I have a baffling question about tulle!

[MAD777]

So I picked up a yard of tulle at JoAnn's yesterday with the hope that it could be used as baffle material in my next down quilt.
I have always used mosquito netting in the past which usually weighs about 1 oz/sy.

Well, this stuff seemed very light in the store so I was skeptical. But, I bought it anyway after tugging on it beyond the point I thought it should rip.
Not only did it hold together, but the stretch that occurred while tugging on it went right back to normal when released.
JoAnn's did have another tulle that was lighter still but it was obviously too light.

When I got home I weighed it and it came to an astonishing 0.26 oz/sy. I'm actually getting gram weenie goose-bumps on my fingers as I type that figure!

So, does anyone have experience using tulle for baffles? BTW, this will be a Karo Step quilt with short pieces of baffle material.
Does tulle disintegrate on it's own after 6 months or something?

[Ramblinrev]

My problem with tulle is the stiffness. I find it too stiff for a bug net alternative. (Personal opinion only. Make your own bugnet!) For baffles in a quilt I think there are two possible drawbacks. It might not compress as much as you would like. It might ave too coarse a grid and allow insulation shift. But either way I would think it would be usable. I'm sure some folks use it routinely and would have a better sense of real life functioning.

[MAD777]

Since this will be a Karo quilt, down migration through the tulle won't be an issue.
Plus, a Karo quilt has about half the amount of netting as a conventional baffled quilt.
I've heard (I think) that if you wash the tulle, it will loose it's stiffness; I guess like Tyvek.

[gargoyle]

I'd say handwash a small sample to see if it helps.
IMO, not all tulle is created equal, some are stiff, some are fragile.

[MAD777]

I think I will hand wash a small piece and then do some destructive testing

[gargoyle]

I think I will hand wash a small piece and then do some destructive testing

Aesome idea, I wish I woulda thunk it.

[JohnSawyer]

I have found 2 types of tulle at Joann's. One is nylon. It is light and flimsy... I can tear it with 2 fingers... the other is polyester, labeled "fashion tulle". It's strong, drapes well, but not cheap. My gallery has a camo bug net on a hammock, it's the fashion tulle.

Given it's strength, I would use it...

[MAD777]

Thanks John,
Now I'm going back to JoAnn's to do more tulle research.
It's always good to know what you are looking for before you look for it

[JohnSawyer]

I went to Joann's yesterday, and all their fashion tulle was in the clearance bin, though $4/yd isn't a bargain!

I might just get some for my next hammock.

They also (used to) have Mosquito netting that was ultra-wide (like 6') but white. Spray dye worked well on it.

John