When the choice of a new duvet is limited to appearance, matching the interior or the color scheme of the bed, it is fraught with disappointment. You may become the owner of a pretty bedspread that is unable to keep you warm and cozy.
The appearance of course is important, but the properties of the duvet are determined by the filling and the way the duvet is arranged inside. Any filler moves around inside the blanket in one way or another. There are several ways to limit the movement of the insulation so that the quilt performs its function of keeping heat evenly over the entire surface as best as possible. Inner baffles and through-blanket stitching have become the most common designs. Let's see what the difference between the two is.
Duvet construction with internal partitions.
Any duvet consists of several layers of fabric. At least three of them all duvets have - the top layer of fabric, the filling layer (here the variants of materials from eiderdown to polyester are possible) and the bottom layer of fabric. In fact, the top and bottom layers are a cover for the filler. The loose structure of the filler makes it inevitable that it will move around inside the covers when you turn over in your sleep, make your bed, or wash the duvet in the washing machine. The filler simply can't stay an even layer in the duvet on its own. It clumps together and leaves some parts of the duvet empty. Not only is it ugly, the duvet stops doing its job, it doesn't warm.
The Baffle Box handles this by limiting the volume over which the filler can move. In this design, fabric baffles are sewn between the top and bottom layers. They divide the inner space into sections with the filler stuffed inside. The resulting boxes prevent the filler from bunching up in one corner of the duvet. The down or other filling fills such a box densely enough. It no longer strolls around inside the duvet insert, laboriously and responsibly does its job, providing you with warmth and comfort. Such a duvet looks like a chessboard, sewn from separate small plump pillows.
Sewn-Through- duvets
Sewn-Through technology solves the same problem of preventing unacceptable shifting of the filling. But instead of creating dividers inside the duvet, the top and bottom fabrics are simply sewn together where the filling is separated. More specifically, the filler is separated where the seams run. This secures the filler in the allocated spaces, but it becomes uneven in thickness. Closer to the seams, its thickness decreases and its density increases somewhat.
Which of these designs is best for you?
Technically, the difference between Baffle-Box and Sewn-Through duvets is the even distribution of the filler. Sewn-Through duvets have cooler lines in the areas where they are stitched. These areas have better air flow to both sides, but retain less heat. Baffle-Boxes have little change in the thickness of the fill in the areas where the dividers are sewn in. Warmth is retained evenly across the entire surface of these duvet inserts.
Sewn-Through duvets are great if you get hot at night and want better air circulation through your duvet. Warm climates, hot summers, or your personal preference will make this the best choice for you. However, if you want a really warm duvet that you're sure you'll never get cold to sleep under, the Baffle-Box is the best choice.
Durability and strength are also advantages of Baffle-Box over Sewn-Through. The insulation between the dividers is looser, does not flake longer and retains its properties. It is not subject to uneven compaction, which extends its service life. The quilt fabric in the sewn-in partition areas is also less stressed and subject to less wear and tear than the seams of a quilted quilt.
An indisputable advantage of Sewn-Through duvet covers is the price. The technology is less labor intensive and the equipment for production is simpler. Sewn-Through duvet covers offer a very wide range and you can make a great choice.
F.A.Q.
What is considered the best filler for duvets?
The answer is simple: the one that best suits your requirements. Each of the many fillings has a set of certain properties. You just need to determine for yourself what exactly you want from a duvet and how much you are willing to spend.
If you do not consider it necessary to spend extra money and somehow take special care of a duvet, it probably makes sense to choose viscose or polyester fillings, which replace the down padding. These are modern eco-friendly synthetics that are lightweight and warm. It is also a good alternative to animal-based fillings. Unlike natural fillings, synthetics are devoid of hard natural inclusions, have a uniform density and are indifferent to the biological factors that destroy natural materials over time.
A smooth, lightweight warm, breathable duvet that gives a great tactile sensation is, of course, natural down. Cool cozy duvet inserts are obtained with natural plant materials: bamboo, eucalyptus or cotton fiber will suit you perfectly.
What other quilt designs exist?
Of course they do. In addition to Baffle Box and Sewn Through solutions,
manufacturers offer comforters and duvets with gusseted, channeled designs. The channels are located along the entire length of the duvet and the filling in them is limited to the width of the channel.
Duvet inserts sewn with gusset are distinguished by the presence of baffle boxes inside. Such duvet inserts have reinforced fabric walls around the perimeter and borders of the inner boxes. This solution distributes the filler throughout the interior volume. These duvet inserts most often use natural down. Duvets with gusseted comforters usually look like a cloud, they cause a very pleasant and gentle feeling.
What is the difference between comforters and duvets?
The fundamental difference between comforters and duvet inserts is that the materials of manufacture suggest the use of the comforter as an independent object. It may well serve as a blanket for the bed before you go to bed. Duvets are made of materials that make it necessary to use duvet covers with them. This allows duvets to be sewn with lighter and softer fabrics. Just change and wash the duvet cover and your bed is clean and fresh again. It's easier and makes it easy to change the look of your sleeping area.
Duvets themselves do not need dry cleaning or laundering more than once or twice a year.
How will the Baffle Box / Sewn Through duvets hold up in the machine?
The answer depends on what's inside your duvet. Different fillings handle washing differently. Most down fillings lose their qualities after washing. They stick together in clumps and it is almost impossible to return them to their original volume and lightness. Only dry cleaning is suitable for natural down fillings.
Other fillings are usually easier to wash in a machine. In any case you should follow the instructions on the label of the product. Usually the acceptable methods of care are indicated there. Polyester, wool, vegetable fibers can be machine washed and dried at home in most cases.
What can you tell us about the cost of Duvets?
The price of a quality duvet is usually in the $70-$600 range. This wide range is due to the influence on the price of the brand of duvet, the materials of manufacture, the construction and the size of the duvet.
The Baffle Box is usually always more expensive than the Sewn Through duvet. Natural down is always more expensive than other fillings. Synthetic fiber, on average, is always cheaper than natural fiber. Duvet insert size has a particularly strong effect on price in cases of expensive natural fillings. For example, queen and full standards with natural down are significantly cheaper than king/California king with the same filling.
To summarize all of this:
Baffle Box duvets do a better job of keeping you warm, but they are more expensive than the Sewn Through duvets.
The Sewn Through design is more suitable for warm climates and for fans of light, cool duvet inserts, but it is somewhat less durable than Baffle Box. The variety of fillings allows you to choose the best option for every taste and wallet.
And most importantly: if the selected duvet pleases you - you made the right choice.