Well I finally got a few days off from work, so I decided to do some of the projects I've been planning for a while.

I wanted to make an underquilt. There are plenty of AWESOME quilt designs here on HF. Take some time and peruse around if you find yourself interested in making one.

After reading all the wonderful posts and directions on various designs, I finally decided to try out TeeDee's Karo-step box quilt. He gave me a few tips that made the process a LOT easier. Thank you TeeDee!

What drew me to the box design is essentially there is only one chamber for the down. I don't even have to weigh the down. The step baffles suit my talents (or lack thereof) better than the long chambered baffles. I find it is much much easier for me to ‘thread inject’ shorter distances than long expanses. The design works great! Or at least it does in my living room… I’ll get a better test hopefully later this week.

The finished quilt is 38”x46” and baffled 1.25”, but has 2.5”-3” loft in some places. I’m still working on distributing the down evenly. Total weight is 7.25 oz without suspension. I put grosgrain loops on the corners and put channels on the sides. I might end up making some channels on the short ends to help cinch them up, but to that I’m still undecided.
I used 12 3” steps side to side and 12 6” steps end to end.

Liner and shell sewn together

Stuffed with down

Hung up on my DIY hammock. The whoopie slings aren't in the photo...

As much of a detail shot as I'm willing to give...

Down in the sunlight


It took me longer than I expected, but I don’t think this will be my last down project. I think with a bit of practice, my next quilt will turn out much better.

I think it might be the humidity here in Houston, but the down REALLY stuck to my skin when I was stuffing the quilt and it likes to clump together a bit in the quilt. I have to be REALLY persuasive to the down to get it to shift at all.
Any thoughts on how to get the down to un-clump and disperse?