Customer Project: Ultralight Backpacking TQ

by Lydia

• OVERVIEW
• HOW DO I MAKE IT
• MATERIALS

• Here is a project I recently completed with materials from Ripstop By the Roll:
  
  Backpacking Quilt:
  
  I've been wanting to try a backpacking quilt ever since I read about them a couple of years ago. The backpackinglight.com community was a huge help in planning the design. All the discussion and input I received are in this thread: Quilt Design Help & Validation Needed.
• I opted for a sewn closed foot box. The upper baffles are continuous (alternating openings at top and bottom), except for the outer most baffles. Vertical upper baffles because I tend to roll around a lot and didn't want the down shifting from center to the outside, leaving cold spots on top. I wanted the foot box isolated so the down won't "pool" at one end with all my thrashing.
  
  From what I've read 2.5" of loft gives approximately a 20 degree rating, which is what I wanted. I chose to cut the baffles 2.75" wide, so they would be 2.25" after sewing, and then the additional loft would come from over filling the baffles a bit. I didn't plan to use the whole pound of down, but after stuffing the upper baffles and sewing it shut, I fluffed them up, and just felt like it needed more, so I opened it up and added the rest of the down.

• Required Materials:

  Fill: 1lb 800 fill power water resistant down
  Shell: 3 yards Crimson 0.66 oz MEMBRANE 10 taffeta nylon
  Liner: 3 yards Black 0.66 oz MEMBRANE 10 taffeta nylon
  Baffles: 3 yards 0.5 oz NS50 Noseeum mesh - Deep Gray (3 yards was more than needed)
  Tabs: MIL-SPEC Nylon Grosgrain Ribbon - 1/2"
  Drawstring: 1/16" shock cord, with a mini cordlock in the center.
  

  Related Products:

  • 0.5 oz NS50 Noseeum Mesh
  • 0.66 oz MEMBRANE 10 Taffeta Nylon
  • HyperDRY™ 800 FP Duck Down
  • MIL-SPEC Nylon Grosgrain Ribbon
  • Mini cordlock