I bit the bullet yesterday and ordered an UQ kit and some extra stuff from MYOG. Received notice from Dutch that it shipped today. I hope to finish it before 1/6 as there is a scheduled hang I hope to attend. I've read a bunch of threads on this forum about making top and under quilts, but I have a few nagging questions (that have probably already been answered somewhere but I missed it). Also, I'd appreciate any advice the more experienced diy'ers may provide.
The instructions
http://community.makeyourgear.com/20...ld-underquilt/
specify cut dimensions of 64" long by 52" wide. The kit provides 2 2.5 yd sheets of fabric and 2.5 yards of Climashield (I chose the 6 oz), shock cord, cord locks, and quilt hangers. It calls out the standard inside-out construction approach with channels for the shock cord between the layers. Stitch this stack first, and then add the CS and stitch it. Then turn it inside out and stitch the final unstitched section. It calls for hanging by the shock cord running through the long channels.
1. Width: Hammock Gear and Loco Libre quilts have a standard width of 44 and 45" respectively. Is that wide enough, or should I make it a bit wider? One thing I notice is that the the fabric is 58" wide with 57" usable specified. The channels are specified at 3", so I wouldn't be able to get two 3" long channels out of the usable width if I cut to 52" wide as called out in the instructions.
2. Length: I'm 5' 8" (68") tall. I realize that TQ are usually recommended to be a bit longer than your height, but what is a good length in a full length UQ? I'm inclined to make it a couple of inches or so over the 68". Advice?
3. Sewing Gap: I'm trying to visualize sewing the final gap closed after inside outing the quilt. Does it pucker out like an outie? Or should I try to tuck it in and sew that?
4. Suspension: It looks like most UQs have a second (or perhaps primary) set of shock cord for hanging the quilt at the long ends. This is usually attached to the quilt by grosgrain sewed to the outside ends of the long ends via a lineloc. I bought some of those and some grosgrain. Is this recommended? Also, it looks like some quilts actually hang by both. Is this recommended?
5. Fabric Dimensions/Differential Cut?: Is it worthwhile to make the fabric slightly longer and wider than the CS to avoid compressing it? Or maybe a slight differential cut? I estimate the loft of the 6 oz CS at just under 1.5". If I were to try diff cut, I'm estimating about 1 to 2" difference in widths.
6. Sewing with CS: I've read all sorts of stuff about sewing with CS. Some prefer up, some down. Some add a strip of fabric, newspaper, tp etc over the CS to keep it from snagging. Some use a walking foot for the sewing machine (thread injester). I'll probably play around with some of this prior to getting started, but any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance for any advice and suggestions.
mathineer
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