modifying Golite bag

**sseaman** · 11-19-2010, 09:51

I recently purchased a GoLite bag to use as an underquilt, I got a heck of a deal on 800 fill down. The bag does not have a zipper, so I want to cut it down one side to open it up. Anything to be aware of before cutting and sewing shut the newly cut edges?

**KerMegan** · 11-19-2010, 10:12

shake as much of the down as you can AWAY from the sew/cut lines before you start- maybe a few clothespins or such to keep them fluffy bits away from the work zone..KM

**sr1355** · 11-19-2010, 10:21

Sew first then cut if possible, not sure how you'd do this, maybe a hand stitch job then after cutting follow up with machine... This will help keep down from going everywhere...

**Lonely Raven** · 11-19-2010, 11:28

Have the vacuum ready!

**sseaman** · 11-19-2010, 13:24

thanks for the input, I have played with making a down quilt once before and man is that fun!

**StumpJumper** · 11-19-2010, 13:54

Check out this link. This guy did it.

http://heberhiking.blogspot.com/2010...-ultra-20.html

**MarshLaw303** · 11-20-2010, 09:49

are you modifying the quilt to use as an UQ or harvesting the down to use to make your UQ? I wasn't sure.

If modifying sew first then cut (after shaking all down into the -keeper- part of the bag). I have modified a lot of sleeping bags to quilts and i sew 2 lines ~1/8" apart then cut between the lines. The lines of stitches keep down from coming out when i cut. Then i just hem the raw edge and it is done.

If you want to collect down from unused areas and redistribute sew your line first like i said but on one side (which will be opened later to stuff the down in) use the longest stitch you can so when it is time to open it you can seam rip easily then re-stitch with an appropriate length. It will be much easier to seam rip with the bag hanging so the down stays in the baffles then to cut them fill then sew.

-TIM

**sseaman** · 11-20-2010, 10:24

ML, I am just modding the bag to be able to be used as either a top or bottom quilt.

**G.L.P.** · 11-20-2010, 10:47

Originally Posted by sseaman

ML, I am just modding the bag to be able to be used as either a top or bottom quilt.

you can have one or the other...if you mod it to be an UQ...thats all it will be able to do

if you can sew i would not cut up a nice TQ...and order the stuff to make a UQ...own is cheap...and BWDD has ripstop for $3 a yard...
you could mak a nice 2/3 lenth UQ for under $60

**MarshLaw303** · 11-20-2010, 12:42

you can make it do both but the footbox will be narrower than you'd want for a UQ. To do both you have to open it down the center and remove the footbox and add a drawcord at the head and foot. You could add snaps, zipper, or omni tape to close the footbox when in TQ mode and some gross grain tabs to secure it up in UQ mode. Since the footobx width (i'd guess 38-40) will be tight for uq use you could add gross grain tab that let you fold the bottom up into the uq making it have even more loft but it would then be a 2/3 UQ.

-Tim