall

There are quite a few options when it comes to making a quilt design wall. I have had a few in the past and they’ve always been simple and easy to make.

In the future, I would love to make something a little more permanent – and nicer. But for now, you can make a design wall for your quilt blocks just like the one I have.

You should have all the materials you need on hand. Batting, felt (if you want), pins.

Materials for the design wall

• 72″ Quilt wall from Brewer or this one from Fons and Porters this is similar to the one I have on top of the batting behind. It really works great. Lays really nice and is easy to pin to the wall or wherever you want it to display
• Batting – 72″ x 72″ I have a piece of batting underneath the quilt wall felt. I find that it keeps me from poking the wall with pins a little better than the single layer.
• Push Pins

You don’t need to use both. I have for now because it is a little nicer to have a little bit of thickness behind the quilt blocks that are hanging.

Plus it keeps me from poking the wall with pins (If I use them when using the design wall).

More to pin to if you need as well. It’s not required, but having only single layers before – I like this better.

How do your blocks stay on the wall

Flannel, batting and felt have a little bit of a texture to it and are great for making design walls. This texture allows your quilt blocks, rows and pieces of fabric to stay on the wall.

When you place your block on the wall you’ll need to smooth out pushing it into the material so it really secures it.

I have found that if I don’t take the time to smooth the block, you’ll find that it won’t stay as well and will fall.

If you are starting to hang larger pieces – like rows or sections of the quilt they are heavier and they won’t stay as well on the wall. You’ll need to use pins to keep them in place.

I do have a little collection of pins on the a SewTites pin pad. Keeps the pins at hand and not falling on the floor or poking the wall.

How to make a quilt design wall

Step 1: Find the center of the design wall piece and pin into place

Step 2: Smooth from the center to the sides and pin in place to secure.

Step 3: Continue spreading the design wall material from the center to the sides until the edges are pinned and secured and there aren’t any ripples of bumps.

Step 4: Trim the batting or fabric to the size you need. I used the floor trim as the trimmed edge.

Repeat the process if you have additional layers.

Additional design wall options

• Felt squares. I’ve seen these being used in quilt rooms and they look great! You can customize them a bit as well because they are 12″ x 12″ in size. You put as many up as you need in the shape you need. They are a bit thicker than the one layer of batting and felt as well, so no pin holes in the wall!
• Felt backed table cloths. This is another option as well. Use the felt side for putting your quilt blocks on. You may need to use pins to hold the blocks as it’s not super thick. A table cloth design wall is great for travel and sewing retreats or wherever you need a temporary design wall.

Video for making your own quilt wall for designing

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