Homemade UQ

[Brutus]

I've got a twin size down comforter that would make a pretty good UQ, wouldn't it? Wonderin if anyone has made a homemade one?

[Shug]

Maybe something like this but the comforter instead of a poncho.....http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=18539
Shug

[DivaB]

bump...any other ideas out there?

[USMCStang]

Initially, I wouldnt see a problem in theory. Just some things I'd consider:

• What is the shell material? If it's cotton, it will absorb moisture. You may want to sheild it with an UQP of some sort. I would also think it will absorb funk and body odor more readily (remember, it's designed to go on a clean bed, not a hammock after a day of hiking)
• Is it baffled, or sewn through?
• Obviously, theres no way to tell the FP with any certainty, but how compressible is it? Take a larger stuff sack, and see how much of the quilt you can cram in. Remember, you'll have to carry it with you, and if it won't fit in your pack, you'll have to think of a way to reduce its stuffed size.
• You'll have to figure out a way to suspend it. Either sew some channels on, attach loops at the corners, or a combination of both.

In my opinion, if you have no intention of using it on a bed, I say go for it. Toss around some ideas for rigging it up on the forum here, and I think you'll get tons of suggestions (similar to shug's PLQ suggestion).

I would determine the desired width and sew two seams, just inside and outside my cut line to seal off the chambers. Cut right between these two stitch lines (you'll lose a tiny bit of down, and a tiny bit of down turns into a snowstorm quickly...do this outside or in one of those useless "tent" things). The core of your UQ is done. You can then either sew grosgrain channels to all four edges, or attach it via the ends only (this will take more "fiddling" to get the suspension right). Thread some shock cord through these channels, throw a couple of mini or s-biners on, and voila, you have a hillbilly UQ that as long as it keeps you warm, is just as functional as the "real thing", if not as aesthetically pleasing.

Grab a yard or two of cheap ripstop or other synthetic, water resistant material, seal the edges if needed, and use binder clips or clothespins to attach it to the outside of your quilt, and you now have an underquilt protector (UQP) that will cut down on heat loss from wind and protect it from splashes or blowing rain.

Alternativley, send me the quilt, and I will fab something up and test it out for a few years and let you know

[ljcsov]

When making a flat blanket-like object into an UQ there are two things to think of.

1) How to get it to conform to the hammock?

To do this you can simply implant something stretchy into the inside of the width edges. This will all the quilt to conform to your hammock when you lay in it. It's essential to get a nice seal to keep the warmth in. When I made my DIY UQ the first thing I noticed was that the ends were floppy allowing a draft to seep in under my back. I simply inserted an elastic band, which you can buy at Joann's, into the seams on the widths.

2) How will you hang it?

I ran shock cord through the width after creating a channel by rolling a seam. It's a pretty easy deal.

[dasy2k1]

Yeh, I have a 3 season sleeping bag with a bust zip that is destined to become an uq

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[Wise Old Owl]

Brutus -- I opened up an old comforter to see if I could re use the down in a new project and discovered the bed versions are full of poor quality duck and very little down - there's no concern for the weight - in fact in England most comforters were very heavy at the turn of the century... Today's modern down has very little in feathers, and premium light weight to trapping of air. Instead I had one of the guys here make me a custom 3/4 after this discovery.