converting down mummy to UQ?

**E.A.Y.** · 10-07-2008, 13:29

So I have an old 2 pound Gerry down bag (actually we have 2, one with a blown zipper and one still usable).
This is a mummy bag, baffled construction.
Tell me if my wacky idea will work:

I have lots of time and no spare cash so I am thinking that if I took the bag apart along the side seam, undid the seam from the bottom of the zipper to the footbox, removed the round bottom of the foot box, (arrows on pic) and leveled off the top of the bag (removing the hood), I ought to be able to re-assemble it with one of the two halves reversed, giving me a rectangular slab of downy goodness aprox 48" by 66". And that was one very loooong sentence.

I'd use this on my eno-type double wide hammock.

I anticipate down everywhere since I suspect the side seam is really a baffle with more down in it.

Any tips for removing down from baffles?

Is this going to be an OK size for an UQ?

(I LIKE taking things apart)

**Duncan** · 10-07-2008, 14:03

Hello eay,

I cannot answer any questions çause I don't know anything about sewing but I do like the question.
I also thought of (have my mother) making an UQ from my old Ajugilak sleepingbag. Not down, but synthetic.

I'm curious about your work. If it works I'll have to sweettalk my mother

Duncan.

**Mule** · 10-07-2008, 18:44

I have helped a friend make an underquilt from a synthetic bag much the way you explained it and it worked well. I have also made an over quilt the same way, but left the foot box. I think you will do fine with your plan. Mule

**slowhike** · 10-07-2008, 21:00

I've made 2 or 3 sleeping bags into top quilts for myself & a friend. What I used were Big Agnes Horse Thief bags that were on sale (down).

I started by shaking as much of the down as possible away from the zipper & sewing a line a couple inches inside of the zipper. Then I cut the zipper off (outside) & shook away the little bit of down that was still stuck in that section.
Then I folded/rolled & sewed the newly cut edge, leaving a hemmed edge. That has been one of my favorite top quilts... & easy to make!

**Take-a-knee** · 10-07-2008, 21:12

I don't see why you'd have to hack it all up as you described to arrive at your final dimension. Just mark it out, shake the down away from the seam, and sew.

**E.A.Y.** · 10-08-2008, 17:49

Originally Posted by Take-a-knee

I don't see why you'd have to hack it all up as you described to arrive at your final dimension. Just mark it out, shake the down away from the seam, and sew.

I am a bit excessive, aren't I? So I did compromise my original plans and have the body of the UQ finished. I still need to add an attachment system.

Look for the thread in this forum "The Great Mummy Conversion of 2008" for the story so far.

eay