Made a 3+ season underquilt that could double as a 2+ season backpacking 'quilt' for use here in the Great PNW! Being tall, I extended the dimensions in length and width so quilt use was feasible (about 7ft long and over 4ft wide) and would work on my double hammock (if another dared to hang with me).
There was enough material in the "Full Length Kit" = 3yd of each item (1.1oz calendared nylons in 2 different colors of PRYM Camo and the insulation). (Mahi and Ambush) Mahi is a very cool brighter green & blue that will be a good high vis option (Dude! Where's my hammock?) while Ambush will help conceal when needing to be more covert/ hide dirt. Chose to use the 5oz climashield to allow for 'extended' season use. I'm going to use the remnants to make a stuff sack- which was doable with some 'pre-planning' and strategic cuts. Final product is compactable to a "loaf of bread" or so but lofts back well.
Material has good hand feel and is super cozy/ almost too warm sitting on the couch at 60F inside. Used it outside in near freezing, draped over shoulders to my waist as desired with full torso coverage. Just as planned- it was welcome warmth in just a sweatshirt and jeans. I was able to double layer the insulation down the center with the excess trimmed off the edge from assembly and did "spot quilting" using embroidery thread to hold it in place (instead of sewing thru the whole thing and making "cold lines" where the insulation wouldn't loft.
Instructions are spartan, but clear and effective given the simplicity of construction techniques. One is able to deduce "how to do it" using tutorials/helps on website if you've never sewed before. One obvious stick point is "how to finish the bottom hole" from the turn thru. More guidance for the uninitiated here would be helpful/ a good "how to" vid for doing the tucked in bottom seam so it doesn't fray.
Some logic skill is necessary to determine how to allocate the remaining grosgrain webbing for the hanging system and the elastic chord if you make dimensional changes. Needless to say, I had limited left overs on these items on purpose. I did some other specific stitching to hold things in place on the tension clips/suspension system webbing (which wasn't in the instructions, but made sense.) I also sewed the nylon "sack" together with a straight stitch then attached the insulation to that with a zigzag (further reinforcing the side seams) and giving more purchase on the climashield. That was an interesting way to do it... Still mulling it over.
I also deviated from instructions during assembly and did NOT attach the grosgrain (sleeve for cinch elastic chord) as a turn out on the 'Top' seam, instead electing to try and sew it in similar fashion to the 'Bottom' seam for continuity of look (so you can't tell which end is which). Either way, the width of the grosgrain in combination with the thickness of the material + insulation made this a fun challenge to accomplish.
Showed some friends, they raised an eyebrow and wondered when I was going to make them one.
Would I do this again? OH YEAH!
Would I get stuff from Ripstop By the Roll? I'm already scheming...
Overall, great kit. Great Company. No issues with materials or supplies. All were great quality and I'm already eyeing another couple project ideas.
When I do it again, I'm going to sew it differently to see if it will ease assembly and could make for not getting knocked in the face with toggles when I use it as a quilt!
PS- I've never sewed this type of material nor tried to do this kind of project before. I HAVE sewn before, which was helpful and gave me confidence to deviate from the instructions, but not slippery nylons or insulation fabrics. If nervous about it, just go slow and follow the pattern, use a sharp and appropriate size needle, and do some homework on thread tension settings for your machine. Hardest thing I encountered was sewing on the grosgrain as a "sandwich" over the end seams to be the tube for the cinch chord (knowing that I had to hit both edges), with the underside being a blind stitch. Yes, I occasionally missed and had to go back in and reinforce those missed spots, even though it was pinned! Oh, and check your bobbin... ran out of thread on a long run. That was lame.
