Quilt Block Design Board Tutorial {The Duck Tape Version!}

I'm super excited about the just-beginning Farm Girl Vintage Sew Along over at Bee In My Bonnet!  It's based on Lori Holt's new book, Farm Girl Vintage, a lovely book of super sweet sampler blocks.  I love this book!  The blocks, instructions, quilt layouts, and ideas are so beautiful and inspiring!  The book is even spiral bound and lies nice and flat!

To prepare for the Farm Girl Sew Along, I've been inspired to make design boards to keep quilt block pieces in order.  They will come in very handy when I don't have time to sew a block immediately after I've laid out the pieces.  Using the design boards will also keep my design wall free for other use, not to mention keeping the pieces straight as I take them to the sewing machine.  They tend to have a mind of their own and jump out of order in the transfer from the design wall to the sewing machine!

This is not my original idea; I make no claim to that.  I've taken Lori Holt's tutorial, shown below, given a few more specifics regarding board size and changed it from a fabric border to Duck Tape.  Yes, Duck Tape - that stuff that comes in fantastic patterns and you always wondered what you'd do with it!  Here's an excuse to buy some!

I recommend watching the video first as it will explain a whole lot that I don't repeat.


This video can be viewed on YouTube.

ETA:  I now recommend using fleece or a batting that you are 100% positive won't leave fuzzies on your fabrics.

This tutorial creates 14 design boards in the following sizes.  I chose these sizes because it used the board in its entirely with no waste whatsoever, and I don't often make blocks bigger than this.

• 6 - 12" x 12"
• 3 - 8" x 8"
• 2 - 14" x 14"
• 2 - 10" x 10"
• 1 - 8" x 10"

SUPPLIES:

• Premium Tri-Fold Foam Display Board, 36" x 48"
• 2 rolls Duck Tape, 1.88" or 2" wide, not the real skinny one.
• Fleece scraps (or a batting that doesn't leave fuzzies)
• Glue gun and glue (it takes a fair amount of glue)
• OR
• Spray glue

CUTTING THE BOARD:

The tri-fold board comes with two folds already in it.  First we'll cut these folded sections off.  Turn back the folded flaps several times to create a visible crease on the uncut side of the board.  Lay the board flat and score this crease with a scissor.  It's quite easy to do, and it doesn't have to be perfect.  Fold the flap back and it will easily pop off.  Repeat for other flap.

Take the two flaps you've separated from the main board and draw lines 12" from each short end.  With scissors score along this line, fold it back to create a crease, and then score this crease on the other side of the board.  Fold it back and pop the piece off.  Repeat on other end.  This results in six 12" x 12" boards.

Take the main board and draw lines as shown in the picture below.  Score along the lines with the sharp edge of a scissor or other blade, fold back to create a crease, then score the opposite side and pop off the piece, just as before.  

CUT BATTING:

{Please note I now recommend using fleece because it doesn't leave fuzzies.  The batting on my boards leaves fuzzies on the back of my pieces.}  I have not change the wording from "batting" to "fleece".

Cut a piece of batting the size of each board.  Here's my daughter cutting batting for me. We had fun making these together.  She thinks she's not crafty; I say she just hasn't discovered that side of herself yet!  She hasn't had enough life experience to know that crafts can keep a woman sane, and life's about more than reading books!  Many of us are just happier when our hands are busy creating!  {That's me - Busy Hands Quilts!}

GLUE BATTING {2 options}:

Option 1:  Place the batting on the side of the board that has no writing on it.  The writing won't be covered, and then you can easily see which size each board is without measuring each time you want one.  Glue the batting to the boards as shown in the video.  I glued around all four edges, not just two as Lori shows.  I glued on the top of the board, not the 1/4" thick side.

Option 2 {thanks to Ruth!}:  Spray the board with spray glue and lay the batting on top of the board, lining up edges.  Press down gently to secure.

TAPE THE LAYERS:

In deciding which Duck Tape to buy, I chose a lovely Flower Sugar knock-off and a penguin on blue.

Take your super fun Duck Tape and cut a piece the size of the edge of a board.  I found that tearing the Duck Tape created a not-so-fine edge, but cutting it is tricky too since it is super sticky.  Accurately cutting the tape creates a nice corner, but give yourself the grace to simply create - your boards don't have to be perfect!  I didn't measure any tape; I eyeballed every single time!

Place the bottom edge of the board even with a line on a cutting mat.  Carefully place the tape over the batting, approx 1/2" from the edge of the batting, using the lines on the cutting mat as a guide {see pic above}.  Press tape down.  Turn board over and secure the tape to the side of the board.  Then carefully press the tape down onto the back of the board.

Repeat these steps to apply tape to the opposite side of the board.  Then apply tape to the remaining two sides, remembering that the more accurate the tape length is cut, the nicer the corner will be.  There are no mitered corners as with a quilt binding; that would be far too difficult with Duck Tape.

That's it!  I hope you've enjoyed this Design Board Tutorial!  Share your boards on social media with #DuckTapeDesignBoard.  

Linking to:
/ TGIFF / Creative Goodness / Link a Finish Friday / Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?! / Needle and Thread Thursday / Fabric Frenzy Friday / Crazy Mom Quilts / Pet Project Show / Podunk Pickins' / 

Get a Free Quilt Pattern!

Get a free pattern when you sign up to receive the latest info on what's happening in my studio, new quilt patterns, subscriber-only sales and Giveaways, quilty window shopping, and other fun news!

Click here to sign up!