Design Wall One ... more time

[Liberata T.]

I am going to use Warm n' Natural. It arrived last week but I haven't constructed the blind yet. I wanted to rearrange the shared room first. That includes the support of DH. Slows downs the process somewhat.

[Liberata T.]

Libbi, I also have an 8x4 piece of foamcore which I have covered with warm and natural. I have it screwed into my wall and it works wonderfully. I have a friend who doesn't have the wallspace and cut her's in half, added the warm and natural and then hinged it. She can put it up and take it down when she needs. What did you end up using?

[Liberata T.]

I'll answer 2 questions in one reply.
Switzerland is not in the EU and doesn't use the Euro. You can use the euro to make purchases in most tourist places, but the change will be given in Swiss Francs (CHF). "CH" is the 2 letter code for Switzerland which represents "Confoederatio Helvetica," which I believe is Romansch, and "F" is franc. There are 4 official languages in Switzerland: German, French, Italian, and Romansch (spoken by 1% of the pop.)

I do not believe it is any advantage to purchase your Bernina in Switzerland rather than the USA. The exchange rate of dollar to CHF is not good at this time. I would also expect that the USA would charge custom's duties. I don't know what shipping would cost but it is probably significant. The packing box is VERY BIG. The Bernina dealer in Lausanne speaks English and is very upfront and knowledgable (sp?). Check all the associated costs with importing a sewing machine. However if it is part of the shipping of an entire household, the rules are different and the moving company would include it in the total manifest.

[Eileen K.]

My daughter asked me if she should check out the local Bernina dealer in Lousanne for me, if it isn't a better price I should stick to my local dealer. Thank you

[Eileen K.]

Libbi,
Switzerland doesn't use the Euro? What does CHF stand for?
eileenkny

[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.

[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 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.

[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.]

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

[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.]

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.]

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.

[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.

[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