***Update 7/16- This quilt has kept me warm in my hammock for over 2000 miles and counting. A favorite! ***
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| The new DIY winter top quilt |
First I'll digress a bit about the prototype/ summer quilt. This was my first time using a top quilt rather than a sleeping bag, and I was delighted with how much faster it was get settled into my hammock since I didn't have to mess with a zipper or all that bulk. I'm definitely a fan of quilts!
I also initially had my doubts about the karo quilt design. But as it turned out, the karo baffle design did a great job holding the down in place while also allowing me to shift down during use (usually to the feet, sometimes to the sides when it got too hot). Because I started with a summer weight quilt, it required less down, so the first design only cost me $51. Fortunately, I ended up liking the design, but I'm glad I started with more inexpensive materials. Since it was for summer, I erred on the side of making it too small since I figured the risks were low. I found the size of this quilt fit like a glove, saving me weight and bulk.
While using my first karo top quilt, I brainstormed ways to improve the design for a second quilt for winter. I knew I wanted a sewn footbox, a slightly roomier cut, and, after our season of record rainfall, moisture-resistant materials.
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| Strips of masking tape stabilize the baffles while sewing them. |
I was reluctant to spend a ton of money on materials, but then my folks sent me a check for my birthday. So I immediately put in the order for my first choice of all the materials. (Thanks Mom and Dad!)
Fabric: 5 yards of 0.67 oz/yard2 Argon fabric from Dutchware, $50 + $2 S&H
Down: 15 oz of ARD+ DWR 850 fp from Underground Quilts, $150 +$10 S&H
Baffles: white tulle, leftovers from previous projects.
Total cost of materials: $200 + $12 shipping.
First the fabric. To be honest, I got really frustrated since I couldn't just go out to a local fabric store to compare all the lightweight fabric choices that I read about (here and here). I ended up using a new fabric called Argon that got favorable reviews on Hammock Forums (here and here). They said it is more breathable compared to M50, but it still has a DWR coating, and is incredibly light. Argon turned out to be nice and soft, and easy to sew. It was more slippery than the 1.1 ripstop I used for my first quilt, but it was way more manageable than silk or satin. Using a new (sharp) smaller needle was important, as was sewing at a slow speed and using a wide stitch. I wouldn't hesitate to use Argon fabric again.
I'm also trying out the new DWR treated, 850 fp down from Underground Quilts. I made more of a mess stuffing the down since it came sewn into ripstop fabric, compared to the super-easy static free bags I got from Wilderness Logics. Not a big deal if I'd been using the vacuum method of stuffing down instead of doing it by hand, but at least the bathtub contained everything. Still, I was very happy to get hold of the DWR down and I'm looking forward to seeing how it performs.
Size:
My first quilt is a narrow 40 inches wide- sufficient in summer but for winter I wanted something that will cover me even if I'm sprawled out so I went with 45 inches at the top. I know some people use draft stoppers, but I omitted them since didn't have trouble tucking the quilt around me because of the way my hammock hugs my body.
Another decision was the baffle height. I aimed for a quilt that would be slightly lighter than my current 35-degree sleeping bag (23oz total with 8 oz of down). So I started with a target weight of 20 oz, and from there I calculated the loft and baffle height given my dimensions. The big advantage of a quilt in a hammock is it uses less shell material, saves the weight of the zipper, and concentrates the down up above, rather than compressing it on the sides and below. So for a similar weight, I should get more warmth compared to the sleeping bag. At least in theory. Assuming I'm wearing a hat.
Finished specs:
Summer quilt (shown for comparison) New winter quilt
Weight: 11.4 oz (5 oz 850 fill down) 19 oz (14 oz 850 fill down)
Quilt size: 75" x 36" x 40" (draw cord footbox) 70" x 36" x 45" (sewn footbox)
Baffle height: 1" (but ended up being about 1.5") 2.5 to 3" (for 3-4 inches of loft)
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| Summer quilt (left) and new winter quilt (right) |
To make the sewn footbox, I used the same overall karo design as my summer quilt, expect I sewed the sides together at the bottom and added a circle of fabric at the bottom. I cut the outer fabric longer than the inner shell to give a differential. Then I added a circle of baffle to hold the down in place inside the footbox. I pretty much made it up as I went along and had to add a few pleates in the fabric to get everything to fit together, but overall it turned out great.
Final thoughts:
Making prototypes and revising designs is an integral part of the DIY process. Thinking through the features to incorporate requires reflection on techniques and provides a deeper understanding of one's own hiking priorities. It's especially rewarding seeing progress through all the different design versions. If you're thinking of making your own gear- I really encourage you to give it a try- it's easy when you start with a prototype.
For more information and inspiration for your own DIY projects:
Check out the DIY section of Hammock Forums and the MYGO forum at Backpacking Light.
Go on a Hammock Forums Hang- this is the place to meet a bunch of DIY'ers and creative folks.
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