How XTrekker Stuffs Down

[XTrekker]

So I have used several methods for filling Top Quilts and Underquilts with goose down but this method by far has proved to be the simplest, easiest method yet. Big shout out to Marty from Wilderness Logics for supplying down in 1oz baggies. Very handy. I could be wrong but I think I read somewhere that Dutchware might be selling Down in the future too..??...Have to keep an eye out for that...

Hope this comes in handy for anyone planning to stuff a quilt in the future. I was planning to shoot a guide on how I made this last UQ but due to time constraints that wont be possible this time around. To be honest I doubt I will ever make quilts for anymore friends or family in the future. I plan to instead just buy Underquilt shells from Underquilts.com. I may make myself an Underquilt in the future, and if I do I will be sure to shoot a video guide. But to be honest, unless you just love making gear, you might as well just order an UQ shell from underquilts.com because the price isnt much more than what the raw materials cost.

[nothermark]

Interesting. Thanks.

[Violent Green]

Nice. I use a similar "plunger" method except w/o the 1oz bags. Usually my down is in one giant bag so I just grab and stuff it into a tube a little smaller than the size of a baffle/chamber. Once I have the correct amount, I use a smaller tube with a closed end to push the down into the quilt. Really easy and not much down loss.

Ryan

[firecat8]

So then, once the baffles are stuffed, you just sew along the side you have clips on? Any special secret to that?

Thanks!

[XTrekker]

So then, once the baffles are stuffed, you just sew along the side you have clips on? Any special secret to that?

Thanks!

I usually just lay the quilt down and open up the clips as I sew along just running stitch 1" away from the edge with no folds. I do this to secure the down from escaping. Then I proceed to do a single fold 1/8" hem. After that I fold my corners in 1.5" and stitch in place. And lastly I fold the hemmed edge over to create a 1/2" channel for shockcord.

[Mescudi]

Greeat video! That's almost exactly how I do mine when I get my down from Wilderness Logics. The only thing I do differently is I do not use scissors to cut the bags. Instead if you pull the overhanging thread that is used to seal the bag shut the bag should rip open nicely along the thread lines. Kinda like perforations. Either way will obviously work. Nice job!

[Mountnman]

Right on XT!! I like it!

[bigfanboy]

This is exactly how I did it, other than I was the one separating the down from a MyLuxe Pillow so I put them into 1gal ziplocks bags.

This allowed me at "load" time to push as much air out of the bag as possible with a very small spot in the Ziplock open, going real slow.

Then I had a tight flat 2oz bag of down, which I folder over and slipped into the baffle just like you do in the video.

I then pulled the ziplock open through the fabric, once I had that done, the rest is exactly as you do it in the video. Cut the back of the bag push through slowly and Bob's Your uncle!

I am considering using a hybrid of the idea of doing the transfer of down to bags in a clear Tupperware bin, but also cut a hole in the bin where I can attach my shop vacs extension tube with the noseeum screen trick to pick up the "floaties"

[ShellHammock]

Dang! you make it look easy

[XTrekker]

Dang! you make it look easy

Yeah I remember my first quilt; I tried to use Fronkey's method and failed horribly. He is a true pro with down. I then moved on to the shop vac method to complete that quilt and the next one. The 3rd quilt is where I figured out this super simple method. Just finished my 4th quilt and I am so glad to not have to sit in my bathroom for hours using the shop vac method..