What do I do with -this- wedding present? - My Intro post

[sir_n0thing]

WI can get darn chilly in October. Snow isn't even out of the question. Best to be prepared for cold and not need the extra insulation than to not be prepared and freeze! Weather is fickle here that time of year.

If you need a volunteer tester for your underquilts, I'd be happy to help out!

n0thing

[redlights]

Aight, folks...were are those topquilt directions??? Do they exist?

I still haven't finished that dress (I'm trying to figure out the circa 1948 buttonhole attachment to the sewing machine...) but I'm ready to start ordering supplies next paycheck! I've got a couple of "outdoorsey" things I need to sew as wedding presents for that wedding, as well as my topquilt/underquilt and I figure I had better get started!

[angrysparrow]

Aight, folks...were are those topquilt directions??? Do they exist?

Of course they do.

[Ramblinrev]

Typically the buttonholer body goes on the presser foot mount. There is a forky little thing that kind of grabs the needle mounting screw. Then you usually need cams that control the size and shape of the buttonhole. You put the feed dogs down and and allow the buttonholer to control the movement of the piece getting the buttonholes. At least that has been my experience.

[JayS]

Welcome to the forums, to the trees and to DIY gear. All three are fun!

Don't forget that quilts can be used in a tent... better make yours neon pink so hubby doesn't "borrow" it. Let us know how you do with the UQ. (pix appreciated)

[redlights]

So, that quilt looks easy enough to make...but...what in the world do I do with it? Maybe that's a silly question, but it looks kind of like sleeping bag replacer. Do I tuck up in my down mummy bag and then put the down top quilt over it, with my feet inside the box? or is it for those of you who don't take sleeping bags with you? I'm all for an extra layer in october since I sleep cold, but I think with the right sleeping bag a top quilt might not be needed.

Also, regarding the buttonholer, I believe that it might be "broken" since it's not clicking to "zig zag." I say "broken" because I haven't opened it up to inspect enough yet and it might be "not broken"

[JerryW]

Here's another good one, very similar to mikeinfhaz's:

http://www.backpacking.net/makegear/...ilt/index.html

It's the same one that is on the thru-hiker.com site. Ayce sells a kit to make it, too:

http://thru-hiker.com/kits/quilt_kit.php

Have fun!

Jerry

[angrysparrow]

Many hammockers don't use sleeping bags. The insulation in a sleeping bag that's between you and the hammock fabric is compressed by your weight, and is thus ineffective. A top quilt simply removes that excess weight and bulk.

Of course you still need bottom insulation. But an underquilt is far far more effective than any sleeping bag inside the hammock.

[TinaLouise]

.what in the world do I do with it?
it looks kind of like sleeping bag replacer.
Do I tuck up in my down mummy bag and then put the down top quilt over it, with my feet inside the box? or is it for those of you who don't take sleeping bags with you?
I think with the right sleeping bag a top quilt might not be needed.

you're still thinking like a "tent" camper!!!
Something you've got to think of is that when you're in a sleeping bag, the part that's under your body "WILL be compressed" by the hammock. By being compressed, you will have virtually no insulation under you. Remember when tent camping, you have a sleeping pad under you, that's your insulation from the ground, not the sleeping bag. So yes, the quilt replaces the sleeping bag.
If you want to try a quilt over a sleeping bag, try it. Go on a trip and take both and test it out. I had to do that too before I could really trust just the quilt to keep me warm. But remember, you wont stay warm enough if you don't have some kind of bottom insulation like either a pad inside to insulate you from the bottom of the hammock or a quilt under the hammock.
Have you tried getting into a sleeping bag from inside a hammock, yet?
About the sewed in foot box on over quilts. I made two quilts, one summer, one winter. I found that I like the bottom sewed together in the winter one but that I liked the summer one to be open. So on my summer on, I have a draw string down there with cordlocks. That way if it turns cool at night and I need to, I can pull it closed. Otherwise my summer quilt is more or less flat. You make your quilts to fit your sleeping style. You sleep cold, then overstuff the quilt with down. Or make a quilt with taller baffles. My winter quilt has 4+" baffles and is overstuffed.
One of the best things you can do will be to do some practice hangs with your gear and try out different combonations. Just make sure you've got an escape plan in case you get really cold (have car or your house nearby)

[JJMurphy]

Ditto the other replies - this is a great story. We got some pretty good wedding gifts - but nothing as awesome as a quality hammock.

Wishing you many hours of hammock happiness.