A Quick Read on How to Make an Underquilt for Your Hammock
Know how to make an underquilt for your hammock, so that you can enjoy camping in comfort all year round! This simple project can be completed in just a few hours, and it's sure to come in handy on those chilly nights spent sleeping under the stars.
An underquilt is something in between a sleeping bag and a blanket, designed specifically for use with a hammock. It helps insulate your body from the cold air, keeping you warm and comfortable all night long. If you love hammock camping and are eager about doing DIY projects, read on to learn how to make your own underquilt.
What You'll Need
Before you get started, you'll need to gather the following supplies:
1 yard of quilting cotton or other lightweight fabric
1/2 yard of down-proof fabric (such as Ripstop nylon)
1/2 yard of batting or other insulation material
1/4 yard of bias tape (optional)
Thread, Scissors, Pins, Sewing machine
Now, all you have to do is:
1. Cut two rectangles out of the quilted fabric, each measuring 5 feet by 4 feet. These will be the top and bottom layers of your underquilt.
2. Cut a rectangle out of the down filling, also measuring 5 feet by 4 feet. This will be the middle layer of your underquilt.
3. Sandwich the down filling between the two quilted fabric rectangles, and pin them together around the edges.
4. Sew around the edges of the quilted fabric rectangles, using a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Be sure to leave a 3-inch opening so that you can turn the underquilt right side out when you're finished sewing.
5. Cut four strips of nylon ripstop fabric, each measuring 1 foot by 6 inches. These will be used to create straps that you can use to attach your underquilt to your hammock.
6. Sew two strips together at one end, using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Repeat with the remaining two strips of fabric.
7. Pin the straps to the sides of your underquilt, making sure that they're evenly spaced. Sew them in place using a 1/4-inch seam allowance.
8 Turn your underquilt right side out through the opening that you left earlier and sew the opening closed using a whip stitch or a ladder stitch. Your underquilt is now complete!
9. If desired, you can add bias tape trim around all four edges of each underquilt layer for a finished look. Simply pin the bias tape in place and sew along both sides using a sewing machine or needle and thread.
Another Way
Instead of starting from scratch, you can start with old rectangular sleeping bags. In that way, you will have a headstart while doing your underquilt. All you have to do is attach the side webbings and a suspension system for attaching to your hammock. Instead of stitching your own layered quilt, you can also start with a lightweight quilt or blanket.
Here's a simple guide to making an underquilt starting from a blanket:
Test the DIY Underquilt in Different Weather Conditions
Now that you've made your own underquilt, it's important to test it out in different weather conditions. After all, you'll want to make sure that it's able to keep you warm and comfortable in a variety of situations. Here are a few tips for testing your underquilt:
1. In cool weather, test your underquilt by sleeping out in your backyard or another local park. Make sure to bring along a thermometer so that you can track the temperature throughout the night.
2. In cold weather, you'll want to test your underquilt in a more challenging environment, such as a mountain or forest. Again, be sure to bring along a thermometer so that you can monitor the temperature.
3. In extremely cold weather, it's best to test your underquilt indoors. Simply set up your hammock in a room that you can control the temperature of, such as a garage or basement. Then, turn the temperature down to see how well your underquilt performs.
4. In all weather conditions, be sure to pay attention to how you feel while using your underquilt. Are you comfortable? Warm enough? Make note of any problems so that you can make adjustments as necessary.
5. Finally, remember that your underquilt is only one part of a complete hammocking system. In order to stay warm and dry, you'll also need a tarp and a top quilt.
Be sure to test all three components together in different weather conditions.
With a little bit of effort, you can easily make your own underquilt that will perform just as well as any store-bought model.
Conclusion
That's it! You've now learned how to make an underquilt for your hammock. Pat yourself on the back for being here. You took the first step in making your hammocking experience much better by deciding that you need a hammock under the quilt.
But if you want to choose the best one for you without messing it up, check out our selection of the best hammock under quilts. Just tap the button below and choose one from them. You won't regret it!
Also, check out some of our other quick reads:
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