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  1. #1
    Senior Member MAD777's Avatar
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    Need help from Karo Step quilt experts!

    I am about to embark on making my first Karo Step quilt, so I need some guidance. But, a bit of background first.

    I have made several down quilts, including hammock underquilts and wearable quilts, so I know my way around a sewing machine and baffles and all that. I also understand the mechanics of how to construct a Karo Step quilt.

    However, what I don't know is:
    1. How far apart to make the baffles (size of the squares) for a given thickness of quilt.
    2. How much space I should leave open at the corners of the baffled squares.
    3. How high the baffles should be relative to the average thickness of the quilt.

    The dimensions are 80” long by 48” wide.
    I will use 7 ounces of 800 FP down which will fill the quilt to 1.46” thick, call it 1.5”.

    So, while I would know how to proceed with a conventional baffled quilt, I have no experience to know the answers to my 3 questions above as they pertain to the Karo Step.
    Mike
    "Life is a Project!"

  2. #2
    Senior Member MAD777's Avatar
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    I posted this kind of late at night, so just bumping it up.

    Any Karo folks out there .... anywhere .... somewhere??
    Mike
    "Life is a Project!"

  3. #3
    Senior Member JerryW's Avatar
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    Here's a few links for you. TeeDee and animalcontrol have great instuctions/photos.

    TeeDee's original Karo Step thread.

    Animalcontrol's version.


    My version.


    As to your questions, I don't think there's any set rules for the dimensions.

    I used a minimal number of baffles when I designed mine(I'm lazy, less sewing) and it works great. Probably half the baffles that TeeDee or ac used. I give it a shake to loft it and spread the down where I want it and it stays in place all night long. I personally think it doesn't take much baffling to hold the down in place. Big spaces between baffles works fine.

    I have been making my baffles about 1/2" shorter than how thick I want the quilt - i.e. for 2" loft I use 1-1/2" tall baffles. I'm sure others do different.

    For your listed dimensions I would make my baffles about 1" finished height.


    Jerry
    The "Search" function is your friend!

  4. #4
    Senior Member MAD777's Avatar
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    Thanks Jerry for your guidance and for the links!
    Mike
    "Life is a Project!"

  5. #5
    Senior Member JerryW's Avatar
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    Depending on your temperature requirements, here's something to think about - a sewn-through Karo step. Looks like it would be great for a 3-season quilt. With less sewn-through area than a traditional quilt it should be slightly warmer for a given amount of down/loft.



    Jerry
    The "Search" function is your friend!

  6. #6
    Senior Member HitchHiking's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MAD777 View Post
    I am about to embark on making my first Karo Step quilt, so I need some guidance. But, a bit of background first.

    However, what I don't know is:
    1. How far apart to make the baffles (size of the squares) for a given thickness of quilt.
    2. How much space I should leave open at the corners of the baffled squares.
    3. How high the baffles should be relative to the average thickness of the quilt.

    Hi Mad777

    From my experince I used 10cm by 10 cm square baffles. They were 10 cms apart from each other with the exception along the sides where the pattern didnt allow for it so if it was a little high or low didnt matter.
    The baffles were 10 cm high and I overstuffed so its lofts to slightly higher then that.



    maybe this will help as well.
    http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ight=karo+step

    Hope that helps some.

    Hitch
    www.terrarosagear.com

    Australian made tarps and custom gear.

  7. #7
    Senior Member MAD777's Avatar
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    Hey Jerry, that quilt would look really nice in my hammock, especially with one of those pillows! I agree, I'm right at the cusp of sewn through. I've made a sewn through conventional underquilt and I believe controlling these slippery fabrics was harder than sewing net baffles though.

    Thanks Hitchhiking for the great video! Your quilt really looks nice and toasty warm! I like the cardboard pattern - you only have to measure once! That's brilliant.
    Mike
    "Life is a Project!"

  8. #8
    Senior Member HitchHiking's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MAD777 View Post
    I like the cardboard pattern - you only have to measure once! That's brilliant.

    Heck yeah!
    www.terrarosagear.com

    Australian made tarps and custom gear.

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