modding a mummy

[Mundele]

I have a 30 degree Marmot Hydrogen that I love, except that it has a half zipper. How difficult would it be to

1) make it a full length zip

or

2) just convert it into a topquilt. (would still need to cut part, to extend from where the zip ends down to knee or calf height for the footbox)

I've sewn one topquilt, which was pretty easy but I'm nervous about messing up an expensive-ish sleeping bag...

Thoughts?

--Matt

[VictoriaGuy]

You can probably answer all your questions, since you have sewing experience.

Is there a draft tube beside the half-zipper?

Is it a baffled or sewn-through bag? (I don't even know if it is down or synthetic...)


Some pics of the 'end of the zipper' area would help to get more intelligent comments than mine!

I don't 'get' the quilt 'thang' so can't comment on that, but if it's a good sleeping bag, I'd hesitate to hack it too much.

[Mundele]

Down bag, no draft tube. The sleeping bag zipper only goes halfway so you kind of have to shimmy into it which is pain in a hammock.

[Mountnman]

If it were me I'd remove zipper and seam rip the rest down as you stated. Sounds like a simple mod to me

[Mundele]

Thanks. How should I finish the cut edges?

[VictoriaGuy]

Thanks. How should I finish the cut edges?

Pictures, pictures!

If it were my project, I'd shake the down away from the work area and then run a line of machine basting a couple of inches away from the seam. Then open up the seam and finish or add zipper, whatever.

Personally, I would definitely add a longer zipper vs ruining the bag and converting to a 'quilt', but that would be more work....