DIY Poncho liner Top quilt

**alrany187** · 03-29-2013, 10:42

Okay, this is my first attempt at a top quilt, but I don't have the courage to try stuffing with down and facing the wife's wrath. What I did was to take a 86" x 50" poncho liner and sew up the bottom and then join the center seam for about 28".

Then I went to JoAnne Fabrics and got 84" of 58" wide Blizzard Fleece (It was on sale for $4.49 a yard) and sewed that in a similar fashion. The fleece liner fits perfectly into the poncho liner and is quite warm. I plan on doing the backyard test this weekend.

Any thoughts or criticisms would be appreciated.

**Otter1** · 03-29-2013, 13:52

Those poncho liners are really nice for warmer temps.

I especially like the length - I can pull them over my head to extend the temp range lower.

Good job - it will serve you well!

**alrany187** · 03-30-2013, 10:27

Originally Posted by Funny Money

Those poncho liners are really nice for warmer temps.

I especially like the length - I can pull them over my head to extend the temp range lower.

Good job - it will serve you well!

Yeah, I like the extended length for pulling it over my head. The reason for the fleece liner was to make more acceptable when the temps dip. I made it through a 35* night last April with just a fleece liner and a wool blanket, so this should be quite toasty. At least that is what I am hoping for. It is supposed to be down in the mid-30 degree range tonight, so I will find out.

**FLRider** · 03-30-2013, 10:44

Originally Posted by alrany187

Yeah, I like the extended length for pulling it over my head. The reason for the fleece liner was to make more acceptable when the temps dip. I made it through a 35* night last April with just a fleece liner and a wool blanket, so this should be quite toasty. At least that is what I am hoping for. It is supposed to be down in the mid-30 degree range tonight, so I will find out.

It should do just fine for that. I've pushed one as low as 24* F with proper clothing and under insulation for the temps, with just a small fleece throw added. I've survived at 21* F, but was very cold that night. But...I'm also a near-inhumanly warm sleeper. I'd figure on freezing to mid-thirties for a liner and a fleece for most folks.

Hope your testing goes well!

**MDSH** · 03-30-2013, 15:24

Wow, those things sure save the budget, huh? Thanks, alrany, for this excellent solution.

.

**Fish<><** · 03-30-2013, 19:20

Nice quilts dude. The only thing I would have done differently would have been to run some string through the bottom instead of sewing it. Takes less time and IMO better. I did this on my first pltq and found that there was a lot of weirdness having corners on my sleeping bag so to speak. So one day I ripped the seams and ran some shockcord through the grosgrain. From that day forward I've never looked at quilts the same.

**alrany187** · 03-31-2013, 09:15

Well, I set up my tarp and hammock with my PLUQ yesterday in order to test the PLTQ. I crawled into it around 11:00 PM and after adjusting it a little, was quite comfortable. I put my ccf pad into the foot box and it was a little too tight fitting in there, so some trimming is in order. Temps got down to 34* last night and anything outside the quilt (head and face) could certainly feel it. Overall, I give it a passing grade as it performed exactly as planned.
I do realize that the PLUQ was unnecessary.

Originally Posted by FLRider

It should do just fine for that. I've pushed one as low as 24* F with proper clothing and under insulation for the temps, with just a small fleece throw added. I've survived at 21* F, but was very cold that night. But...I'm also a near-inhumanly warm sleeper. I'd figure on freezing to mid-thirties for a liner and a fleece for most folks.

Hope your testing goes well!

It did go well, thank you. I dressed light on purpose as I wanted a better sense of what the quilt was doing rather than the layers I was wearing. MY clothing consisted of a pair of fleece lined nylon sweatpants and a regular sweatshirt.

Originally Posted by MDSH

Wow, those things sure save the budget, huh? Thanks, alrany, for this excellent solution.

The top quilts that are available are very nice, but I couldn't seem to work it right now, so I had to use what was available and/or dirt cheap.

Originally Posted by Fish<><

Nice quilts dude. The only thing I would have done differently would have been to run some string through the bottom instead of sewing it. Takes less time and IMO better. I did this on my first pltq and found that there was a lot of weirdness having corners on my sleeping bag so to speak. So one day I ripped the seams and ran some shockcord through the grosgrain. From that day forward I've never looked at quilts the same.

I thought of something like that, but I wanted the ability to put the bottom of the ccf inside the quilts and that would work best with them flat.

**Fish<><** · 03-31-2013, 17:28

Carry forth bro...wasn't saying it didn't work, just not my can o beans. I am glad it worked well for you though.

**alrany187** · 03-31-2013, 19:06

Originally Posted by Fish<><

Carry forth bro...wasn't saying it didn't work, just not my can o beans. I am glad it worked well for you though.

Please let me apologize. I didn't take your comments that way. I seriously did think of boxing it. I have read many of your posts and always appreciate your open and intelligent way of thinking out a project.