How to Make Your Own Adult Sleeping Bag
1. Material Selection
To make a sleeping bag, you’ll need silk wool, duck down, cotton, or mercerized cotton, waterproof fabrics, and long zippers. Silk wool can be used to wrap the body part, requiring it to be slightly longer and wider. Silk floss comes in two varieties, thick and thin, which you can choose based on your needs. Cotton or mercerized cotton is used for the lining, and should match the size of the silk cotton. The waterproof fabric should be slightly larger than the lining fabric, and the length of the zipper should match the length of the two sides after folding the cotton cloth in half.
2. Production Methods
- Material Preparation: After selecting the materials, you can start making the sleeping bag. The envelope method is commonly used, with a detachable flat head pocket. The flat head pocket can serve as a back pad to increase warmth or as a front chest piece for added warmth, allowing for self-adjustment.
- Sewing: Use a sewing machine to sew the filler and waterproof fabric according to your design. During the sewing process, create 8-10 vertical lining intervals, each 14.5-19.5 cm apart, to limit the movement of the down.
- Assembly: After sealing the fabric, fold it in half and attach the end of the zipper to the folded edge. This versatile sleeping bag can also be used as a quilt. When you sleep, zip up the heel zipper to use it as a sleeping bag.
- Packaging: Fold the finished sleeping bag in half, roll it up, and place it in a tube bag. Tighten the mouth of the bag to compress the sleeping bag for easy packaging.
Important Considerations for Making Sleeping Bags by Hand
1. Choice of Filling Materials
The quality and type of filling material are crucial. The quality affects the lifespan of the sleeping bag, and the content impacts warmth. Down material is warmer than mercerized cotton but less resistant to moisture. Mercerized cotton retains some warmth even in humid conditions. The quality of the down is essential. The outer layer should be made of waterproof, breathable, and lightweight fabric. Goose down is preferable as it is warmer than duck down. However, mixing duck down and goose down can also be effective.
2. Weight Management
The weight of the sleeping bag should be appropriate for your needs. Many people mistakenly believe that more filling equals better quality and warmth. However, you should balance the weight based on your travel route and load capacity.