Summer Weight Fleece Top Quilt

[Steve D]

Several weeks back I posted a note asking asking abut the feasibility of making and using fleece for a summer top quilt. The response was favorable so I decided to go ahead and give making one a try. At first I was thinking about modifying one of the patterns for a down quilt but JohnSawyer pointed me to this DIY How To that he put together:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Mult...Camping-Quilt/

Connie and the girls were off on a shopping expedition with friends so I decided today would be a good day to hit up our closest Joann's to get some ripstop and fleece and give it a whirl. Got to say John's how to was splendid and my fleece TQ turned out quite nice. I gave it a quick sit-down test on the sofa but will probably be next weekend before I can give it a proper test drive outside.

Here are a few photos from the build:

Gettin' started...ripstop and fleece stretched out on the floor, ready to lay off the seams...



I had a little help early on...finally convinced him to go outside...



John suggested making the quilt a rectangle and since I like a bit of extra foot room that sounded like a good idea to me. Here's the quilt after the edges were sewn and trimmed and the pins removed. The tape strips were my guides for straight seams...



Folded over, pinned and ready to sew the bottom end/foot box...



All finished!



Many thanks to JohnSawyer for putting together his How To and pointing me to it!!

[ShadowAlpha]

wow! Nice work
Now that the cat has a blanket what color is your's going to be? :P

[Ladybird]

nice! I've thought about using fleece too. What is the finished weight?

[L.D. Cakes]

Oh how soft and cozy that looks! I have a fleece sleeping bag I could convert like that. Humm wheels are turning......

[Steve D]

No idea about the weight. Probably on the heavy side compared to others...fortunately I car camp most of the time so weight and bulk aren't quite the issues they would be if I was doing a lot of backpacking.

Shadow...If I knew that Alex the Cat would use his own TQ I'd make him one...he usually ends up in the hammock curled up on my legs when I hang in the back yard...

BTW, for those wondering, the cost was a little less than $20 for the ripstop and fleece (fleece was on sale and I got 50% off the ripstop with a coupon at Joanns) and layout and sewing took about an hour and a half...

[CrackMunk]

nice! I was thinking about doing something like this too. I'm defiantly going to do it now!

[harrell79cj5]

That looks interesting to me! I made one just out of fleece without the ripstop. It works great for me down to about 52 degrees with an underquilt and weighs only 15oz. I just used one of those cheap fleece throws and sewed a footbox. note - i weighed 4 different throws and they varied by 3-4oz. Not trying to hijack your thread, just some comments. BTW, yours looks way better than mine!

[Steve D]

That looks interesting to me! I made one just out of fleece without the ripstop. It works great for me down to about 52 degrees with an underquilt and weighs only 15oz. I just used one of those cheap fleece throws and sewed a footbox. note - i weighed 4 different throws and they varied by 3-4oz. Not trying to hijack your thread, just some comments. BTW, yours looks way better than mine!

I thought about just using a cheap throw but decided to add the ripstop to help keep leaves, pine straw and other debris off the outside when I manage to drop it on the ground (yeah, its gonna happen) and to cut the wind should I be out on a windy night (already happened).

I'll have to find a scale and weigh it...I'm pretty curious about that myself. Friday night is supposed to be in the mid to upper 50s here so hopefully I'll have a chance to give it a try. I still have a piece of fleece to make an inner liner with to take it down a few more degrees...but trying it out in weather cooler than the mid 50s will probably have to wait till fall now...

[oldgringo]

I thought about just using a cheap throw but decided to add the ripstop to help keep leaves, pine straw and other debris off the outside when I manage to drop it on the ground (yeah, its gonna happen) and to cut the wind should I be out on a windy night (already happened).

Anyone who has ever worn one of those jackets with DWR nylon over fleece will testify: it is a really warm combo. Nice job!

[oldsoldier]

Did you spot stitch (I have NO idea what the technical term would be), so that they are attached to each other more than just along the edges?