Costco UQ... To seam rip or not?

[wbJohn]

I made an Underquilt from an Costco Down throw and it's worked out great without ripping any of the seams. Yesterday, I was in Costco and found the Down Throws on display and wondered if there was any advantage to ripping one direction of the seams as most people seem to think. I bought a throw and ripped the seams, sewed on the suspension the same way I did the non-ripped UQ. I plan to toss it into the dryer for a few minutes with no heat and a couple of tennis balls to fluff it up and then hang in both to see if I can tell the difference.

If someone has a more objective way to measure the difference in insulating value between them that doesn't involve purchasing expensive equipment, I'm all ears.

[Tikker]

the horizontal seams are sewn after the down is inserted, so just ripping that frees up more down AND allows more overall loft


you're also removing half the sewn thru cold spots

it's not going to turn a CDT into a -20 quilt by any stretch, but it makes a very decent starter 3 season quilt for most, and with layers, it's certain viable below freezing

[leiavoia]

I had reservations about ripping the seams out too. Afterwards, it was a distinctively superior blanket, even if that is all you use it for.

Tikker makes a good point about "removing half of the cold spots". Seams are the biggest drawback on a sewn-through blanket.

Taking the seams out physically allows the layers to separate, meaning you get loft. When it comes to loft, anything is better than zero.

[GTPowers]

It’s hard to grasp HOW to do it at first glance but it ends up being really simple and does overall improve the loft. I’ve done five quilts now and it takes me less than thirty minutes. Definitely worth it.
-GTP

[geneaut]

It’s hard to grasp HOW to do it at first glance but it ends up being really simple and does overall improve the loft. I’ve done five quilts now and it takes me less than thirty minutes. Definitely worth it.
-GTP

Do you mind sharing your technique?

[Tikker]

you should be able to just pick a stitch at each side of the intersections, and then just pull it out. if it's difficult, flip the quilt over, and try tugging again

[Otter1]

As said above, ripping the horizontal seams is the way to go. Mo' betta.

[GTPowers]

Do you mind sharing your technique?

Sure. Any basic seam ripper works well. Find the first stitch of the line you want to pull. Cut that, both sides. Go to the next point that the stitches cross. Cut that only on the on side. Move back up, slide the ripper under and pull, but not rip, a stitch that’s long enough for you to grab and give it a tug. Should pull that section out. Move down the line.

-GTP

[Geocellostrong]

As said above, ripping the horizontal seams is the way to go. Mo' betta.

Howdy-first post. Which seams do you mean when you say horizontal? The long or the short on the original throw? I can see how if you want a longer quilt you’d want baffles moving across your body so when you consolidated down you’d remove excess from the sides. Thanks! Sorry-just diving in to this project and drinking from the fire hose a bit...

[leiavoia]

remove the short seams, leaving long channels. You will get (very) slightly better loft. This has to do with the way they are sewn up in the first place.