How to Make a Quilt Design Board
Many tools are used when you make a quilt. A design board is a useful tool to help you visualize the look of a finished quilt by allowing you to assemble the parts of a quilt top on a vertical surface for inspection. Making a design board requires few materials and a short amount of time. You will need to use a wall in your sewing room to assemble your design board and it will become a semi-permanent part of the wall.
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Things You'll Need
- 50 thumb tacks (flat ones are best)
- 4 yards of white flannel
- Scissors
- Double-sided tape
- Large empty wall
Instructions
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1
Cut the flannel into two even lengths 2 yards long. Trim the four ends so they are straight and not frayed.
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2
Unfold one piece of flannel so the selvage edges, or self-finished edges, are running vertical and the trimmed edges are at the top and bottom. Place the flannel against the wall so that it does not touch the floor and tack in place with the thumb tacks along the top edge. Evenly space the tacks approximately 2 inches apart.
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3
Unfold the second piece of flannel and tack it to the wall in the same manner as the first. Make sure to have the selvage edges of the two pieces snug against each other but with no overlap.
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4
Smooth the flannel straight down and tack the bottom edges of the flannel pieces in place, placing your tacks approximately 2 inches apart.
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5
Tack the outer edges of the flannel in place, keeping it smooth against the wall. If necessary, place some double-sided tape behind the inner edges of the two flannel strips to keep them together. This will give you a design board that measures 72 by 84 inches.
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Tips & Warnings
Use white flannel so there is no color to show through your quilt fabrics. Every once in a while you will need to clean your design board by removing stray threads. If the flannel gets too dirty take it down, wash and iron it, and re-attach it to the wall.
