Design Wall One ... more time

[Liberata T.]

Though this has been discussed before, I need help in selecting the type of surface/fabric for my design "wall" that is actually going to be more of a roll up blind over an open book case rather than mounted on a wall. After trying out using the floor or the dining room table, DH and I came up with this option. Since I am in Switzerland where I have only a few shops to search, I need some recommendations. I am going to travel to Lausanne, then to Bern to search this week. If nothing come ups I will have to take the train to Geneva. If that fails, I will have to order something from the USA. I looked at the portable design wall but the cost of shipping will be too much. Oh yes, we have an Ikea in the area if someone knows of an option there.
Thanks

[Liberata T.]

A suggestion I got from my LQS owner was to use a flannel backed vinyl tablecloth. It works well and I can roll it up with the quilt blocks in it to store. I would think you could rig it up to something to attach it to a roll up blind kit (I think I've seen how to make those roll up blinds yourself on the internet somewhere- maybe HGTV.com.)

Don't know if that would work for you but, at least here tablecloth is easy to find and cheap.

Lisa

[Eileen K.]

If you don't have the option of buying a tablecloth, you can get some light, neutral colored flannel. Maybe sew 2 layers together so it has some weight.
I agree with Lisa-try to rig it as a roll up blind. Here in the States there are kits but I don't know about Europe. Are there any do-it-yourself type of stores?
eileenkny

[Eileen K.]

My 1st quilting teacher uses pain white fleece. So that might be another option.

[Eileen K.]

I hope this helps:
http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/li_oth...269110,00.html

maybe if you change out the decorator fabric mentioned in this article with the flannel backed table cloth and maybe add an additional layer of flannel. I think IKEA has roll up shades for sale in longer lenghts, too.

Lissette

[Sandy L.]

I don't have wall space for a design wall. One wall has 2 sets of sliding closet doors so that is where I put my design wall. My husband helped me and I found an old upholstery tube that was long and sturdy. We glued one end of some warm and natural (2 pieces that I had stitched together) to the tube. He drilled 3 small holes on the top of the door molding into which I put 3 nails. We made 3 holes in the tubing the same distance apart and he fashioned some hooks out of wire. So, when I need my design wall, I put the nails into the molding, unroll the warm and natural from the upholstery tube and hook the hooks onto the nails. When I'm done, I roll it back up, take the nails down and stand the tube up in the corner of the closet.

I did find that sometimes I need a little more support in the back of the warm & natural if I'm doing a lot of pinning. I bought some foam core at the office supply store and just stand it up behind the warm & natural.

I hope this isn't too confusing but it works and didn't cost much.

Good luck!

Sandy in Phoenix

[Ruth C.]

You could try to find a used projector screen that would work much the same as a roll-up blind and might come with a stand, or could be attached to the ceiling.

[Liberata T.]

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I believe I know where I can get the felt backed tablecloth fabric and ready made tablecloths. My only concern is how difficult it would be to pin the fabric to it whenever pinning is necessary.
Also had heard that Warm & Natural was a good choice for a wall. I search for a European supplier but couldn't find one. Would have to order from the internet on a USA site. Am giving that serious thought.
Roller blinds won't work for this application. The type I am going to construct would be a roman blind that folds up. As a matter of fact, that's what I am using now but I have to pin my fabrics to it.
Thanks again.

[Liberata T.]

How about fusible felt or use a spray adhesive on regular felt. Felt might be pliable enough for a roman shade and your fabric should stick to it without pins.

[Liberata T.]

Just got back from my first attempt to find suitable materials for my design wall. The only felt I found was small sheets of the craft felt and some really heavy felted wool. I also found some table protectors that looked as though they might work but the store only had rounds and large ovals. There wasn't an opened sample and at almost $45 each I wasn't about to assume it would work. The sales force doesn't look kindly at opening packages. So tomorrow it is off to the city of Lausanne to check out the selection there. The my Bernina dealer is there and I will stop in to ask if he knows of any possibilities. Again, thanks for your suggestions.

[Liberata T.]

on the tablecloth idea I used to use one before I got my current 4x8 sheets of foamcore covered in fleece, and it worked fine. the flannel backing was strong enough to hold most blocks, but if anything got too heavy (rows stitched together, etc.) I could always pin to the cloth. the only problem I suppose that would present is that the table cloth is then NOT going to be waterproof if I decided to put it back to its original purpose LOL! I think that the plastic was stiff enough to hold up when rolled & tied, it wouldn't need anything else like a rod to keep it straight, and without a rod, you could actually fold it over if you really needed to condense its' size! good luck, Florence

[Jenny C.]

hi Libbi
the table protectors aren't the same thing and appear to be way to dear. the vinyl/flannelette backed table cloths only cost a couple of dollars. Good luck with your quest
Jenny in Oz

[Liberata T.]

I and DH walked up and down the hills of Lausanne yesterday and I found nothing that appeared to be useful for a design wall. On the train home I decided that it would be faster and cheaper (all this traveling from place to place on the train, and gas is $8-$11 per gallon :shock: ) to order from the USA. So that is what I did last night. I ordered a 10' x10' piece of warm and natural. Thanks for your suggestions. You're great

If you have seen the pictures of my latest projects on my blog, you can see I have the quilts pinned to a curtain, my current design wall. It's what gave me the idea to create the roman blind.

[Liberata T.]

Libbi, how does the price for Bernina parts compare in Lausanne to the USA? I am glad you found something for a design wall. I have been using mine since the moment I put it up in January.

[Liberata T.]

I tried out a new Bernina in Dublin, CA in March but bought it in Lausanne. Considering the exchange rate of the dollar to the Swiss Franc, the price wasn't that different. The parts also seem to be the equivalent price. The biggest difference was the trade in on my 170. I got 3 times the value here.
The biggest difference in price here is supplies. The basic fabric measurement is a meter, approximately 39 inches. The price ranges from 16 CHF/m to 26 CHF/m, most at 20-22 CHF/m. With the current exchange rate at almost 1 CHF= $0.96. OUCH. Batting, thread, etc. are also higher and much less choice.