Surely none of you are like me and start another grand idea before the previous twenty are finished. Design walls are as essential as fabric in my mind for designing a quilt. Wall space is a limited commodity in this house and I needed a multiple design wall solution. I finally got around to a simple fix. Sew doubled up ribbon to the top of one design wall that has a laminate backing. Place your project…work on it. When you get bored with it, roll up that design wall and tie it with some pretty bows… 
and easy-peazy move onto the project on the design wall beneath. The laminate keeps everything from becoming muddled. 
A laminate table cloth works great too and you can use Blair’s technique to make your own with gromments. Jacquie has a tutorial for mounting gromets if that sounds intimidating. How many of these do you think I can layer in the Livudio before my husband thinks I’ve totally lost it?
Want a permanent design wall? Then check out my tutorial here.
That is so cool!!!!
So cute and fun! I’ve been thinking of putting in a design wall, and this would definitely make it more feasible.
OMGollly!! I have a wall, but didn’t want to permanently cover it w/a design wall. This sounds like the perfect answer!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
oh yes – this is such an awesome idea!!
Brilliant! I always have more ideas than design wall space.
And this reminds me of the maps we had in elementary school – you could pull down the world map, or roll that up an underneath was the US, or underneath that was something else.
Awesome idea! I am definitely going to do that!
I need to come by and visit and see all this cool stuff!
Great solution, Katie! You should start producing those, it’s the best design wall I have seen so far. The grid shining through is genius!!! I use a floppy cotton batting myself, attached to curtain gliders. Not perfect but does the trick.
I would say 5 is ok. Rolled up, they could be considered a decoration, nicely put in a pretty basket?
; )
great idea with the table cloth!! I wonder where I’d find one of those around here… I’d like a design wall like this.
Great idea – how did you get one/make one with a grid?
This one came this way. I think the company is porter something…I’ll look into it.
That’s exactly what I’m in the midst of doing!
Hi
I am a fellow quilter who lives on a small farm and raises goats. I am am also a runner. I would love to use your button and join the improve your butt group LOL that is so cute who ever thought that name up.
Your design wall is great!
Great solution! I love the grid as well.
Katie, where did you get that fantastic wall-sized grid? I love your storage idea with the grommets and ribbons. My husband just ceded a wall in our almost-completed-renovated bathroom to a design wall, but this will be a wonderful way to keep the room looking tidy when not in use.
For those looking for the grid, I found this link: http://www.shopfonsandporter.com/product/Fons-and-Porter-Design-Wall/
I do something similar to this but I added 2×2 at the bottom of the design wall… it makes it easier to roll up the design all.
My wall hangs over a large window and in the winter I have multiple quilts over it… great insulation from wind.
Nonnie
Brilliant, although I will likely use a sheet of black batting with a dowel at the bottom, and may use rollup blind hardware. I was struggling with finding design space for small, quick projects I have on the go while a couple of larger, slower pieces are up and need to stay up while they get sorted. This solves that problem! Thanks so much!
This would help me IMMENSELY as a beginning quilter. I am a visual learner so all of the math and cutting doesn’t make sense to me unless I put it together like this. Thank you for posting!
I’m the same! Happy designing.
There is precious little wall space in my sewing studio thanks to an abundance of windows (love the natural light) One full wall is wall to wall sliding closet doors. I’ve taken two yards of ‘headliner fabric’ (found on Amazon) and used hook and loop tape to the outer sliding door, top and bottom to keep it taut. It never occured to me to add another layer and roll it up with ribbons, as I’m a designer, I’m ALWAYS working on at least 6 quilts in various stages of completion. More than two layers will definitely put too much stress on the hook and loop tape, so here come the grommets!!