The Essential Guide to Choosing the Best Portable Quilting Design Wall
As a quilter, having the right tools makes all the difference when it comes to designing your quilts. A quilting design wall is one of the most important accessories for laying out fabric and test-fitting patterns. But not all design walls are created equal. As anyone who’s ever tried lugging an unwieldy wooden frame around can attest, portability is key.
In this article, I’ll review the top options for portable quilting design walls and answer all the questions you may have when shopping for one:
What types of portable quilting design walls are available?
- Floorstanding quilting frames – These fold up for storage but require floor space to set up. They offer the largest work area.
- Tabletop quilting boards – Designed to sit on a table or counter, these provide a compact work surface that’s easy to move between rooms.
- Clipboards and easels – Folded panels or rigid boards that clip or lean pieces together without assembly.
- Magnetic quilting boards – Fabric attaches using magnets, making for quick mounting and removing.
- Portable quilting panels – Lightweight panels that hook or Velcro together for a hanging design wall.
What size portable design wall should I get?
The size you need depends mainly on the scale of your quilting projects. Consider the following guidelines:
– For lap quilts up to around 50″ square, a 24″ x 36″ portable board often suffices.
– For bed-size quilts up to 90″ square, look for boards around 36″ x 60″.
– Extra-large boards around 48″ x 72″ accommodate queen/king quilts but sacrifice portability.
It’s better to choose a board slightly larger than your typical quilt sizes to allow for design flexibility. Boards that break down into sections let you expand or join panels as needed.
What material is best for a portable design wall?
The most durable and affordable portable design walls feature either magnetic, velcro or hook-and-loop fastening systems. Here’s a overview of popular materials:
Fabric-covered boards: Lightweight with a soft surface that’s gentle on fabrics. May pill or stain over time.
Magnetic boards: Very portable and easy to use but magnets can slip. Not suitable if using metallic or conductive threads.
Hardboard or foamcore: More rigid than fabric-covered boards. Smooth surface protects fabrics. Can get heavy.
Aluminum/mesh panels: Ultra lightweight for easy carrying. Mesh permits pinning which magnetic boards don’t allow.
Overall, the most practical choices balance durability, thickness/weight and easy use. Fabric-covered boards are kind to your fabrics but require more care.
How much should I budget for a quality portable design wall?
Expect to pay between $30-$100 for a basic portable design wall, depending on size and materials. High-end options run $150-$250 or more. Here’s a breakdown:
– Tabletop boards under 24″ usually run $30-$50.
– Small folding frames and clipboards range $40-$75.
– Mid-size magnetic or panel systems are around $75-$125.
– Professional-grade boards over 36″ fall in the $100-$200+ range.
It’s worth investing $75-$100 or more if you quilt regularly. Cheaper options may not hold up as long. Consider quality of materials, reviews and warranty when choosing one in your budget.
What else should I look for in a portable design wall?
Carrying case – A padded case protects the wall and prevents damage during transport.
Stand or legs – Adjustable legs provide stability for floor frames versus folding frames lacking stands.
Adapters – Boards with joining kits expand as your skills grow without requiring new equipment.
Edge channels – Help contain pieces on boards prone to slipping edges like magnetic or soft-faced models.
Backing material – Sturdy drop cloths or panels provide a wallsubstrate to keep fabrics taut.
Hope this overview helped answer your questions! In the next section, I’ll provide some real-life quilting design wall recommendations based on my experience.
Top portable design wall picks from a quilter’s perspective
As an avid quiltmaker, here are a few portable design walls I’ve used over the years that I’d highly recommend:
Omoke Magnetic Board: At 36″ x 48″, this mid-size magnetic board is big enough for most quilts yet lightweight and folds compactly. It attaches securely without slippage. At under $90, it’s a great value.
Springfield Tabletop Frame: For quilters with workspace limits, the lightweight Springfield folds down small but sets up rock-solid on any table or counter up to 24″ wide. At $60, it’s very affordable too.
