DIY quilt values - kits vs buying separate

**Mustardman** · 10-01-2009, 09:55

As we continue on this DIY crazyness (a fiance with a month off work due to foot surgery can do a LOT of sewing!), we're into the quilt mode...

She's been shopping around for materials, and it seems like the Thru Hiker quilt kit actually comes in cheaper than buying the materials separate. This is completely the opposite of what I'd expect, but she figured around $200 to buy everything included in the kit (which costs $150). Are we not finding the best sources for materials or something? How much should it cost us to buy everything included in the thru-hiker kit if we get good prices? Is the kit really the best value?

**animalcontrol** · 10-01-2009, 10:03

I've recently researched this myself...
I've decided...the kit was cheaper. (with some caveats)
-you can find cheaper 1.1 RS and (maybe the noseeum) on 2nds
-Thru hiker down is 800+ fill (there are sources for 900+ if you want to pay)

Hard to beat that kit price...and if you want another 3oz of down, only $25 (total for 15oz down and 1.1 RS shell material/noseeum...$155!)

**Ramblinrev** · 10-01-2009, 10:03

Kits are often very good values. Your finding does not surprise me at all.

However kits are more limiting in terms of material snad options. It can be a trade off of sorts.

**JerryW** · 10-01-2009, 10:20

Mustardman - I found the same thing as you. The thr-hiker kit looks like a good deal. There's enough materials there to make either a top quilt or a full length underquilt.

The thing that stopped me from buying now was to see what kind of price the down would be with the HF down group buy. It's supposed to happen sometime in October. It will be the Speer 900 fill power.

If the price is right, I'll wait for that and get some of Speer's rip-stop to make a top quilt and UQ.

Something to think about.

Jerry

**animalcontrol** · 10-01-2009, 10:53

Originally Posted by JerryW

Mustardman - I found the same thing as you. The thr-hiker kit looks like a good deal. There's enough materials there to make either a top quilt or a full length underquilt.

The thing that stopped me from buying now was to see what kind of price the down would be with the HF down group buy. It's supposed to happen sometime in October. It will be the Speer 900 fill power.

If the price is right, I'll wait for that and get some of Speer's rip-stop to make a top quilt and UQ.

Something to think about.

Jerry

I considered this too...compared the possibilities

Thruhiker
$130 gets you 12oz 800+ fill down, 5 total yds of 1.1/yd with many color options, 2 yds of nanoseeum (0.7/yd)
Speer
$133 gets you 12oz 900+ fill down (based on 20% discount like last group buy), 5 yds of 1.1/yd with 3 colors (no black for liner & assuming Ed will sell 2.5 yds of each color...add another 1 yd if not), 2 yds of noseeum (0.9/yd)
Verdict
Price is equal (assuming 20% discount)
Speer will be a little lighter (900 vs 800)
Thruhiker has better color options
You can get Thruhiker now Vs a couple months for a group buy

You win either way!

**Shug** · 10-01-2009, 13:09

I used the Thru-Hiker kit with momentum 90 fabric to make my daughter a quilt. Instead of a foot-box I made it a flat quilt as that is what she wanted.
It was all good.....
Shug

quilt.bmp

**JerryW** · 10-01-2009, 15:17

Nice Shug!

That Momentum90 sure has a nice, soft feel to it!

Jerry

**Coffee** · 10-01-2009, 16:50

If you are going to make 1 go for the kit. If you are going to make 2 or 3 order seperatly. Also depends on if you want to use walmart DWR and 650 down or Mom90, nanoseeum, and 800 fill down.

**JerryW** · 10-01-2009, 17:10

What a coincidence! A thread was started today for the group buy for Speer down.

Time do do some figuring...

Jerry

**stevebo** · 10-01-2009, 20:36

If youre thinking about a synthetic quilt, Ive had very good results with the "rayway " quilt kit by Ray Jardine. Its great quality and comes with excellent directions! (Ive got 2 and use them all the time!)