converting sleeping bag to a topquilt

[spanky4x4]

I have seen other threads on this but I thought i would show how I do it.

This time I started with a brand new military 0* mummy bag. Insanely heavy,but cheap and warm. And they are made in the USA if that matters.
sleeping bags 006.jpg
Then I just use scissors to remove the zipper, draft tube, snaps, and hood.
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Then turn it inside out and sew around the perimeter
sleeping bags 020.jpg
More to come!

[spanky4x4]

These are my tools. A 42 year old Amica household sewing machine. An even older Juki serger, scissors, sharpie,and a good seam ripper. Not pictured here is a good straight edge. I use a cheap level from the hardware store.
sleeping bags 014.jpg
After its sewn, i open up a section of seam so i can turn it inside out. I do this on an inside seam down in the foot box were you cant see it, or feel it while sleeping.
sleeping bags 023.jpg
After it's turn right side out, I top stitch the seam closed.
sleeping bags 024.jpg

[spanky4x4]

And your done!
sleeping bags 028.jpgsleeping bags 027.jpgsleeping bags 026.jpg
This was originally rated to 0* but I would think that's rather optimistic now. Probably more like 15*. With proper clothing and shelter you might go to zero. The lowest I have slept in one like this was 9* and I was starting to get cold. With better clothes I think single digits are doable.

The grey one has 2 layers of insulation and weighs in at 38 oz.

[spanky4x4]

The cheap "PATROL" sleeping bags are just as easy. They only have one layer of insulation and are originally rated to 30*. The completed green quilt weighs 26oz.
sleeping bags 002.jpgsleeping bags 001.jpgsleeping bags 004.jpg
Both quilts have 1.9 oz ripstop that has a reasonable DWR and good wind resistance.

Both of these sleeping bags are readily available cheap on E-bay. I paid $31 shipped for the grey one and it was brand new. The green ones i paid $8 each. they are not always that cheap but usually if you wait for the good deals, they are there.
I am thinking of making these and trying to sell them. Would anyone be intereted ? Have any questions about what I did?

[Slo-go'en]

I don't see where doing that is worth the effort. Your not saving a whole lot of weight by removing the zipper and hood.

This summer I've been using a silk liner with my bag unzipped over me. Then if it gets cold (like it did a few times recently), I'd zip up the bag. Best of both worlds. The liner keeps me from sticking to my pad and helps reduce drafts when using the bag as a quilt.

[spanky4x4]

The weight savings is almost a pound and a half on the grey bag .

More importantly, at least for me, is I have never actually zipped up a bag. Since childhood I have always just used them like a blanket. I get claustrophobic. Not bad but it keeps me awake. It was never a big deal until I started sleeping in a hammock. Then the zipper got annoying, and the hood always seemed on the wrong side when i got cold.

So, with the help of White blaze, backpacking lite, hammock forums, etc, I saw what others were doing, but couldn't afford to try an expensive quilt so I tried this. It works, and its cheap. Not SUL, or even UL really, but for a financially challenged hiker it was an easy way to try out a quilt.

[spanky4x4]

weighed and photographed the cut off scraps from this project. better then I thought.
sleeping bag weight 004.jpg25.26 oz. that's worth it to me.

[BensMusicHiker]

i might be interested what would we be looking at cost wise on the consumers end : )

[dink]

nice job...how small does it pack down to...?"x?"