Hopefully in the next month I’ll be updating my design walls for the studio so that I can expose the electrical sockets and make them floor to ceiling.
I’ll make sure to document the process to be included in the tutorial.
I use two types of design walls. The grey one above is insulation board wrapped in flannel (tutorial here).
I’m sure none of you have more than one project you work on at a time, but if you do the other is a layered system (tutorial here) that allows you to roll things up and keep them in place so that you can work on what’s underneath or take it for travel. This system is also perfect for those of you in small spaces since it can be rolled up and stashed somewhere like under a bed.
Design walls aren’t an essential tool in everyone’s creative process, but I do talk with my students about it being number one for mine. I like to step back and see how things are getting along. I encourage students to take photos of their project’s progression and even when they think they’ve got it perfect to take everything down and rearrange it. This is how new ideas might develop. In Quilting Modern we talked about not being ‘married’ to what’s on on your design wall, and in a workshop Jacquie and I taught together one of our students joked, “You’re just sleeping together.” That quote has stuck.
I’ve developed some tricks along the way when it comes to using the design wall and the one I utilize the most is not sewing things together, but rather use bits of scraps pinned up to audition color or placement.
I now have a bowl of various 90 degree triangles for this task. Like so.
I have the same with strips. This system does add to the amount of scraps, but I’m good with that. I can’t tell you the number of times something has been all sewn together for me to realize I should have changed out something dead center of the quilt.
Happy Monday Peeps.
Hope you and your design wall are finding some time to sleep together:)
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Dear Katie,
I always love receiving these updates â but, this time I wanted to let you know that when I tried to click on the links for the design wall, my computer froze up! Donât kow if others might have this problem, butâ¦
If you have the instructions (including the grommet ones) in any other format, please send. Iâm working on my quilt âstudioâ now too! So exciting.
ANDâ¦on a less happy note, with both the Ballard and the Vashon Island Quilt shops closingâ¦where will you be teaching??
I donât want to lost you!!
THANKS.
Linda
Hi Linda!
I’ll be teaching in my studio as soon as it’s done. Likely end of May. I’ll add you to my newsletter so you’ll be the first to know;)
Love your ‘scrappy’ planning bowl of snippets! Might have saved me from my latest ugly quilt top disaster!!! Wish I had a pet to give it to!
Friends with pets?
Your idea for a design wall has helped me tremendously. I love fiddling with fabric pieces and auditioning them on my design wall. I’m been experimenting with sketching but the plan always changes once I get the pieces on the design wall.
Oh good!
hi katie…
great to revisit your gorgeous walls!
what is the name of the gray and is it alex henry/mike miller/robert ? I can’t remember and have been wanting to do this for ages!
thanks much
jodi
I think you’re talking about the flannel. I buy sheets from Garnet Hill. If you follow the links you’ll find the information;)
Beautiful color coordination!!
It’s like the color coordination of the neck of the Japanese kimono.
What a great idea to roll up your project (keeping it all in one piece) so it’s not taking up all the space. I have pieces of material all over the air-hockey table at the moment!! Love your idea of sewing the scraps together.
Great idea for the prolific quilter to essentially have a duplicate design wall in the space it takes for one!
It’s nice to hear that you like to see things exactly as they will be as well. I always have trouble “picturing” the finished project in my head – If I can see it ahead of time – I will know if it’s right or not. If I am just imagining it – It can be a mess.