3/4 Down Differential Underquilt (my first one!)

**agrajag** · 06-25-2011, 08:55

Hey everyone

My first major piece of DIY gear...

1.1oz ripstop seconds and noseeum baffles from Backwoods Daydreamer
800 fp Down from Hammock Gear

Here is a photo of the materials laid out, with the top and bottom layers overlapping. The baffles are about 9cm wide, including seam allowance. The top layer is 44" wide, plus 3" on each side for channels. For the bottom layer I worked out the width assuming the two layers form concentric semi-circles 2.5" apart. Then I increased the number slightly to work out to 1 extra inch per compartment, making 53". Then I added 2.5" on to each side for the outside compartments and another 3" on each side for channels.

This photo shows how I ruled the lines for sewing the baffles, because I needed something more visible than ripstop lines. First I marked the edges, then pinned each point along the edge of a flat piece of cardboard. Then I run a piece of tailor's chalk between the two points and a line is left along the edge of the cardboard.

I sewed small darts between the baffles. I then sewed much larger darts into the bottom layer to make the edges match up in width. The first baffle is also sewn to the top layer in this photo.

I calculated about 8.2 oz total of down. Since there were 9 compartments, I decided to just use 9 ounce of down to give a bit of overstuff. I got the down from Hammock Gear, pre-packaged into 1 oz bags, so it was quick and easy to just empty a single bag into each compartment.

I sewed 3 gross grain loops to each side in case any part needed pulling tighter.

This is a close-up of the channel end with one of the loops.

About 3" maximum loft

Set up for the first time on my Hennessy Expedition Zip (had to get Buster in the photo!).

You can see in the previous photo the large gap at the head end. I used a mitten clip to join the two edges over the hammock ridgeline, getting rid of the gap.

Comparing the underquilt with stuffsack to the Thermarest Prolite Plus. The Thermarest comes in at 750 g while the underquilt is about 506 g.

**Dblcorona** · 06-25-2011, 09:47

Nice job. That is exactly how I fill mine.

**MAD777** · 06-25-2011, 10:24

Super looking quilt! Well done

**turnerminator** · 06-25-2011, 12:18

Well done that man!

Your sewing looks very tidy.

+1 on I fill my stuff like that.

Gotta say dude, your pooch looks very cute and very insane with one green eye.

**krugd** · 06-25-2011, 12:41

Congratulations - that is a nice looking quilt. Hope it keeps you warm on many trips!

**agrajag** · 06-25-2011, 17:17

Thanks guys! I'm really happy with how it turned out. Only sewing experience is 8 years ago in home economics and I didn't even remember how to thread the machine before I started this project! (Ok so my mum helped a little with advice and such but I did do most of the sewing myself).

Originally Posted by turnerminator

Well done that man!

Your sewing looks very tidy.

Haha, thanks I guess the parts I showed you look ok, just don't look too closely at the rest of it!

My seams tend to wander a little...

I forgot to mention that I did do one test hang with it although temps only got down to around 10C (50 F). I used my sleeping bag like a quilt and stayed very warm all night!

Also, my goal for the project was to make it lighter and more compact than my thermarest. While definitely lighter, it looks about the same size in the photo. However I can easily compress it to about 2/3 of the current size, so I will probably sew the bag a bit smaller when I get the chance.

**Otter1** · 06-25-2011, 19:22

Great looking quilt!

I really appreciate the "tutorial" too. It helps me, as someone who is sometimes intimidated by DIY.

**MAD777** · 06-26-2011, 10:34

Originally Posted by agrajag

Also, my goal for the project was to make it lighter and more compact than my thermarest. While definitely lighter, it looks about the same size in the photo. However I can easily compress it to about 2/3 of the current size, so I will probably sew the bag a bit smaller when I get the chance.

I like the idea of not stuffing the quilts too tight in the sack. I think the act of stuffing & unstuffing is hardest on the quilt. Once the sack is placed in your backpack along with all your other gear, it will compress more on it's own.

**turnerminator** · 06-26-2011, 11:02

Originally Posted by MAD777

I like the idea of not stuffing the quilts too tight in the sack. I think the act of stuffing & unstuffing is hardest on the quilt. Once the sack is placed in your backpack along with all your other gear, it will compress more on it's own.

Exactly my thoughts too. Makes packing and unpacking much easier and quicker.