Underquilt DIY?

[datman]

Ok. So far, here's what I know about making underquilts..




Now that we got that out of the way.. For someone who knows his way around a sewing machine, how hard is it realistically to diy an underquilt?

I'm looking on ripstop by the roll and I can make 2 30* underquilts for around $150, so I'm motivated to try it out. Just wondering from someone who has been down that road, if its worth the time and headaches to do it myself.

[Monkeyboy42]

An apex underquilt isn't too difficult. If you don't have much sewing experience I'd make a hammock first before tackling a quilt. It's an easy way to learn the necessary skills before tackling a more expensive project.

I'm assuming you are talking about climashield apex at that price point of course. A down underquilt isn't super difficult, but it is tedious, and you'll learn the skills easier doing hammocks, tarps, and synthetic quilts first. I say this having just finished my first down top quilt, and starting a down under quilt.

[dink712]

I picked up roll ends of both the fabric and the climashield apex from "Ripstop by the Roll"...managed to make 2 UQs for less than $50, a full length for me and a 3/4 for one of the grandkids to use. Now I just have to run the cording thru the channels and finish them up before our next camping trip this April.

[datman]

I picked up roll ends of both the fabric and the climashield apex from "Ripstop by the Roll"...managed to make 2 UQs for less than $50, a full length for me and a 3/4 for one of the grandkids to use. Now I just have to run the cording thru the channels and finish them up before our next camping trip this April.

Nice!

[Rain Man]

The initial question is whether you want to do it "quick and easy" or "fitted and difficult." Sewing a flat UQ and expecting it to fit to the complex curves of a hammock is easy. Conforming it to the true shape of the underside of a hammock with a human in it is hard.

Probably the main thing in my mind is the differential curving so that the "top" material fits close and tight to the hammock and that the "bottom" material hangs loose so it doesn't crush the insulating material in the middle.

I did it the hard way. Twice. Takes a ton of patience, calculation, and trial and error.

[daneaustin3]

A cs quilt is relitively easy. There are several threads on here outlining the process.
I agree with the others I would make a hammock and a stuff bag or two before tackling it just to get honed in before dealing with $100 in material. The best advise I can give is to use lots of pins. CS likes to change shape.

[Caminante]

I've done a down UQ and a CS UQ - they're both manageable, of course the down version takes more time and patience. If you're at all familiar with sewing or know someone who is, a CS underquilt is *almost* as easy as making a standard pillow. The only exception is that you need to add the channels which is as easy as running a hem. It's really straightforward - a few potential gotcha's, but nothing you won't be able to fix.

Here is a 5oz CS UQ I recently made for my daughter. We just walked in the door from testing it out in the backyard (it works great). Total cost was ~$60 w/shipping.
https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...t-for-Daughter

Of all the quilt projects, I think a CS UQ is probably the most straightforward and very achievable with basic sewing skills.

[datman]

Thanks guys this has helped a ton. I'm going to order some material and some extra material and make some stuff sacks and other odds and ends to get used to the fabric before I tackle the uq. I'll post pictures when I'm done.

[BuckeyeFan]

I had no sewing experience before making 2 table cloth hammocks for my kids. My next project was a down UQ. If you plan it and take your time it's not too difficult.