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  1. #1
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    Kickass quilt made from a sleeping bag?

    Hi

    Remembering my Grandmothers sage words 'measure twice - cut once' I thought it a good idea to post here and ask advice before I started into things with scissors.

    I am thinking about using the kickass pattern to make myself an underquilt. I have an old down sleeping bag (MHW Fairview XL) and I am wondering if it might be possible to make a down underquilt from the synthetic pattern used by KAQ. I like the look of the KAQ and like the small pack size and warmth of down.

    Are there any obvious 'Do's' or 'Don’ts' that anybody can point out to me? All feedback ideas appreciated.

  2. #2
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    What type of hammock are you using? I think it is possible, but with a good down bag there maybe an easier way.

    All my DIY underquilts are is a big rectangle with drawstrings on the ends to fir it to the hammock. You might be able to cut the bag to a rectangle, sew, add drawstrings, and add tie-outs and be done.

    Do some measuring an try holding it to the bottom and see how it looks. Also see if the ends would work well with a drawsting.
    Is that too much to ask? Girls with frikkin' lasers on their heads?
    The hanger formly known as "hammock engineer".

  3. #3
    Senior Member blackbishop351's Avatar
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    IMO the Potomac design would be too complicated to do with down. You'd also lose some of the fit benefits.
    "Physics is the only true science. All else is stamp collecting." - J. J. Thompson

  4. #4
    Senior Member Just Jeff's Avatar
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    Patrick, who created KAQ and the Potomac, made his first underquilt from a North Face sleeping bag. Search the archives at whiteblaze.net for his pics, and I think he has instructions there as well. Shouldn't be tough to make an underquilt from a bag, but I wouldn't try to force it into the KAQ design...as bb says, it's pretty complicated.
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  5. #5
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    Thank you for your replies everyone.
    The hammock I am using is a Hennessy Hammock, I don't know the model but the ridgeline is 108ins, its brown in colour and has black support lines which are over 1/4 ins thick. Any ideas?
    The reason I thought of using the KAQ design was it looked good and I thought the set up would be less crucial than with the JRB type design - thanks for pointing out the pit falls in my idea. Just the kind of feedback I had been looking for to keep me away from disaster.
    I'm getting the idea that the sleeping bag I intend to use might be to narrow at the foot end to make a nice looking underquilt. I will measure the bag and post back the dimenssions I have to work with.

  6. #6
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    My DIY down UQ is 78" long by 48" wide finished dimensions. When I put it on, I use a drawsting to tighten the head and foot end to fit the hammock.
    Is that too much to ask? Girls with frikkin' lasers on their heads?
    The hanger formly known as "hammock engineer".

  7. #7
    Senior Member Jazilla's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by blackbishop351 View Post
    IMO the Potomac design would be too complicated to do with down. You'd also lose some of the fit benefits.
    Just wondering.
    What would be complicated about it?
    How would the fit change if the shape is the same?
    Figured I would ask you cause now you are making them and your vast knoledge of DIY gear.
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  8. #8
    Senior Member blackbishop351's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jazilla View Post
    Figured I would ask you cause now you are making them and your vast knowledge of DIY gear.
    LOL!!!! Keep spreading that rumor...might get my rep up!

    Quote Originally Posted by Jazilla View Post
    Just wondering.
    What would be complicated about it?
    How would the fit change if the shape is the same?
    A non-rectangular design would be really hard to do with down I think. I don't know - haven't made any down quilts - but it seems the baffling and everything would be a PITA with a less-than-simple overall shape.

    In my experience with my JRB quilt, down doesn't provide the intrinsic structure that synthetic does - it's too compressible. That "stiffness" contributes a lot to the Potomac's shape, and thereby its fit. But like I said, I haven't tried a down quilt yet so I don't really know for sure.
    "Physics is the only true science. All else is stamp collecting." - J. J. Thompson

  9. #9
    Senior Member Jazilla's Avatar
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    I see what your saying BB. The Potomac shape ( opposite an hour glass) is an irregular shape to be sewing baffles between. I would be interested to see it be done though but I don't want to mess with down. Just a personal preference.
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  10. #10
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    I actually don't think it would be harder. You could make the same shape, just more or less stop following the potamic directions from there. The baffles should not be any different than a rectangle. The only difference is some baffles are longer than others.
    Is that too much to ask? Girls with frikkin' lasers on their heads?
    The hanger formly known as "hammock engineer".

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