Questions about making a topquilt and underquilt

**BigTurtle** · 09-16-2011, 23:20

first, is will regular 1.6 ripstop nylon NON calandered work with down?
second, what is the fabric yall use for the skin side of the TQ?
third, is what is a good amount of down for a TQ & UQ for a 3 season?
last, ive seen some UQ's with mesh pockets in the baffles i know they are used to control the fill from moving to much but if you use a sewn through baffle design do you really need them?
ive seen anyone from 6-14 oz of down fill. that saying my UQ & TQ are going to have to be larger because im a very wide man and still a hair over 6ft. so take that into consideration. ive looked at all the quilt diy threads on HF and watch the videos so i believe i know how im going to make just not sure how much down i will need. oh also it will be 800 fill down. also im going to do the baffles length wise.

thanks for any info
BT

**BrianWillan** · 09-16-2011, 23:29

To answer your first question, it is no, you can't use a non calendared fabric with down. The down will pass through the fabric. Most people use a calendared 1.1oz ripstop nylon for quilt shells.

As for the amount (weight) of down you will need for a given quilt, first you need to know the size of the quilt your going to make, then based on the dimensions figure out the volume of the quilt (length x width x thickness) then divide by the fill power of the down your using. I suggest you look at some of the quilt offerings from any of the hammock vendors here to get an idea on the amount of down they use for a given size quilt to get a temperature rating.

Hope this helps

Brian

**BigTurtle** · 09-16-2011, 23:45

ok so i need calandered.
does anyone know where i can find it in camo?
and what about the mesh in the baffles

**te-wa** · 09-17-2011, 00:04

doesn't DIY gear supply have calendared fabric? wait...http://www.diygearsupply.com/cgi-bin/shelf.cgi?numb=17
i cannot vouch for this, never used it..

here is another bargain calendared ripstop in Olive: http://www.efabricsupplier.com/Olive...c_WR_p/125.htm
i used some of this a year ago or so.. it was ok. i think it's seconds

somewhere I just saw ACU in 1.1 ripstop.. i should have written that down!

**JohnSawyer** · 09-17-2011, 00:08

I have a bag of down that is made from the 1.1 olive 2nds (yes, it's calendared) I love this fabric... and the bag has never leaked a feather...

$3.20/yd and it's super comfy as a hammock..

**BigTurtle** · 09-17-2011, 00:41

i would love to know where that acu 1.1 is im also looking for some camo fabric to make a tarp out of open for ideas on what type of fabric trying to balance qualty and price