When I was a young girl I used to stay at my Aunty Lil's home in the country, she was an old timer and I used to sleep in her spare room in an iron bed with a straw mattress on it with a feather mattress on top of that, both of which she made her self. On top of the bed was a duvet which she also made, filled with feathers, this had channels sewn into it and she stuffed the feathers into the channels. As far as I can remember she never quilted these duvets. In the morning we had to shake all three of these items as during the course of the night everything settled!
Just to add to this story Aunty Lil's wedding ring was made from gold found in the local Cardrona river, I always thought that was so romantic! I am so pleased I experienced
some of the old ways before they died out completely. Hope she is looking down and reading this!!!
Gal