DecoBros Clipboard Panel: Each clipboard panel is a generous 18″ square and several clip together into a master board. It’s super portable in a carrying case at only $50 total. Ideal for on-the-go scrappiness!
ProjectaQuilt Mobile Rack: As a commercial longarm quilter, this heavy-duty pro rack is worth the $200splurge. It handles giant quilts yet breaks down for storage in minutes. No other portable wall compares.
Altogether, these higher-quality boards have performed admirably across countless quilting projects over the years. Their durable designs, versatile use and reasonable price points make them worthwhile investment options in my experience.
I hope sharing some of my first-hand perspectives on portable design walls has helped give you a feel for the advantages and features offered by different styles. Feel free to let me know if you have any other quilting tool or resource questions! Happy quilting!
Comparison of Popular Quilters Design Wall Portable Options
| Product | Size | Mounting Option | Material | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omnigrid Temporary Quilting Design Wall | 72″ x 86″ | Velcro | Canvas and Metallic Rods | $89.95 |
| Quilt frame by Art Gallery Fabrics | 90″ x 90″ | Magnets | Aluminum Rods with Magnet Tabs | $150 |
| Spring Gap Portable Design Wall | 60″ x 68″ | Spring Tension Poles | Pole and Strap Construction | $129.95 |
| Me and My Sister Designs Mini Quilt Wall | 36″ x 44″ | Spring Clips | Aluminum and Fabric | $65 |
FAQ
- What is a quilters design wall?
- Why is a portable design wall helpful?
- What are some options for portable design walls?
- How can I make my own portable design wall?
- What size design wall is most useful?
- Is there a limit to how many pieces I can arrange on the wall?
- What’s the best way to photograph my designs on the wall?
A quilters design wall is basically a large wall surface that quilters use to lay out pieces of fabric and pattern designs for their quilts. It allows them to see how different color combinations and patterns will look all put together before sewing anything.
Although a permanent design wall in your sewing room might be ideal, for some folks a portable option is way better. A portable quilters design wall lets you work on your quilt designs anywhere instead of being stuck in just one area. You can move it around to catch the best natural light or have more space to lay everything out.
There are several possibilities for portable design walls. Many quilters use an empty door mounted on sawhorses. Others like using a large folding table covered with fabric. Magnetic chalkboards or dry erase boards are also handy options that let you easily rearrange pieces. Lots of folks basically just use the wall of their garage or a big sheet hung on the side of their house too.
Making your own portable quilters design wall is quite simple. You’ll basically need a large flat surface and some way to attach fabric to it so pieces don’t slide around. Possibilities for the surface include a framed canvas, corrugated plastic, or Masonite board. To attach the fabric, many quilters use spray adhesive, magnets, or even just heavy duty Velcro strips. A few handles make it easy to carry your DIY wall anyplace.
When deciding how big to make your portable design wall, more size is generally better than too small. However, something kinda bulky might be tough to easily move around. Most experts recommend starting with a minimum of 4 feet by 4 feet for adequate piecing area. 5 by 5 feet lets you lay out full queen size quilts at once. Anything 6 by 6 feet or bigger gives tremendous workspace, yet still stays maneuverable. So those in between sizes seem to work real nice.
To be honest, there isn’t really a set limit to how many fabric pieces you can lay out on a design wall at once. I guess it depends mostly on the size of your wall and skill arranging everything without things getting all jumbled together in a big messy pile. Some super talented quilters manage to spread out materials for an entire California king size quilt on just a 4 by 4 feet space! Though most of us normal folks max out our walls long before that. The number you can fit also relies on the sizes of the pieces.
Getting good photos of your layouts on the design wall is important so you can refer back to them later during construction. The top strategy seems to be utilizing overhead sunlight if possible for clear, shadow-free shots. But an on-wall lamp or standalone photography lighting also does the trick. Be sure to take multiple photos from different angles too, not just straight-onshots. And don’t forget to label your pics so you recall what’s what later on down the road when admiring your masterpieces-in-progress, right?