The construction of a comforter determines its performance aesthetic appeal. There are several different designs of stitching and embellishments, each designed to complement the amount of fill for optimum performance.
GUSSETING
Gusseted construction on sleep products is where a sidewall, ranging from 1/2" to 4" is created by building a border along the side of a product. When filled, this gusset helps to maintain the high loft (puffy) appearance of the comforter.
CORDED EDGING
A decorative piping used around the edges of comforters adds subtle interest to clean lined fabrics. Sometimes the piping is finished with additional rows of stitching to emphasize the look; this is mainly an aesthetic embellishment with no contribution to the performance of the sleep product.
QUILTING
Quilting is the construction of layers of fabric and filling held together by patterned stitching, creating a padding effect. This helps to provide an extra layer of comfort to bedding. This construction is frequently used in feather products to help contain the feathers and cushion you from the hard quills inside.
- CHANNEL STITCHING
Horizontal or vertical columns are sewn consecutively through the top and bottom layers of the sleep product shell.
BAFFLE BOX STRUCTURE
A thin fabric connects the top and bottom layers of the sleep product shell, allowing for easy air and fill movement within the box structures, providing the ability to easily fluff the filling for more loftiness. A framed baffle box simply has 1 or 2 “frames” stitched along the outer edges.
SEWN THRU BOX STRUCTURE
Top and bottom layers of the sleep product are sewn in horizontal and vertical lines to form boxes that can range from 6-12 inches in length. This eliminates filling from shifting from one box to the other in the sleep product, but it can create cold spots where the fill is unable to migrate right up to the seams.
KARO-STEP STITCHING
Crosses or “X’s” are stitched every 8-10 inches through the top and bottom layers. This limits, but does not restrict, the downward movement within a sleep product. This stitching method is more decorative than functional.
RING STITCHING
Small circles are sewn every 8-10 inches through the top and bottom layers. This limits, but does not restrict, the downward movement within a sleep product. This stitching method is more decorative than functional.