Top stitching quilts

JRB seams have a closing seam and them the rolled hem… There are two not one seam as shown above.

Pan

Thanks for the clarification

Sew the seam flat felled almost all the way around first, then sew the baffles. It looks really great and doesn't leave a straight path for the down to exit.
A lot easier if you have a free arm, but only for longer runs.

Don't seal the baffle tubes off at the ends where they meet the seams. The down doesn't really move much if at all and you can always 'sweep' it back through the gap.

BTW, that 'sweep-ability' is why I like karo-step – I can put more down around my torso if the temps are well below the rating.

There's another benefit to having those gaps at the ends of the baffles. You can snake a cardboard mailing tube through the gaps down into the furthest tube. Stuff your down in the tube and ream it through with a broom handle into the target tube. Then pull the tube up one and into the next tube and fill that one, etc.. This way the quilt only has a small 5" or so opening before you start filling. Much easier to manage.

Philip, Here is how I finish my quilt edges. Look down a few posts and you will see pictures. I believe JRB is similar to this, but wider fold.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=41535&skip_to_post=357194#357194

This works well, looks good and is the easiest way I have found to finish the edge.

Jamie

HI guys first post, long time reader before joining the other day. Im looking to make a lovely down quilt and am interested in how Tim Marshall does his seams on his quilts. I am looking for the most streamlined and tidy seam. Thanks, Matt :)

Matt. Reread first post. Then follow the link given. Also look at above diagram. It too shows.

Hi Ken,

sorry to be an idiot, i just can't fathom how to do it because as the OP says, surely the baffles cause issue with stitching the final edge seam?

I mean, i can see how its possible to fold the two pieces of fabric inwards down one side and maybe the bottom and stitch that then stitch the baffles. The only problem is once the baffles are filled with down, how the heck can that final side be folded in and stitched to match the first side? Surely its impossible or am i being dumb?!

Matt

I've sewn a few down garments recently including a quilt

I just take clumps of down and push it into baffle with fingers. The baffle is mostly empty because the down is compressed into a clump. (or, just push the down away from the seam). There's no down next to the edge where you're sewing the seam.

Then sew the edge seam using any of the first three seams in the picture.

If you sew 1/8th inch from edge so there's only a 1/8th inch flap, it won't be noticable. If you were sewing some clothing, this may be objectionable, but since it's a quilt, it doesn't matter. You're going to tuck that edge under you when you're sleeping.

When you're done sewing, fluff the down so it fills the baffle.