Has anyone used the walmart ripstop to make down quilts? Is it downproof? It feels a bit softer than the ripstop used on my hammock and commercial quilt, so I wanted to double check before using it.

My guess would be no. But that's just based on using some camo 1.1oz from wal-mart, and using cattail down. So I don't know that it's a good guess. (see http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php?t=11070)

I made a quilt with the wally rip and will occasionally find a renegade piece of down. I have no problem with it and plan to make another one soon.

I have a few yards of it, not sure what it would be good for? I wouldn't use any expensive new down in it, but recycling some old down would be okay. On another note, it might be just as good as some of the cheap ripstop being used for some of the commercial quilts available.

My guess would be no. But that's just based on using some camo 1.1oz from wal-mart, and using cattail down. So I don't know that it's a good guess. (see http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php?t=11070)

I have some of that stuff also (probably the same..) and it is somewhat more loosely woven that most other Ripstops I have seen. just my .02 lira, KM

If you have the down and extra fabric, make a small pillow. See how it holds up after squishin' it and fluffin' it a couple dozen times. If it works, great, if not you only wasted a small chunk of fabric, you can recycle the down. Or leave the leaky pillow 'til you find some down-proof fabric, and recover it.

I don't have the down yet. I'm thinking of getting in on the group buy before it is over, but wasn't sure if I could get away with cheap walmart ripstop or if I would have to order it from Ed.

The Wallyworld 1.1 comes in at least two types...one is loosely woven & not downproof. The other is tight weave and windproof. Have used the tight knit for a couple of quilts with Ed Speer's down and no significant leakage. If you can easily blow through it and see much light between the threads, you have the wrong stuff.

I bet most of the older DIY quilts made by forum members were made with the Walmart fabric. Think somewhere there was a thread discussing the grades of 1.1.

I've made several down things from Walmart's 1.1oz DWR ripstop and it holds the down in just fine. Both of my down-insulated hammocks were from Walmart fabric.

The non-DWR ripstop may have an issue, but the hammock body of the DownHammock v2 is 1.9 oz non-DWR ripstop and I haven't had any significant leakage. Not sure I'd make a quilt out of it, but it works well as the hammock body.

My guess would be no. But that's just based on using some camo 1.1oz from wal-mart, and using cattail down. So I don't know that it's a good guess. (see http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php?t=11070)

Does that mean you had problems with the cattail down? I'm just about ready to stuff mine with cattails so if I need to do something first - please share.
Thanks.

Kills me that none of the Wally Worlds around here carry any ripstop. There's only one store around here that even has a fabric section :-(

I'd be doing a lot more experimenting :-)

Hey Running Feather , welcome to my world. I went into the walmart in my local city and asked for Rip Stop Nylon and the two women just looked at each other ,stunned. They didn't know what it was.

My wife has been checking anytime she goes into a WalMart. She finally found some today!!! Two pieces, 2.8 yards and 6 yards. Now I can try a few projects I've had in mind.

Running feather, as said before one of the local Wally world's carry it here.

Found 12 yds 26 December. Seems like a good choice for some DIY projects (synth underquilt/topquilt).

I've occasionally gotten a good response by asking for "kite" fabric- might work for you!
KM

WW fabrics are hit and miss, especially in the bargain bin - those are seconds, from what I can see, and aren't labelled...

In San Diego, I can count 5 WW's withing a 30 minute drive of my house... I had to visit all 5 before I found any nylon ripstop. Ended up with 15 yards of 1.1 DWR (silver) and 7yds of 1.1 untreated (green, very breathable). both 60" wide. The silver made a great hammock for my son, and I'm planning a sock... The silver doesn't seem very breathable, so I'm not sure if I should use it... maybe breathable top, and dwr bottom...

John - try to suck some air thru it. If you can't, it's sil and won't make a good sock. If you can suck a little thru, it's probably DWR and will be OK for a sock. My socks were made from 1.1 oz walllyworld DWR.