Fabric Choices for Your Bulletin Board
A popular design choice for dorms, home offices, and in shabby chic decor is the addition of a fabric bulletin board. These bulletin boards have several advantages including the ability to show off pictures and postcards without ruining their finish with push pins or adhesive. A fabric bulletin board is made from various styles of fabric, ribbon, and decorative pins or buttons. The issue that many craft enthusiasts have with making this type of board is which fabric to use. There are certain fabric choices that should be considered.
Flannel and Cotton
Flannel and cotton fabrics are considered to be the best choices when making a fabric bulletin board. These types of fabric are durable and will withstand the stretching required to make the board. They are smooth and soft to the touch. This means that there will be less chance of damaging the pictures or other items that are placed on the board.
Canvas Fabric
Canvas fabrics are durable, thick, and can conform easily to most shapes. The only drawback to using canvas fabric for bulletin boards is that you will need to use heavy duty staples or small nails to hold the fabric in place. Velcro will not hold the fabric firmly enough. The advantage to using canvas fabric is the long lasting durability. It will withstand multiple push pins, stretching and movement without showing signs of age.
Denim Fabric
Denim is a great option for many craft enthusiasts. It is durable and very easy to find. Old pairs of jeans, shorts, and denim jackets can be used for the bulletin board and will add a special touch for that special someone. Denim is fairly easy to cut and shape and with the proper nails or staples can make a very nice backing for a photo or bulletin board. Using a darker color denim will also be less likely to show stains. With denim there is the added effect that the older it gets the more character it will add to the project.
Linen Fabric
Linen is easy to find and easy to purchase. It holds up well for craft projects and is durable enough to withstand multiple forms of adhesive. It will hold its shape well if placed properly. It does not require heavy duty staples or nails and can be attached using Velcro. Linen fabric comes in a variety of styles and colors so finding one that fits a particular room decor should not be a problem. The smooth texture of linen fabric is also useful when dealing with pictures as it will not scratch or damage their finish.
Overall, the best fabrics for bulletin boards and similar craft projects are heavy duty, durable, and soft fabrics. Cotton bases are best. The basic rule of thumb would be to stay away from any sort of silk or rayon material. Stretch materials are also a fabric to stay away from because they can pull and rip easily. Stick with denim, cotton, flannel and upholstery fabric style blends like linen for a durable, smooth and finished look.
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![H.R. Helm]()
H.R. Helm is an accomplished DIY craftsman. He has been DIY since childhood and is now a septuagenarian. He is experienced in wood and metal construction, having designed and built several houses and metal buildings. He built every permanent building on his current homestead and did all the plumbing and electrical work. He has several years experience as a professional cabinet builder, and he is an accomplished auto repairman, having operated an auto repair business for many years. He currently has a home shop where he sharpens and rebuilds saws, repairs lawn mowers, mobility scooters, hydraulic jacks, and anything else that comes along. He also builds custom tools for metal working. Invention prototypes are another of his many accomplishments. He owned and operated a manufacturing business building Compact Utility Vehicles for homeowner use. H.R. enjoys making jams and jellies during fruit season along with cooking meals. He is committed to outdoor cooking in a Bar-B-Q pit he welded together several years ago. He maintains fruit and nut trees along with helping his wife with a vegetable garden. He farmed commercial garden produce for several years. It helps to have over 50 years of farming and ranching experience. Employment/Education Highlights ASE Certified Master Auto Technician Certified Welder Cross country truck driver -- over dimensional freight Design Engineer/Project Manager for injection molded plastic company Bus Driver/Substitute Teacher Inventor with two patents (weight training – anti-rollback for manual wheelchair) BS in Industrial Technology
