Underquilt question.

**termite** · 02-22-2014, 02:19

I am planning on sewing my underquilt tomorrow and was wondering how to figure the length?

I'm 6'4 and hang in a WBBB. I have searched the forums and found various lengths ranging from 60" to 78". I was thinking something along the lines of 72".

I was planning on a full length UQ and was planning on probably 45" or so wide.

Any help would be great.

**e_2** · 02-22-2014, 02:36

You will probably be looking at 80" or so. "Full length" to me means it would allow you to both encompass your feet and head. since the ends will gather by drawcord, you lose some length. You would think you'd gain a little bit since you sleep diagonally, but again, the gather at the ends means it aligns to you.

You can try this for getting a good measurement: Find a floor big enough for the fabric. Gather and wrap/lash one end with cord. Put your feet in the gather and lay on the fabric on the floor. Now gather it up at your head and tie it off with something (rubber bands are great). mark and measure where you tied things.

**jwright** · 02-22-2014, 11:41

E2 has the right idea.
If you don't have an existing quilt to model off of, a mock up is a great idea. You could spend hrs researching the venders and the diy forum, or just take 30 min, hang you hammock and donate an old bed sheet to the project.
I would actually try it on the hammock--fold the end of the old sheet over to match the length you think you want and tie a couple of pieces of shockcord to the corners, hang it and give it a real test. Make sure you toss and turn, roll and move around like you would during the night. Some extra length is a really good idea at the feet--you will feel it if they lose their coverage.
This took all of the worry out of my quilt building, I was going round and round with all the different lengths out there and was making myself crazy, not able to commit to a length. Once I did this, no more worries, I built exactly what I knew I wanted - I should have just done this at the start.
jason

**Zilla** · 02-22-2014, 12:07

I am 6 ft 2 and a big guy and had mine made to 78x48 and it works great on my gathered end diy hammock!

**CountryRoads** · 02-22-2014, 12:20

I'm trying to make an underquilt as well. CatSplat made a spreadsheet that I'm using. The finished quilt will be 77" by 48". If you search for "DIY differential cut underquilt" you'll find the thread.