Karo Underquilt Adventure

I finished my under quilt a while ago and now I am waiting for the extra down I needed for the top quilt. I also must not I made this huge because I intended to use it only for Jeep camping and never backpacking. Right now the quilt is too hot to try in the house so I will report on the warmth when I get out next. I imagine it will go down to 0*

I marked the baffles out using a grease pencil and the long piece of angle Aluminum. for the edges and a large framing square for the individual baffles. The dimensions for this are.
Under quilt
(80x45x3.25)/800 = 14.62 (actual down used - 24oz.)

Black and Grey
Cut widths

Inside
47" wide
82" long

Out side

60"wide
88.5"long

Baffles
26' 3.25 wide
3.75" cut width

Splash guard
85"x50"
L
Cut length
87"
Cut width
52"

Outside fabric laid out on kitchen floor.
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/8987/img0274q.jpg

Baffles Sewn on
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/8549/img0277gl.jpg

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/2766/img0275eu.jpg

The top, bottom and sides sewn ready for stuffing
For the side I simply cut the bottom out wider and longer and sewed them up and put a seam in so it would be more rigid
http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/7889/img0285rd.jpg

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/2285/img0289t.jpg

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/5097/img0287r.jpg

Tent in the living room, vacuum inside with no-seeum on the end, ready for the mess.
http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/8666/img0298nk.jpg

http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/3084/img0303ty.jpg

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/7290/img0301l.jpg

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/1441/img0304ix.jpg

I didn't loose any down with the vacuum like this I could just pick the down off the end of the vacuum and stick in back in the quilt. As I got to the end I pinned the sides in. On the top quilt when I fill it I will use ductape and close it off more before I start stuffing.

And Finished, This took me in total minus wait time, 3 days to complete.
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/6603/img0305vv.jpg

http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/3310/img0306c.jpg

http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/9171/img0325x.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/6853/img0330dn.jpg



Top quilt next I am only doing 2" baffles on that.

All but a couple of your images have a "403 Forbidden" error and are not shown. The few that are shown are HUGE!

Victory!! Fixed and the pictures don't take up the entire screen :P

Great stuff! Im sure you will be happy as anything in that. Nice and warm as well :)

Karo step baffles for the underquilts are awesome. So much down movement control to help with them personal cold spots.

Great job! Looks toasty!

Acer

Real nice work.....;)
can't wait to see the next one

That looks great!

What material did you use, and where'd ya get it?

I used 1.9 ripstop from quest and the noseeum from them as well I made sure when I cut it the stretch direction would be the short direction not the long direct so it didn't stretch as I stitched. Since I figured the bottom material was so slippery.

If I did it again I would use 1.1 and bias tape for the channel instead of 1.9 but I figured I would go for durability. Since it's for car camping weight didn't matter.

samiam2714
I don't know how I missed this post. Nice work! You'll be warm this winter.
You and I were building around the same time. I thought mine was big, yours
is a bit on the huge size as well :lol: What did your weight come in at with cordage and all?
I've been using mine indoors a bit with the ends draped open for temp control
and really enjoy it, can't wait for the cold weather and the outdoor tests.
Have you started your topquilt? Are you going to repeat the karo step?
Enjoy it, looks great

Maybe I've missed it before so, sorry if this is a dumb question. Are any of the "steps" closed? or are they all open to the quilt? ie Do you only have to do one down-dump?

If so, seems like it'd be a real pain to distribute the down the first time, but after that, pretty cool.

Thanks.

Jbo

PKT- Yeah we were building ours at the same time. I don't know how much it weighs maybe 1.75lbs. I started the TQ and I am halfway done. will finish before thursday next week.

jbo_c- one down dump is correct. That is the reason I chose this way in the first place.

Well well Thursday next turned into next June by after all that mess I finished

http://tapatalk.com/mu/4753776b-15ab-2241.jpg

I ended up ordering a pillow filled with down. I was skeptical at first but it really did turn out to be a great idea. The whole pillow was FULL of down and it was really good stuff 850. I still have enough to do a 3/4 summer UQ or something else.

Looks great, I'm sure that will keep you toasty warm on a cold night.

Nice addition!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jbo_c

Maybe I've missed it before so, sorry if this is a dumb question. Are any of the "steps" closed? or are they all open to the quilt? ie Do you only have to do one down-dump?

If so, seems like it'd be a real pain to distribute the down the first time, but after that, pretty cool.

Thanks.

Jbo

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Samiam, this is a good question. What was it like filling a karo step quilt?

Quote:

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As I got to the end I pinned the sides in. On the top quilt when I fill it I will use ductape and close it off more before I start stuffing.

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This makes it sound as if you left an entire side open to stuff it. End, too? Will you/did you use the same method for your top quilt?

That is true I left an entire side open for stuffing (just one end though) however I closed it down to just big enough to get my hand in and and out with a hand full of down. Then I just moved my opening from side to side depending on where I was putting the down.

None of the squares are completely closed. They are 6 inches long and there is a 6" gap in between each baffle. It was really easy to stuff.

Just grab handfuls of the down and run it down between the baffles into the square then slowly remove your hand so it doesn't cling to your hands.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by samiam2714

I ended up ordering a pillow filled with down. I was skeptical at first but it really did turn out to be a great idea. The whole pillow was FULL of down and it was really good stuff 850. I still have enough to do a 3/4 summer UQ or something else.

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Those look great Samiam!!

What type of pillow did you source the down from? Thanks!

It was from a no longer available 800 fill from amazon.

Nice looking work.... Should keep you plenty warm....

It has thus far. Three trips this year down into the high 30's.

Samiam, I'm looking to startan UQ soon and I am really liking the Karo step design. Just a few questions for you...

Have you been happy with the karo step design?

Would you do it that way again if you had the choice?

On the boarder, did you just bring the top and bottom fabrics together or did you put in a boarder piece between the top and bottom fabrics?

Do you have any advice for someone about to try one?

Hi Mr. Clockwork

Have you been happy with the karo step design?

Yes i have been happy with it, I am planning a 3/4 UQ and another TQ this year in fact

Would you do it that way again if you had the choice?

Yuppers

On the boarder, did you just bring the top and bottom fabrics together or did you put in a boarder piece between the top and bottom fabrics?

I made the outside wide enough to just fold over for the border, then I just sewed the edge around so it would stay that way.

Do you have any advice for someone about to try one?

Make a plan. On paper or card board. Doesn't have to be full size. A really long straight piece of aluminum help me a lot for the layout. I wish I had made the TQ taper toward the foot end. When you stuff the down make sure to pin the opening smaller so the fluff doesn't fly everywhere. I suggest the tent approach.

Good luck