Am I crazy? Hand-sewing an underquilt?

[EArthur999]

So Ive been lurking about the forum and testing the waters of the hammocking world for about 4 months now. I have a lot of free time on my hands, and unfortunately no access to a sewing machine. So far i've stitched together (by hand) a pillow from RBTR kit, a double-ended stuff sack, a regular stuff sack, and a hammock (hemmed all the way around with the channels for the blackbird style whipping). All pretty time consuming, but quite fulfilling once i'm finished.

I've looked over every plan I can find on here for under quilts. I will be coming home in January and would love to spend some time outdoors in the hammock (in ohio) but I have no under quilt or the inclination to buy one since I only have limited time at home to get out in the woods. I understand it would be a good investment and as long as i treat it carefully it would be mine for a very long time. BUT, since I have so much free time I was considering hand-sewing an under quilt.

So I guess my question is, Is this insane? Does anyone have any idea how many hours this would take? And has anyone ever tried this??

What would be the most difficult portion of this project?

Any and all advice and remarks are welcome!

Thanks, Eric

[Caminante]

I think it's very crazy, but if you've already done a hammock I guess that's your brand of crazy! I'd just note that a down UQ would take A LOT of stitching because you have to sew in the baffles, as well. I'd lean towards one of the synthetic insulations so that you don't have to go through that special torture.

[Koolranch]

Yes.......

[FHLupe]

Yes.

But there's nothing wrong with crazy now is there?

[Tbird]

Crazy?! Yeah maybe, but isn't the result worth it.

With this being your first time making a quilt I'd say it would take longer than the "average" time. When I made my first tarp it took my two days, using a sewing machine, but the next few only took me half a day. Good luck EArthur999.

[captaincoupal]

I think you'd be fine, it's not completely crazy, especially if you have a lot of time on your hands or a few seasons of Parks & Recreation to catch up with on Netflix. That being said, why not spring for a sewing machine? Space?

Running a long stitch, as you're going to have to do for an UQ project, is going to be challenging if you're sewing by hand, since you're limited to the length of thread that you can have on your needle for each stitching "cycle" (unless you do a chain stitch). A sewing machine is only limited by the amount of string that you have on your spool or bobbin, which means a much longer seam or stitch without changing thread.

[daneaustin3]

So long as you are doing a synthetic quilt I don't think it would be much more challenging than doing your hammock.
With that said if you only need it for a week maybe consider renting one from UGQ.

[EArthur999]

Yea I've considered the rent option. And I might opt for that, there's always the possibility that I'll hate winter hammocking!

[daneaustin3]

Considering the expected temps for Ohio for January I would say you would be better with a rented down uq vs a synthetic.

[LuvmyBonnet]

That may be a little crazy. Bigger question is how do you have so much free time?!? I never have enough free time.