I am an art quilter and an outdoor enthusiast. This is the first time I have ever heard a sleeping bag called a quilt. After having watched your video I am inspired to explore the possibilities of combining art quilting and hiking gear. Thank you for explaining your design process so that others may benefit from your knowledge.
Thank you so much for this fantastic video! I have been so frustrated trying to adapt a million other quilts to my measurements and using a thousand calculators. After watching this I finally have the confidence to integrate everything I've learned and researched and design my own. I can't thank you enough!
The information is really appreciated and I feel a bit more confident in attempting my own down quilt. Thanks and good luck on the PCT, we'll be rooting for you!
Hi Joe - now you have your UGQ Bandit as a comparison, how do you rate the performance of your Karo Step quilt? Does the more sophisticated baffle design provide significant benefits, or is the Karo Step just as effective? I believe that Tim Marshall at Enlightened only abandoned the Karo for commercial reasons (to reduce labour costs) rather than performance reasons, but it would interesting to hear your opinion. As for the Karo Step design, the 50/50 ratio between baffle and gap seems to leave a lot of scope for the down to move overnight - did you have any issues? Is there any case for reducing the gap between the boxes, or using a different baffle layout? Again, your advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks so much for the great video. I used to work for a place that made balloon bouncy houses...so I should be able to do this. Just the fabric may be tricky because its like tissue paper. I plan to use this for the PCT in a couple of years. How was the loft for the PCT? Was it warm enough?
Hi Joe, I really enjoy your videos (and your cat). I'll be attempting to make a custom quilt just like yours for a 2016 PCT thru-hike attempt. Is there any way you'll be making a PDF set of instructions, or do you have any recommendations? It seems that many of the ones online don't have karo step baffles. Thanks in advance.
Very informative, I have always wanted to know more about karo step baffles and I hope you take us through a step by step view when you put it together. well made video. Thanks for your efforts. ~Don
Love the videos and congrats on the PCT! Question about the baffles: what height did you actual cut the baffles? As in, did you cut them a bit larger (quarter inch, half inch) in order to compensate for the amount you would sew and "lose" when getting your actual baffle height? Thanks! -Dan
I just placed an order with downlinens. They offer large quantities of down at "reasonable" prices and can also treat your down with water repellant coating if you like. Also check out wildernesslogics. He's got some great 850 fp down and he'll package it per ounce if you'd like. Thru-hiker used to be an alright source, but their prices have gone up too much for me. Downlinens offers you 10% off your order if you sign up for their site, so take that into consideration too.
Hey Joe! Thanks for the awesome videos! You're an aspiring PCT hikers savior. I had a question on you design! toward the bottom of you taper, it looks like the grid box you are cutting off is 6 inches? Are you not quite cutting a whole 7 inch grid box off because the drawing looks like it should be 7 inches?
+Zachary Wims Are you talking about the vertical edge baffles of the quilt that are only 6" wide? I did this simply to create the exact width of quilt that I wanted. 14" did not go into my desired width evenly, so I took an inch off each side.
It could work, though it may be a tight fit with very little wiggle room. I think it's been done before. Check out the hammockforums and I'll bet you'll find someone that has tried this. An alternative is putting a hole in the top and bottom ends of your sleeping bag to allow the hammock to run through. I've seen this done, but again, space is very tight. Not really worth bothering with IMHO.
Suggestion: add more width than you think you need. I made a synthetic quilt not too long ago and was amazed how tight it felt. I would make the length 6 inches taller than your height and the width 18 inches wider than your shoulders. Also, footbox can be tight sometimes, the wider the better
What type of fabric would you recommend for quilts? Specifically TQ. I've heard of using 1.1 nylon or momentum90...are there advantages to one or the other? ie: the feel of 1.1 nylon against the skin etc? Thanks!! I LOVE your vids!! I'm trying to replicate your sleep system exactly- very impressed. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience!! I know it takes a lot of thought, time, and effort!
1.1 ripstop will be your cheapest option, though slightly heavier and not as nice feeling as other choices (make sure it's down proof). Momentum 90 feels nice and is lighter, it is what I used for my hammock quilts. It is a bit pricey though and there are better options now. Lately I have been using ARGON fabric from dutchwaregear. It is super light (.67oz/yd2) and feels really nice on the skin too. It's not cheap ($10/linear yd), but the weight and feel make up for it. It seems to be plenty strong too.
Joe, I've really been having trouble finding a sleeping/mummy bag that I feel comfortable sleeping in without feel restricted. I'm a side/stomach sleeper and I hate mummy bags. I sew pretty well and I'm looking to do this, but I'm trying to weight the cost. Can you tell me roughly how much you spent on yours? I'm 6'2, so maybe a little larger than yours. I appreciate all your help. Thanks again!
The big cost with building a quilt is in the down. I'd say you can probably get the down and material for around $150-$170. Check out Ripstopbytheroll.com for the material and downlinens.com for the down. Downlinens used to offer a coupon for those that signed up for their newsletter, which would be helpful if it is still offered.
I'm a bit baffled. I understand sewn-through, I think. You sew one side to the other side, right? What's the alternative though? I don't understand that at all
I am an art quilter and an outdoor enthusiast. This is the first time I have ever heard a sleeping bag called a quilt. After having watched your video I am inspired to explore the possibilities of combining art quilting and hiking gear.
Thank you for explaining your design process so that others may benefit from your knowledge.
Thank you so much for this fantastic video! I have been so frustrated trying to adapt a million other quilts to my measurements and using a thousand calculators. After watching this I finally have the confidence to integrate everything I've learned and researched and design my own. I can't thank you enough!
