DIY Down Vest Q

[wwk10]

I am about to make a down UQ thats 45"x55' with 8 baffles (I guess technically 7 baffles with 8 chambers) running the length of the UQ.

I want to make it dual use. I want to add small arm hole slits between chambers 2 and 3 and between chambers 6 and 7. I have a sketch, but cannot upload it today. Basically, I want to wear it as a down vest with the baffles/chambers running up and down.

My questions are 1) do you think the down will settle so much that it will not be effective as a vest 2) if the down does settle, will it be easy to shake it back out.

[MAD777]

The amount of settlement will depend upon how much how overstuff the chambers. If any down settles it can be easily shaken back into place.

I love dual purpose gear. I make all my top quilts wearable.

[wwk10]

More information:
Chambers will be 5.5 - 7" wide (differential cut), baffles will be 2 or 2.5" high. Hoping for 2.5" loft with 2oz of Kmart pillow down (500FP??) per chamber which I think is about 10-15% of over fill. I hope this will get me to 30 degrees.

The arm holes will be a little difficult. I dont want to do it if all the down is going to settle to the bottom of the vest.

[rickycodie]

why not take an old shirt that you don't mind losing, but that fits pretty well and use that as a guide? cut open the sides and mark out the arm and neck holes?

[wwk10]

Cutting the sleeves out of an old shirt is not a bad idea. Thanks.
My main concern is whether all the down will **** to the bottom when I have it in vest mode.

[ShadowAlpha]

just subscribed to this thread - looking forward to pics

[rickycodie]

sew all of the down in a square. like this blanket: http://www.amazon.com/Down-Alternati...&keywords=down

just do the squares smaller.

[wwk10]

Thanks Ricky. I don't want a sewn thru quilt and I don't think I have the patience for that many tiny chambers, but please keep the input coming.

[rickycodie]

Maybe horizontal baffles? That's all i can think of.

[FLRider]

Maybe horizontal baffles? That's all i can think of.

That's what Jacks'R'Better does with their Sniveller line of multipurpose top quilts. So, it's definitely doable that way.

It simplifies construction, since you don't have to make arm holes, just the head hole. Adding a couple of ties (or other closure method) along the sides of the quilt makes it easier to wear (I've done this with a poncho liner, and the ties on one are at just about the right spots to wear it as a serape).

And, honestly, I think it'd be easier to do it with a top quilt than an underquilt; that way, if you stay up after dark, you're not trying to hang your underquilt by headlamp. Also, if the down shifts during the night, you can more easily shake a top quilt than an underquilt to reposition the down.

Just a thought.