DIY Patchwork Tack Board and Custom Pins: Expert Step-by-Step Guide

Materials and Tools

• Acoustic ceiling tile (15"x15"), available at hardware stores (cut to size with a utility knife)
• 9" square padded
• Medium to heavy weight fusible interfacing
• Scrap fabric (velvet, funky colors and prints)
• Tube of Fabri-Tac
• Backing fabric or felt, cut slightly smaller than tile
• 18" of decorative ribbon
• Sewing machine
• Scissors
• Pinking shears
• Assorted snaps and buttons
• Heavy duty flat thumbtacks
• Jewelry wire cutters
• E6000 glue

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Use the padded square to trace and cut out four 9" squares of fusible interfacing.
2. Cut the scrap fabric into random sizes and shapes and place it on the adhesive side of the interfacing. Arrange the cloth pieces so they overlap without showing the interfacing.
3. Iron the fabric pieces to the interfacing using a hot, dry iron. Press down and hold to fuse the interfacing with the fabric scraps.
4. Using a zigzag stitch, sew over the edges of each piece of fabric in a crazy quilting pattern. Repeat for each of the four squares, trimming the edges to fit the fabric to the interfacing.
5. Lay out the four squares to form a large 18"x18" square.
6. Overlap the edges of two squares and pin them together. Use a zigzag stitch to sew the squares together. Repeat with the remaining two squares.
7. Overlap the two sets of squares and zigzag stitch to complete the large square.
8. Lay the fabric down and place the ceiling tile on top; there should be a 3" seam allowance on all sides of the tile.
9. Place a dot of Fabri-Tac glue on one corner of the tile. Pull the fabric taut, fold it toward the center, and press. Continue until all four corners are folded and glued.
10. Place additional glue around the perimeter of the tile and fold the remaining fabric to the center.
11. Stick the ends of the 18" ribbon to the back of the tile, 2" from the top and 3" from the side edges—the ribbon acts as a hanger.
12. Cut a 15"x15" piece of backing fabric or felt (slightly smaller than the tile) and glue it to the back, covering the folded fabric for a clean finish.
13. Select an assortment of snaps and buttons and remove all supporting hardware (shanks and posts) with jewelry wire cutters.
14. Using E6000 glue, attach the flat heavy-duty thumbtacks to the back of the snaps. Work on a flat surface and allow several hours to dry fully.