DIY karo Step w/Pics

**PKT** · 09-24-2010, 07:37

Oh yea weight....well the mistake I made was using 3" baffles it lofts to 4-5" I used 2lb-3oz
of down and right now have around 12-13' of 1/8' bungee cord on it for use as an underquilt for a grand total of 47oz so it's almost 3lbs but it's a warm puppie! Too bad I live in Florida

**Lonely Raven** · 09-24-2010, 08:21

Originally Posted by PKT

Oh yea weight....well the mistake I made was using 3" baffles it lofts to 4-5" I used 2lb-3oz
of down and right now have around 12-13' of 1/8' bungee cord on it for use as an underquilt for a grand total of 47oz so it's almost 3lbs but it's a warm puppie! Too bad I live in Florida

Cripes: go big or go home!

This is such an inspiration, that I want to make one for my queen sized bed now!

**nacra533** · 09-24-2010, 12:29

Originally Posted by Knotty

... Has anyone done a karo step differential cut quilt or is that just crazy talk?

Does differential on the top really buy you that much??

I also assume using boxed sides like Tee Dee did would provide much of the same benefit as differential.

My zero experience with making differential quilts may show here.

My thoughts are:
In a sleeping bag or other "tube" you're zipped into, differential matters because as you push on the sides with elbows, knees, feet or whatever, the inside liner gets tight but the outside shell is larger so down can still loft .
Since you're not "trapped" in a top quilt, ie. your body is not holding it down on the bottom, it is just laying on top of you.
For flat sheet projects, like this quilt design, differential will make it no longer a flat sheet project.
Boxing helps with keeping the outside away from the inside even around the edges.
I absolutley see the benefit for differential cut on an underquilt where you're pulling the liner tight.

**SmokeHouse** · 09-24-2010, 13:56

Very nice,,, I like it,,, I'll be building one of those this Winter...

**jeffjenn** · 09-24-2010, 14:51

Originally Posted by PKT

I used 2lb-3oz of down it's a warm puppie!

What are the dimesions of the quilt? What fill power down did you use???

**PKT** · 09-24-2010, 15:31

Originally Posted by jeffjenn

What are the dimesions of the quilt? What fill power down did you use???

Finished dimensions are around 76" x 47", I'm 6' so for use as a full size underquilt is just right for me and when you pull the end ties it'll snug right up to the hammock but I leave it pretty loose to vent the heat

For use as a top quilt it's a bit big.... I'll be going thin on the next one for sure.
The fill power was varied as I was sourcing down from various sources. 18oz
was Goose @ 750 , 16 oz was white duck at 650 I think.

**TiredFeet** · 09-24-2010, 15:49

Originally Posted by nacra533

.....
I also assume using boxed sides like Tee Dee did would provide much of the same benefit as differential.
...............

The boxed sides on TeeDee's differential cut under quilts do a lot to mimic the differential cut.

We have found, after making and using them, that the boxed sides of the under quilts let the outer fabric hang much lower, thus providing a LOT of freedom for that outer layer to "hang loose". Between the differential cut and the boxed sides, the only thing keeping the outer layer from the ground are the baffles.

Now the under quilts aren't Karo step, only the top quilts were made karo step because TeeDee wasn't too sure just how much the steps would constrain the down. From our experience with the top quits, I don't think that doing karo step under quilts would be any problem. Just remember to shake the quilt every morning and evening before use and it should be fine.