First diy 900 fill top quilt

**jbquetico** · 02-01-2015, 20:37

Well after buying my materials from thru-hiker a year ago, I finally did enough surfing to gain confidence to make a tapered top quilt. The quilt had a finished dimension of 52" wide by 82" long with a taper at the 51" mark to a 40" wide foot box. i put in a draw string foot box with four ties every 5" up the sides. I wanted a design that would be flat so my cold nonbackpacking could use it around the home. The funny thing is that I have been using my sleeping bags as quilts on my 20+ BWCAW trips but did not know about top quilts.

Some things I learned while making this:
1. Sear the fabric edges right away - I did it after the mesh was sewn in.
2. Pins worked the best for me - tried the tape but didn't work well.
3. The best way to pin the nano to the fabric is to lay it over a long couch back. This is if you lack working space. Got me off the floor!
4. Sew the nano to the top layer with the top layer bunched under the sewing machine arm. This one thing made the job much easier.
5. I stuffed the 5.46" wide by 3" high baffles with the vacuum method. I also learned that if you don't tape the screen to the hose, you could suck your down into the vacuum.
6. Please make sure you humidify your stuffing area. i did this in my workshop and it was amazing to watch the down zap to the fabric from a foot away. I put a vaporizer and water on the floor overnight. It was so much easier to clean up the down after doing this.

Would I do this again? In a heartbeat! My wife is super impressed. She did not sew one stitch on this project but did help with the machine, a Pfaff 295-1.

My next project will be a down underquilt. I hope to have this for a trip on the north country trail this June.

I give a shout out to all the folks who sell the materials and the wise expertise that encourage us to diy. Thanks hammock forum, diy gear supply and thru-hiker.

First post but a three year lurker and donating member.

top quilt outside foot box.jpg top quilt with footbox.jpg top quilt flat outside.jpg top quilt flat - inside.jpg

Finished weight is 736.77 grams or 1.62 lbs.

**boulderv7** · 02-01-2015, 20:45

Well where are the pics!?!

**jbquetico** · 02-01-2015, 21:00

I just knew that someone would say that! As soon as my ill wife gets done using it, I will attempt some pics.

Sheez, I thought my pearls of wisdom would overpower the picture need.

**jbquetico** · 02-01-2015, 22:36

First time attaching pictures and as you can tell, the color rendition is cr**. Is there a FAQ for this somewhere?

**boulderv7** · 02-01-2015, 23:08

Yeah, my pics never turn out as good as real life....but that quilt looks sweet!! You'll be warm and happy for sure.

Great first post, btw.

**jwright** · 02-01-2015, 23:25

Welcome and very nice quilt.

Which fabrics did you use and do you have any impressions to share - is that the Pertex?

**jolunder** · 02-02-2015, 00:56

Welcome, what an impressive first post ;-)

**jbquetico** · 02-02-2015, 01:48

The materials came from thru-hiker as a quilt kit using M90 fabric with the grey goose down 900 fill power.

I'm embarrassed to say that I bought the kit three years ago but just have been procrastinating building it. The outside fabric is coyote brown m90.

I have built two hammock stands. One from wood which collapses for travel and the other from the aluminum military radio masts.

Love this forum. I found Shug Emery's Youtube channel one evening and was laughing out loud at him. Wifey was on her computer next to me and wondered who that goofball was that was causing me so much mirth. Needless to say it is not my fault for hammocking cause Shug made me do it! Sector 7 indeed.