So, what do you have planned for your Costco blankets?

Balagan

Balagan

Thru Hiker
Paging the members of the Craige appreciation society: what are your plans for all those Costco down throws?

I got two with the intent to use them simply as comforters for summer temperature outings, possibly with a simple mod for a gathered end footbox like this one:


However, seeing the numerous ways in which US tree hangers have modified this quilt (searching for Costco in the DIY section will yield far more), it strikes me as being a very flexible base for more involved mods. The quilt's main drawback, its small square baffles, actually make it easy to resize and the use of a seam ripper appears to make it far more useful (better loft and releasing some of the down that is sewn to the fabric).

I'm quite liking this one, not least because my sewing skills are on a par with the tap-dancing skills of a walrus and this looks like something I can explain and show to a seamstress. Looks like it's quite flexible too, you can leave a vertical seam on each side to control the down shifting to the sides or even have an EE-style quit by ripping the vertical seams on the footbox and the horizontal ones on the rest...

Now to find the seamstress...
 
kiltedpict

kiltedpict

Ultralighter
I would do exactly that if I could find someone with the skills.. let me know if you find someone.. Otherwise they are going to be used in the family Bell Tent
 
cathyjc

cathyjc

Thru Hiker
I'm waiting to see just how 'fluffy' it is.
But seems probably too narrow to make a functioning "double" so probably reshaped to a generous "single" in whatever form.
:)
 
Balagan

Balagan

Thru Hiker
kiltedpict said:
I would do exactly that if I could find someone with the skills.. let me know if you find someone.. Otherwise they are going to be used in the family Bell Tent
Click to expand...

I'll let you know if the plan comes through (but you know... mice and men). I have a few leads but they're local to me, i.e. a couple of thousand miles away from you...
 
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JKM

JKM

Thru Hiker
My sewing skills stop at sewing a button on and I don't have access to a machine.
I did think of trying to put small bra fastener hooks down the side and cinch the base in but thought I may mess even that up.
So I am sending mine away to have a sleeve added to the bottom end for some shock cord and some kam snaps added up the sides so it will be a basic quilt with a foot box. I am only 5-10 so think it will be long enough, I often sleep with my arms out of a bag anyway if conditions allow.
 
Gadget

Gadget

Thru Hiker
Ordered 5 (greedy sod).
  • 2 for a underquilt
    rip all the seams from the square quilting, shake the down out of the way, re-sew as a narrower, shorter quilt, then do sewn thru karo step
    harvest second quilt for extra down, as required
  • 2 for a topquilt
    make two like this,
    82375c75b7efa4338ec3912c001b5fc1.jpg

    and make them stackable
  • 1 for down booties, down beanie and down sleeves.
    like this,
    https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php/120870-Costco-Down-Beanie?highlight=costco+beanie
 
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Shewie

Shewie

Chief Slackpacker
Staff member
No idea, I've already got more quilts and sleeping bags than I know what to do with :)

I think I might have a gap to fill though, a half season TQ & UQ perhaps
 
JKM

JKM

Thru Hiker
How many of you intend to unpick the seams of the vertical baffles to leave just long horizontal ones instead?
 
fluffkitten

fluffkitten

Moderator
Staff member
JKM said:
How many of you intend to unpick the seams of the vertical baffles to leave just long horizontal ones instead?
Click to expand...

Not sure you wouldn't start losing down through the stitch holes.

I'll probably go with Joe Brewer's idea (in the video at the top of the thread) and have a summer quilt.
 
Balagan

Balagan

Thru Hiker
JKM said:
How many of you intend to unpick the seams of the vertical baffles to leave just long horizontal ones instead?
Click to expand...

I'm thinking of giving it a go (that's one reason I have two blankets on order). I'll probably leave a vertical seam on either side to keep the down from moving around, a bit like this Cumulus quilt:

thumbnail.php


fluffkitten said:
Not sure you wouldn't start losing down through the stitch holes.

I'll probably go with Joe Brewer's idea (in the video at the top of the thread) and have a summer quilt.
Click to expand...
People on hammock forums seem to be doing fine with regards to shedding down. One of them has reported that a low-temp cycle in the dryer with a couple of tennis balls and a damp towel have reduced the size of the stitching holes markedly.
 
Mole

Mole

Thru Hiker
One is for booster lining Ruths MYOG synthetic quilt. ( when it gets made )

The other is mine. Just because!
 
Rog Tallbloke

Rog Tallbloke

Thru Hiker
JKM said:
How many of you intend to unpick the seams of the vertical baffles to leave just long horizontal ones instead?
Click to expand...

I think I might attempt the EE style of a mix between the two. That way down can be concentrated over the ankles along horizontals and also distributed according to upper body clothing along verticals.
 
Meadows

Meadows

Section Hiker
I need mine to be longer. So my plan is to rip the horizontal seams and stuff the down to the ends of each bag, cut off the excess and sew them together to make a longer and warmer quilt.
Maybe a baffle at the top and a flap for a footbox at the bottom. Kam snaps from the feet to the back of the knees.
 
ADz

ADz

Thru Hiker
Not sure yet but should fit it in somewhere to augment one of my sleeping systems. Going to compare it to cloud cover.
 
cathyjc

cathyjc

Thru Hiker
Questions …….. I'm still cogitating about what to do :rolleyes:.

Any of you who have unpicked some of the stitching to make longer/bigger down channels (instead of small square) …….does the down loft more in the bigger spaces ??
If so how much ?? Does the down then move about 'too much' ??

I notice some of the original squares are better stuffed with down than others.

Thanks :)
 
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