Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Design Wall and other orts

My design wall is up!  I have been meaning for months to buy a flannel-backed tablecloth to use as a design wall.  This one I purchased at Big Lots for $3.50 and it is 52 x 90 inches.  I used those 3M stick on hooks and some curtain clip hangers.  Sorry the photo is a bit fuzzy. I hung it on the wall behind where I sit at my machine, so I can just turn and slap things up there as I sew.
By some mini miracle I hung it at exactly the right height to clear the floor.  If I had tried to do this on purpose, I'm certain it would not have worked out as well! 

My return trip to the store also resulted in exchange for the right length curtain panel.  I also used the stick on hooks for the tie backs.  Luckily the curtain rod was already at the right height!

Clue #2 sewing is nearly done for Judy's Mystery Quiltalong.  Although her instructions didn't include it, after sewing background and accent strips together and ironing to the darker fabric, I nested the strips in pairs and did the 2" subcuts for the 4 patches, meaning they were all ready to go under my needle without having to match each pair--a big time saver when you have 136 pieces to cut!

I'm ridiculously pleased with these little red 4 patches!
This red print is from a Minnick & Simpson line called  American Primer.  I have no idea when it came out, probably several years ago.  It has the cutest little flower inside the circle, if you can make it out.  I also own a fat quarter of this same print in green.  I only have just enough of the red print for Judy's cutting instructions but have not yet made all the cuts as many of them are for borders and I may want to do something different at that point in the Mystery.
OK, now before I sew some more tonight, I'm off to finish readying the items for the donation truck tomorrow.  I have continued adding to the piles over the past week bit by bit.  There's still plenty that can be weeded out but I'll be happy to see some more space in some of my cupboards for now!

10 comments:

Quilter Kathy said...

Ohhhh those 4 patches will look so great with the blocks from the last step!

Anonymous said...

The red fabric in the four patches is a good one!! I must agree!!!

Nanette Merrill said...

I wish I had a wall in my sewing room I could keep a design flannel on. I put it up and take it down and I hate doing that. Your new project looks fun. Nice of you to be donating things.

Joyful Quilter said...

I like your design wall! Great idea! My sewing room is the smallest room in the house. Between the sewing machine, the computer and related stuff there is no wall space, I could do something similar only over the closet doors...maybe on a rod so I could slide it over to get into the closet...hmmmm has possibilities.

Unknown said...

I bought a flannel backed tablecloth to hang on the wall also. I was so excited to find one for $2.00. Got home, unpacked it, got it unfolded, stapled the end to the top of the wall, went to smooth it out and found there was a hole in the middle - it was for an outside table with an umberella!! Oh well, I don't think it will matter. I love the four patch.

Stephanie D said...

Looks like things are clicking together for you. I love it when that happens!

Mrs. Goodneedle said...

... by some mini-miracle... that made me laugh out loud, how well I can relate! I love that red fabric, it's wonderful and those little 4-patches are pretty darned sweet.

Candace said...

Love those 4-patches!! You're going to have so much fun with your design wall...I just got one at the Squash House and don't know how I ever lived without one!
Cheers!

Shay said...

Loving those patches Annie. Red is my absolute favourite colour.

I'm going to have a design wall one of these days.

Vivian said...

My old, reliable design wall is also a flannel-backed tablecloth -- quickly up on the wall when I want it and cheap in case something happens to it. But I use pushpins to put it up, and that's not particularly mature. I like your method better. I need to rethink my process.
Sweet 4-patches. Love that fabric.

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