How to Quilt>Flannel Board for Quilt Blocks

How to Make a Flannel Board

A flannel board is a very handy tool and is easy to make from scraps around your home.

My flannel board has a history - in that my son decided to create some interesting artwork on the back, so it has been impossible to replace. That tells you that a simple piece of cardboard, cut from a box, can last more than 20 years, helping me sew thousands of quilt blocks together.

This one doesn't take much of anything except a piece of cardboard - mine is about 18 inches square, some tape (that will secure the flannel to the cardboard) and a piece of flannel - about 24 inches square.

	Using my original flannel board, I added a piece of clean flannel. Place the cardboard in the center of your flannel square. If your cardboard has artwork, be sure to have it facing you, so it doesn't get covered up!
Fold the corners into the center, making 45 degree angles in the corners.
	Fold the sides down toward the center of the cardboard, keeping the corners tucked inside.
Secure the sides of the flannel to the cardboard using tape. The first time I used 1 inch wide masking tape, and it lasted more than 20 years. This time, I used the clear packing tape that is about 2 inches wide.
	The completed flannel board. I did not put tape down the corners to secure them. Somehow, they seem to stay down without being taped. I did cover all of the raw edges of the flannel with tape.

And what do you use the flannel board for?

This flannel board is about 18 inches square, and the star is about 24 inches from point to point. You can see that you'll want the flannel board large enough to hold the largest block you might sew. Keep in mind, too, that when you start out, the block will take up extra space since it is not sewn together.

My flannel board is not for designing quilts, it is simply to hold patches in my blocks as they are laid out to be sewn together.

The patches for several blocks are stacked on my flannel board - ready to sew together.

If I am sewing several of the same blocks, I stack the patches on the flannel board in their places.

With the flannel board sitting next to my sewing machine, I can sew the block together, and easily remember where all of the patches go in the block.

P.S. This just in -

Penny -  At a recent quilt show a lady told us she made a board out of a blind roller about 5-6 ft wide. She covered the plastic with flannel & just roll it up when not in use. You can mount it on a wall with regular roller holders like you would use in the window. You can make them smaller depending on the room you have. She mounted hers close to the celing so you can pull it down have a long board to work on.  I'm going to try a smaller one. Just a tidbit for you,    Alice

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