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  1. #1
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    DIY Sleeping bag plan validation required

    Hello guys!

    I am very new here, but already crazy about making my own gear!
    I decided to sew my own sleeping bag for next winter. If anybidy had previous experience with sewing their own sleeping bags, please, validate my plan. I would really appreciate any feedback from you guys!


    1. Idea: very warm sleeping bag for winter/fall camping (i am pretty warmer sleeper), with length long baffles, half zipper and no hood

    2. Temperature: I am aiming to -30C (-22F) winter sleeping bag

    3. Size: I am 161cm height (5.28 ft)
    And I don't like hoods in sleeping bags, so I prefer making the one just rectangular shape to hide inside of it.
    So, I guess 190cm * 75cm (when zipped) will be good size (?)

    4.
    Down: 900 fp white 100% Goose down
    https://www.amazon.ca/Natural-Feathe...gateway&sr=8-1

    According to couple calculators, I need around 22.1 oz of this down + 14% over-stuffing (25.18oz) + 10% that will get lost while stuffing (27.4 oz)

    Do you think it's appropriate amount to buy and use?


    5.
    Fabric:
    Inside - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Ultr...643c2e0ePxxzAM

    Outside - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/380T...545277675.html

    These fabrics don't have DWR coating, but from reviews it seems like they still have some water repellent features.

    Baffles:

    No-see-um mesh - https://hofmanoutdoorgearsupply.ca/f...esh-black.html
    Here I am a bit confused..
    From what I got, the loft for my down will be 5" and it will be good to make baffle height of 4.5" with spacing between them also 4.5"
    Please, suggest better size relations if you come up with

    If the 4.5*4.5 is correct, will I need to buy 3.5 sq. yard of mesh (a bit extra just in case)?



    6. Zipper: i am thinking of buying #5 zipper and maybe change the slider, however i see lot's of products with #8 and #10..
    My plan is to sew just a half of my sleeping bag side with the zipper, to make it a bit warmer for my legs.
    https://www.aliexpress.com/item/end-...6-03a584d84eee


    7. Cord - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2M-B...3-67c84fe5c8b5

    8. Cordlocks - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10pc...9-17e74c1cd66f


    Thank you in advance!
    Lana

  2. #2
    Senior Member sidneyhornblower's Avatar
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    Not certain that I've ever read a thread about making a sleeping bag as you describe. You've got pretty detailed plans already laid out, but for comparison there are members who have made all manner of top quilts and underquilts. Searching on those topics may yield more info.

    I think there are a few videos up as well. I'll link an example below.

    Grapenut made a quilt and posted the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jGh9XCBQ5Y

    Most hammockers are going to be making quilts, not bags, but the principles are probably similar.
    "...the height of hammock snobbery!"

  3. #3
    Senior Member Firesong's Avatar
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    DIY Sleeping bag plan validation required

    See if I can help out.
    Down: don’t expect the down to be 900. There are a few discussions on expected vs actual down received from AliExpress and amazon. I personally got samples of various fp’s from these suppliers and was not impressed. The garbage particles and small chopped spines will bleed through most fabrics.
    Fabric: again. Looked into these. There is no DWR and they wet out in a second. Also these are not heat calendared. You will have ‘down particles’ coming through the fabric right away. Even the more expensive fabric is often sprayed with a PU smattering to get a down proof fabric. Not sure why they don’t do heat calendaring. (And still no DWR)
    Zippers: #3-#5 is max needed. Choose coil over teeth. Sometimes the teeth will snag threads. Coil seems to be a bit easier for this application

    Just sharing some personally gained experience early on in the game. Not saying don’t. Just saying check it out with your eyes wide open.

  4. #4
    Senior Member
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    Another note about zippers- I would choose a YKK brand coil zipper for this application. They are reliable- Chinese Brand X is an unknown and it is a royal pain to replace a zipper in a sleeping bag. Size 5 is a good compromise between compatibilty with these very lightweight fabrics and durability of the zipper.

  5. #5
    Member
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    As said, be sure to pick a downproof (calendered) fabric.

    In my quest for bang for buck materials: chinese shockcord tends to be of less quality compared to US or EU made shock cord. The elastic properties seem to be less in chinese materials.

    I've used 'conflict down' ;-) from Rosefeathers and I like it as a budget option. The endresult is a heavier and bulkier than needed project. The China down advertised as 950+fp is likely to be in the 750 to 800fp range. Depending on the batch even lower. There will be more feathers as well. I've changed to 850 cuin down (FP equivalent for loft value) for future projects.

    TIP! be sure to add length to account for loss in length due to loft. Cutting fabric to 196cm (seam allowance) for a 190cm endresult will not work because there's a couple of cm's loft at the head and foot end.

    I can only say; just start making it and learn from the proces.

    Good luck with making your sleepingbag.

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