Down quilt (UK)

[Kris B]

So after a few bad nights sleep in a mummy bag I wanted a down quilt. I decided to make my own as the choice in the UK is lacking/expensive and my mums a dress maker so I have all the gear and know how I may as well exploit it.

After some youtube / fourm research I  decided to go with a karo step style and found Pennine outdoor was a local fabric shop for the nylon fabric.

laying the Karo step out was not the most fun at this point I was being very precise with it all having just spent £30 on fabric and experiencing doubt that id manage it from the shop and my mum. once laid out I put off sewing the baffles for a few weeks as I thought it would be a chore, so first I made a jacket to get some sewing practice in while the jacket fits well the 1990s nylon my mum had laying about is so unbreathable the jacket unwearable. when I got back to the baffles I actually found it pretty relaxing.

For the attachment points I was going to go with thin buckle clips even bought 2 bags of them. The day I was about to sew them up when I came across kam snaps, these seamed the ideal solution. sturdier and somewhat easier to use than the thin buckle clips so I was straight on amazon prime.

 

The down was the hard part we asked the fabric shop where to get it from but they didn’t know anywhere.  I did some research online and found a couple or uk/Europen suppliers but the prices where astronomical. I decided to take a chance on aliexpress I got 24oz 850 fill shipped for £71.28 plus £20 import duty/royalmail charges. Ive not tested it but it seams legit maybe not 850 fill but and at £90 I think its at least £30 cheaper than Id get that for in the uk.

Now Id been warned that its a messy job filling the quilt and I made a few mistakes. firstly I emptied my down into a trug and allowed it to loft rather than taking advantage of it being compressed together. I then decided to try and rig a blower system out of a hoover exhaust vent and cardboard tubing. it didn’t work. I then looked in the local hardware store for a PVC baffled tee section turns out uk plumbing dose not use such a thing, not surprising when we don’t have waste disposal units in our sinks. after all the faffing I just compressed the down and pushed it in the quilt, while hoovering the excess its didn’t take long once I pulled my figure out.

Any way the quits now done and I like it. the sewing isn’t perfect but form a distance it had been call professional looking.

[Derrick White]

Great job Chris. Of all the projects that intimidate me, it’s the down quilt that stands out. Congrats.

[Kris B]

you should have a go its fairly forgiving as its not like a bag or clothing with complex sewing and a need to fit. its essentially all straight stitching

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