Christa Watson Tutorial: How to Build a Design Wall for Quilting

Since this was posted, a TQS member has shared some important safety information. It seems that foam board can be flammable and should be covered by drywall. There is a simple solution. Instead of foam board, use acoustic insulation sound board. Since it is pourous, it works just fine with pins. As an added bonus, it contributes to the absorption of sound transmitted from the exterior or other rooms.

Here is the alternative:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/1-2-in-x-48-in-x-96-in-Acoustic-Insulation-Sound-Board-BSNAT85US/207168829

When Christa moved into her new home, her top priority was getting her quilt studio up and running. One of the first things she did was build a design wall, and she took step-by-step pictures so she could share the process with you.

Click on Go to Tutorial to learn how Christa built her design wall.

Learn more from Christa here at TQS in Show 2409.

(The quilt on the wall is from Christa's Rainbow Weave quilt kit.)

Comments

#11 George L 2019-04-24 13:18

From the link above:
"produced from non-toxic organic material and natural wood fibers that are wax impregnated"
So how is THAT not flammable? It does pass "surface burn" tests, but that's not a concern unless you start ironing on your design board!
PLUS, it carries a health warning that it contains Crystalline Silica, the dust of which can cause cancer when breathed in (check out "playground sand"). Pushing and pulling pins in and out is certainly going to be a dust concern.
The stuff is designed to be put behind drywall where it won't be disturbed (same way asbestos is safe until you try to move it.) I don't know if covering it with fabric is good enough.

#10 smdreger 2019-04-24 11:48

Sharon
We had a fire and my foam design board was covered with felt. We lost the house, but the board did not burn. It was covered with soot, so not useful anyway.

#9 Lace Faerie 2019-04-24 10:23

CYA anybody? Sheeesh!

#8 kenward 2019-04-24 08:57

There is a difference between flammable as in something will burn (like cotton) and flammable as in it burns quickly, hot and with toxic fumes (like foam board)...the big box stores all carry inexpensive acoustic sound board, if the link above doesn't show it in a store near you then it just goes by a different name...

#7 ethereal 2019-04-24 08:34

Great points about everything being flammable. Even if I wanted to use the recommended substitute, it isn’t available for pick up or delivery within 100 miles of Dallas!

#6 Mrs.A 2019-04-24 08:32

My own design walls are made of sound insulation board. I've used it for years as a design wall. It can be covered in batting or flannel, then mounted to a wall and it works just fine. One advantage of the foam board is that it's light and easy to move around. You can use it vertically as a design wall or set the boards on a table or the floor to use when marking or blocking a quilt.

#5 GeneBlack 2019-04-24 07:21

Have you ever noticed that quilt fabric is cotton - and cotton is flammable?

#4 Pizzo 2019-04-24 07:19

All fabrics and threads used to create quilts are flammable...ple ase just use some common sense

#3 Denise Smart 2019-04-24 07:03

Come on. Virtually everything in my house is flammable.

#2 SuzanneY 2019-04-24 06:55

I'm not sure why someone thought this was an issue. The foam board is mounted onto the existing drywall. It is no different than hanging a framed painting or photograph.

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