down top quilt advice needed.......

**stevebo** · 04-15-2011, 20:21

Hey guys, I need a little advice........Ive made several hammocks, a tarp, and several synthetic top quilts (ray jardine kits) I would really like a down topquilt, but have never worked with down before. So, heres my question.......is it cost effective to make my own?(or would I be better off buying a ready made one? ) Also, is this something within my sewing skills, or would I get in over my head? (been there a time or two! ) If so, any design suggestions? (I was thinking about an extra long 3 or 4 season quilt-----any idea what the materials would cost me?) What kind of construction time am I looking at? Anyway, Ive been thinking about it, ---------Thanks!

**jbo_c** · 04-15-2011, 21:59

You can do it. I had the same or less experience than you describe when I built my first. It's cake, just takes more patience. I'd rate it no more difficult than a climashield quilt. Just takes more patience and time.

Definitely order your down pre-measured from Adam. Not doing that would increase my difficulty and patience requirements by a factor of 3.

As for cost, seems like I saved 100 bucks or so.

Jbo

**jdneri** · 04-15-2011, 22:25

What site is it where one could buy pre-measured down?

**jbo_c** · 04-16-2011, 05:11

Hammockgear.com will premeasure any increment down to one ounce. -and the prices are great to boot.

Jbo

**Roadrunnr72** · 04-16-2011, 08:15

Hammock Gear is not currently selling down, atleast it's not listed on their site. Adam and Jen said that they were going to start offering it again, I'm just not sure when. Sent them a message and ask. Or you can PM Stormcrow or Thorwren on here.

**Danvandanne** · 04-16-2011, 17:59

I ordered down from Wilderness Logics and the down was packaged into separate 1 oz pouches without asking. Will make my UQ's alot easier than my TQ's where I had to measure my own amounts out.

I hope this helps.

-Dan

**Ewker** · 04-16-2011, 18:08

Originally Posted by jbo_c

You can do it. I had the same or less experience than you describe when I built my first. It's cake, just takes more patience. I'd rate it no more difficult than a climashield quilt. Just takes more patience and time.

Definitely order your down pre-measured from Adam. Not doing that would increase my difficulty and patience requirements by a factor of 3.

As for cost, seems like I saved 100 bucks or so.

Jbo

just curious if your time (labor) is figured into the money you saved?

**jbo_c** · 04-16-2011, 21:29

No time and labor in my calculation. I'm a tinkerer, not a TV watcher and I do my work while everybody's asleep. That's the definition of no cost to me. If you want to calculate T&L into it, buy one, it's hands down a better deal, but then my opinion is that that's true about everything but sleep.

Jbo

**Coffee** · 04-17-2011, 21:26

Makes some quilts now myself for the first time in a few years for an upcoming trip. I think considering really cheap fabric I had laying around I am still around $120 dollars a quilt. With two days worth of work. But I like the making and self sufficint part of it all.

I was thinking about how cost effective it is. I think if you are short on time you and not short on funds, it isn't a big win to make over buy.

Down is super easy to deal with. I just put the box with the down on my scale (ebay postal scale measures 0.1 oz increments up to 35 lbs) and measure how much I remove with each handfull.