Can any UQ be made into an differential “cut” quilt?

[HappyCamper]

Oh-No and I were discussing this at last MAHHA hang. Is it possible to make any regular underquilt into a differential “cut” quilt by changing where the corner tieouts are?

Example. If I added reinforced grograin loops to the top layer of an underquilt about a half inch from each side of the top layer corners, then does that make the top layer “smaller” and no matter how much the bungee cords are tighten, the bottom layer would not compress because you are only pulling on top layer. I would just need to figure out best way to reinforce how the loops are sewn to top layer so it doesn’t rip the material when put under tension by the bungee cords.

Has anyone done this?

[Take-a-knee]

In a word, No. The baffles have to be cut on a radius (curved), and the outermost shell should have a larger size than the inner.

[Ramblinrev]

While you _might_ be able to avoid conpressing the loft it would not be a real differential cut. I don't think you would gain any advantage at all from a synthetic UQ. You would essentially narrow the width of a down quilt because the baffles would be folded and distorted. It would not have any advantage whatever with a sewn through quilt, only with a box or offset quilt and even then I would not want to suggest how much advantage you would get, if anything.

[Just Jeff]

I think you can get the effect of a differential cut. This is something I've been meaning to try.

Fold some darts into the top shell (hammock side)...one baffle has them going vertically and the next baffle has them going horizontally. When you pull the quilt tightly in either direction, the top shell will tighten before the bottom shell does. While the baffles aren't actually cut and sewn on a differential, it should give the same effect.

I was also thinking about sewing a couple small strips of elastic into the top shell at the problem areas. Don't want to add weight, though.

[Mustardman]

I've had this EXACT SAME thought before - right down to the method of attachment of having loops fastened about an inch or so in from each of the corners.. I actually sort-of tried it with an old square Coleman sleeping bag, and it seemed like it showed promise, but I never pursued it any further. I used the pebble wrapped in cloth trick to attach my tieouts, so that might be a way to test it without damaging your quilt.

[Just Jeff]

I had something similar. I was going to fold about an inch of the top shell over to the long edge and sew down the entire edge, on each side. Basically, make the top shell 2" narrower than the bottom shell. That would only handle the width-wise compression, though. And doing it on the other direction would only fix the end baffles, so I changed it to what I described above.

Might be able to combine both methods, though.

Looking forward to pics from whoever tries this first!

[turkeyboy]

I have done it with grip clips. I put grip clips on the top side, about two inches from the edge, and used those to hang the quilt instead of the tie-outs in the corner. It seemed to work, but I don't have a real differential cut quilt to compare to . . . . For sure it made the quilt compress less than using the corner tie-outs.

[Peter_pan]

In a word, No. The baffles have to be cut on a radius (curved), and the outermost shell should have a larger size than the inner.

TAK, et al,

Many of the "differential cut UQ" sold on this site are flat quilts with straight baffles...But have an outer shell piece that is wider and longer with darts...Argueable these maintain loft as UQ better that flat UQ but it is a very minimal improvement given the body curves in a hammock... A UQ mod of this nature could be done as HC querries but it would become smaller with little to no real improvement in loft retention.

The JRB Mt Washington series of UQs are the only advertised dual differerentially cut UQ that also incorporate body contouring radial baffles....Of those UQ with longitudinal baffles only the Speer Snugfit have tapered and internally darted baffles thus approximating the longitudinal curve.

Pan

[Mustardman]

The JRB Mt Washington series of UQs are the only advertised dual differerentially cut UQ that also incorporate body contouring radial baffles.

That's a pretty strong statement to make unless you've actually deconstructed all of your competitors' underquilts and seen how they were made.

[HappyCamper]

OK, I tried this on my No Sniv. Sewed on extra loops like I described below. It didn't work. Nice and fluffy near end corners, but by time you got to center and had UQ on hammock, seemed exactly same as hanging with regular loops. I kept switching back and forth from regular loops to my new loops and there didn't seem to be any difference in center. I think each "sewn section" needs to be differential to work. Not just in corners.

TAK, et al,

A UQ mod of this nature could be done as HC querries but it would become smaller with little to no real improvement in loft retention.

Pan

My experiments have found Pan's statement to be true. Would like to hear from anyone else who may try a different technique.

Oh-No and I were discussing this at last MAHHA hang. Is it possible to make any regular underquilt into a differential “cut” quilt by changing where the corner tieouts are?

Example. If I added reinforced grograin loops to the top layer of an underquilt about a half inch from each side of the top layer corners, then does that make the top layer “smaller” and no matter how much the bungee cords are tighten, the bottom layer would not compress because you are only pulling on top layer. I would just need to figure out best way to reinforce how the loops are sewn to top layer so it doesn’t rip the material when put under tension by the bungee cords.

Has anyone done this?