Newbie to underquilt construction,need help

**hootyhoo** · 05-15-2007, 18:19

I made a prototype underquilt from an old synthetic sleeping bag. I used it last weekend. No kidding- I woke up around 3 am and thought I was in my bed at home. Unbelievable! Posh comfort.
So here is my dilema- I go to the ground in the winter, but this year I want to use the hammock in cold weather. So before I start sewing my 'real' under quilt I need some advice. I know what size and shape, and I am going to use down fill, but here is my idea- I want to cut the shell of the quilt wider than the liner and have 2" baffles so that the fabric of the shell will have to hang lower than the liner no matter how tight my shock cord gets (hoping to eliminate so much precise adjustment) and I want to sew a strip of velcro to the hammock bottom and to the liner so that they will maintain contact. I will have to experiment with the velcro to figure out what works best. It could be one or two lengthwise strips or several crosswise strips. Has anyone tried this approach and is there any advice for me? I seached the forum, but could not find a reference.

**Darby** · 05-15-2007, 18:42

You might get some useful info at[URL="http://www.thru-hiker.com/workshop.asp?subcat=5&cid=72"]. I hope I inserted this link correctly, if not, go to Thru-Hiker.com and click on the workshop tab. Good luck!

**slowhike** · 05-15-2007, 18:59

making the shell wider than the liner is an excellent idea. that's part of what makes the new speer underquilt work so well.
and i'm hoping that ed & dave will tell me that my description & drawing of that concept a couple years ago helped fule their thoughts as they worked on the new underquilt

but the velcro (or anything else) sewn to the bottom of the hammock could be asking for trouble.
a couple people (jeff & risk) have successfully sewn across the bottom to make it an insulated hammock, but it's risky business when you begin sewing to the hammock any where other than the four hemmed edges.
a lot of stress is put on a hammock body when it's occupied. ...tim

**Jazilla** · 05-17-2007, 10:08

Slowhike, that is just what I was thinking. There is a self adhering velcro but I don't know if it will stay stuck to nylon. Also, I don't know what the long term affects of the sticky material.

**slowhike** · 05-17-2007, 18:42

Originally Posted by Jazilla

Slowhike, that is just what I was thinking. There is a self adhering velcro but I don't know if it will stay stuck to nylon. Also, I don't know what the long term affects of the sticky material.

from the attempts i've seen to use the adhesive velcro, it won't hold for long.

**Jazilla** · 05-18-2007, 09:33

I didn't think so.
Hooty maybe you could sew velco around the perimiter of the underquilt. Then you wouldn't need shock cord and there would be no place for air to enter