My first adventure with down, an all purpose quilt

**goodcaver** · 02-06-2010, 18:26

Hello everybody!

I know I loved drooling over pictures of other peoples' homemade quilts when mine were in the planning stages, so here are some pics of the all purpose quilt I just finished, for your viewing pleasure.

It was my first project involving down, and it was a ton of fun! I was able to keep down loss to a minimum by moving veeerrrry sloooowwwllly when stuffing the down into the baffles. They are stitched through. Loft is 2 inches at its thickest.

The quilt is all purpose: can be my summer sleeping bag for ground dwelling, a top quilt, or an underquilt in the hammock.

Dimensions are 48x66 (amply full length for me!) and the finished stuffed size is 12 x 5 x 6. It is stuffed with around 8.5 to 9 ozs. of 700fp down, and the finished weight is around 18.5 ozs. My kitchen scale is worse than useless in measuring tiny increments of down, so I chucked it out the window and guesstimated instead!

The quilt is made of Pertex material, and it (stuff sack too) is hand-stitched 'cuz I got no sewing machine. The other side of the quilt is dark purple, for warmth. Should be plenty water resistant and plenty warm for spring and summer camping. Can't wait for a chance to try it out!

Thanks for the inspiration, DIYers.

**stormcrow** · 02-06-2010, 18:31

Hand Stitched!

You are sir are THE MAN! (that is if you are in fact a man). That is some dedication indeed. Great work. It looks great!

**JohnSawyer** · 02-06-2010, 18:39

HAND Stitched? Great Moogley Googley! Your skills with a needle are most impressive.

I have a heck of a time WITH a machine. Nice looking quilt!

**Hawk-eye** · 02-06-2010, 18:46

The Hawk is impressed!

that's just pure art work! I'd never have the nerve to even attempt that. WELL DONE!

**sclittlefield** · 02-06-2010, 19:31

Holy Snot! Hand stitched... that must be what knitting a sweater feels like. Back and forth, over and over, over and over, over and over...

Very well done, I am most impressed.

**sir_n0thing** · 02-06-2010, 21:27

Yikes... I feel like a dweeb for struggling with a sewing machine while this guy here is hand-stiching his stuff!
Seriously, bravo!

**goodcaver** · 02-07-2010, 04:12

Actually, I am not in reality A man.

But I don't mind being THE man.

I've been sewing by hand for a long, long time. And actually I'm not so experienced with a machine... so everything probably comes out looking better this way! Does take a heckuvalot longer though--I spent a good week of evenings in front of the TV and hunched over this little "obsession."

**stormcrow** · 02-07-2010, 04:43

Originally Posted by goodcaver

Actually, I am not in reality A man.

But I don't mind being THE man.

I've been sewing by hand for a long, long time. And actually I'm not so experienced with a machine... so everything probably comes out looking better this way! Does take a heckuvalot longer though--I spent a good week of evenings in front of the TV and hunched over this little "obsession."

I stand corrected and you are indeed THE man! Again, nice work!!

**Mrprez** · 02-07-2010, 08:00

Most impressive. You have the patience of a saint. Is that a hand stitched flat felled seam on your stuff sack?

**TinaLouise** · 02-07-2010, 10:08

Your quilt looks fantastic and my mouth is still hanging open about you hand sewing the whole thing!! I had to hand sew some of the baffles in my under quilt and thought I'd just about lose my mind, not to mention all the needle pricks I managed to do on my fingers. Again, very nice looking quilt and your stuff sack is also very impressive!!

Loved the purple color!!! I wish I could find silnylon in pale pastel colors!!

TinaLouise