happyevie

Suzy, Thanks for the info ! I will go and have a look at that site now !

Kathy T.

Welcome to the Board from Florida! In the US, I think we would call what you want to make a "down comforter" (comforters are usually thicker than quilts).

I googled "how to make a down comforter" and this is one of the resulting links:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4829672_down-comforter.html

Good luck!

MawMaw B

My mother made feather pillows for our family and she used cotton ticking to put the feathers in. Sometimes she would double the fabric so the feather quills would not poke out. You can still find that fabric. I did a search on it and came up with this link and a few others. http://www.onlinefabricstore.net/specialty-stores/cushion-stuffing-store/decorative-pillows/pillow-fabric/pillow-ticking-fabric.htm?gclid=CMvbppyFt6wCFeZeTAodtHT6Hg Good luck.

ghostrider

Here, and in Europe I assume, eiderdown refers to the feathers themselves, not what they go into. That may be affecting your search results. What you are describing, if I understand you correctly, is called a comforter or a duvet by most folks here.

bearisgray

Try searching "goose down comforter" - that may help

twixbar

Hi from DE. You sound like you are from Britain or Europe? I loved eiderdowns growing up in Britain, they are just not the same here, it would be great if you could find out how to make them. Good Luck.

JUNEC

Are you talking about a Stuff 'N' Puff Quilt?

http://www.quilterscache.com/P/PuffQuiltingBlock.html

http://patchwork-quilt-patterns.com/...ff_quilt_.html

http://www.squidoo.com/biscuit_quilt

happyevie

Hello Florida, Hi DE ! Yes, I am from Europe - I live in London ! We do call them "Eiderdowns" here, I am so glad you remember them twixbar! And interesting that perhaps they just don't exist in America? It is true that they are a traditional thing to have on a bed. It would be great if I could figure out how...
I have some links here from eBay, to show you the kind of thing!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-SA...item3a6c7f2dd5

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-ei...item1c20e92625

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Pa...item2c60b4b3fa

Although, none of these are the same as the one I have, as the one I have also has patches of fabric in a decorative design. You woudn't use it as a quilt directly, as it is more like a decorative blanket. I use mine at the bottom of my bed to keep my toes warm ! Interesting that this might just be a European phenomenon! Let me know if anyone knows differently though!

NikkiLu

I bought a German feather "bed" at a garage sale once and it was a very heavy, thick fabric. I wanted it to make pillows out of the feathers. So, bought the feather "ticks" through the Sears, or Montgomery Wards catalog and proceeded to make about 6 feather pillows out of it - OMG - what a job that was - probably "lost" half of the feathers (in the yard) - NO good way to do it - but be sure to do it outdoors and on a very calm (not windy day). My mother-in-law had told me how they did it when she was a girl and plucked their own chickens, or geese. She said to sew one end of the pillowcase to one end of the comforter and pull the feathers out inside out or something like that. Very complicated but had to be done in order not to lose so many feathers.