The information is really appreciated and I feel a bit more confident in attempting my own down quilt. Thanks and good luck on the PCT, we'll be rooting for you!
Thank you for taking the time to do this. This is educational material.
Hi Joe - now you have your UGQ Bandit as a comparison, how do you rate the performance of your Karo Step quilt? Does the more sophisticated baffle design provide significant benefits, or is the Karo Step just as effective? I believe that Tim Marshall at Enlightened only abandoned the Karo for commercial reasons (to reduce labour costs) rather than performance reasons, but it would interesting to hear your opinion.
As for the Karo Step design, the 50/50 ratio between baffle and gap seems to leave a lot of scope for the down to move overnight - did you have any issues? Is there any case for reducing the gap between the boxes, or using a different baffle layout? Again, your advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks so much for the great video. I used to work for a place that made balloon bouncy houses...so I should be able to do this. Just the fabric may be tricky because its like tissue paper. I plan to use this for the PCT in a couple of years. How was the loft for the PCT? Was it warm enough?
Hi Joe, I really enjoy your videos (and your cat). I'll be attempting to make a custom quilt just like yours for a 2016 PCT thru-hike attempt. Is there any way you'll be making a PDF set of instructions, or do you have any recommendations? It seems that many of the ones online don't have karo step baffles. Thanks in advance.
What are the baffles made out of? Just the same fabric as each layer? Do you have any preferences to thickness of inner and outer layer?
Very informative, I have always wanted to know more about karo step baffles and I hope you take us through a step by step view when you put it together. well made video. Thanks for your efforts. ~Don
Love the videos and congrats on the PCT! Question about the baffles: what height did you actual cut the baffles? As in, did you cut them a bit larger (quarter inch, half inch) in order to compensate for the amount you would sew and "lose" when getting your actual baffle height? Thanks! -Dan
Called "seam allowance"
Great video. I really enjoy my subscription to your channel! Where do you get your down? When do you leave for the PCT? Cant wait for those vids!
I just placed an order with downlinens. They offer large quantities of down at "reasonable" prices and can also treat your down with water repellant coating if you like. Also check out wildernesslogics. He's got some great 850 fp down and he'll package it per ounce if you'd like. Thru-hiker used to be an alright source, but their prices have gone up too much for me. Downlinens offers you 10% off your order if you sign up for their site, so take that into consideration too.
Hey Joe! Thanks for the awesome videos! You're an aspiring PCT hikers savior. I had a question on you design! toward the bottom of you taper, it looks like the grid box you are cutting off is 6 inches? Are you not quite cutting a whole 7 inch grid box off because the drawing looks like it should be 7 inches?
+Zachary Wims Are you talking about the vertical edge baffles of the quilt that are only 6" wide? I did this simply to create the exact width of quilt that I wanted. 14" did not go into my desired width evenly, so I took an inch off each side.
Joe Brewer Ok great! Thanks for the quick response!
What are your thoughts on making a DIY TQ + UQ out of a single sleeping bag for hammock use?
It could work, though it may be a tight fit with very little wiggle room. I think it's been done before. Check out the hammockforums and I'll bet you'll find someone that has tried this. An alternative is putting a hole in the top and bottom ends of your sleeping bag to allow the hammock to run through. I've seen this done, but again, space is very tight. Not really worth bothering with IMHO.
Suggestion: add more width than you think you need. I made a synthetic quilt not too long ago and was amazed how tight it felt. I would make the length 6 inches taller than your height and the width 18 inches wider than your shoulders. Also, footbox can be tight sometimes, the wider the better
What type of fabric would you recommend for quilts? Specifically TQ. I've heard of using 1.1 nylon or momentum90...are there advantages to one or the other? ie: the feel of 1.1 nylon against the skin etc? Thanks!! I LOVE your vids!! I'm trying to replicate your sleep system exactly- very impressed. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience!! I know it takes a lot of thought, time, and effort!
1.1 ripstop will be your cheapest option, though slightly heavier and not as nice feeling as other choices (make sure it's down proof). Momentum 90 feels nice and is lighter, it is what I used for my hammock quilts. It is a bit pricey though and there are better options now. Lately I have been using ARGON fabric from dutchwaregear. It is super light (.67oz/yd2) and feels really nice on the skin too. It's not cheap ($10/linear yd), but the weight and feel make up for it. It seems to be plenty strong too.
Nice, lots of useful information in here, only minor suggestion would be edit it down a tad.
Joe, I've really been having trouble finding a sleeping/mummy bag that I feel comfortable sleeping in without feel restricted. I'm a side/stomach sleeper and I hate mummy bags. I sew pretty well and I'm looking to do this, but I'm trying to weight the cost. Can you tell me roughly how much you spent on yours? I'm 6'2, so maybe a little larger than yours. I appreciate all your help. Thanks again!
The big cost with building a quilt is in the down. I'd say you can probably get the down and material for around $150-$170. Check out Ripstopbytheroll.com for the material and downlinens.com for the down. Downlinens used to offer a coupon for those that signed up for their newsletter, which would be helpful if it is still offered.
How difficult is it to make one of these quilts if you are good at sewing?
Not difficult at all, go for it!
Hey Joe, how tall you be? Designing my quilt and futzing about with the dims at the moment.
About 5' 10"
I'm a bit baffled. I understand sewn-through, I think. You sew one side to the other side, right? What's the alternative though? I don't understand that at all
I did some Googling and I think I understand now. You sew a piece of fabric in between the outer layers to create the baffles, is that right?
Yup, you got it.
hype