While most of you are looking forward to spring, I'm prepping for winter fun. To go with my new cuben quilt, I've made this cuben/down balaclava, and it's a real cooker!

Weight-45g/1.6oz
Loft-huge
Fully baffled

It lofts so much that the inner snuggles around your head to fit like a glove. It's waterproof and windproof too :) For loft reference, the baffles are 2" height. Max loft is 5-6".

Edited by retropump on 03/18/2010 13:36:02 MDT.

Nice work. Have you thought about combining it with this?

"Have you thought about combining it with this?"

Oooohhh, Aaaaahhhhhhh I want one. Imagine running around in the snow dressed like that! Especially when I've finished the matching jacket and pants...

Nice balaclava, good work! Can I ask how you get the down to loft? Do you just not compress the down?
Also, are you using the cuben quilt from Enlightened quilts?
Thanks
Evan

BPL never ceases to amaze the sh1t out of me.

" Can I ask how you get the down to loft? Do you just not compress the down?"

I have not taped or sealed the needle holes, and these allow plenty of air to enter/leave the balaclava. It is a *little* slower to loft, but not a big deal. So technically not 100% waterproof, but pretty close.

The quilt is from enLIGHTened.com, and uses the same technique for lofting, in other words it doesn't have a skunk stripe of Momentum like his other signature quilts. In fact, the balaclava was a testing ground to see if I could get away without a lofting strip of fabric. It worked so well I went ahead and designed the quilt the same way.

Oops, my bad, as Tim points out below, the link should be enLIGHTenedequipment.com.

Edited by retropump on 03/13/2010 14:01:15 MST.

No way! Can you post pics of the quilt? I am looking to make one myself. Never thought it would work with just the needle holes! If you are really up to it, maybe a video? That would be wicked cool.
Evan

but there is something about having a plastic bag around my head while I sleep that just worries me ;)

Lynn,
Nice work! I'm surprised (happily) that the needle holes themselves are enough to loft the balaclava, let alone the quilt. How come you have been keeping this quilt a secret? It better not be lighter then mine! ;)

That looks warm Lynn! I couldn't imagine needing something so warm.
Looking forward to photos of the quilt.

just FYI enlightened.com is very different from enlightenedequipment.com (i am making this quilt not the information tech guys)


The quilt still needs down, should be today. Before down it is 3.7oz but will get 9oz of fill so not lighter than Steve's. But will loft to 2.3" and is more than just a quilt. Lynn can show it off when she gets it in the next week or so.

-Tim

Edited by MarshLaw303 on 03/12/2010 11:15:38 MST.

so not lighter than Steve's

whew, I got worried there :)

Looking forward to hearing about it. Sounds awesome!

Edited by Steve_Evans on 03/12/2010 11:40:50 MST.

I should be getting mine soon too. :)

Lynne and Tim and others,

Are you using cuben for the baffles?
Tiny needle and thread, right?
What stitch length?
Is that green drawcord channel of cuben or other?

i use cuben for the baffles too. I use gutterman 100% poly thread and a size 9 needle (or 10 if thats all i have) I use a medium stitch. The thing with cuben is finding the right tension, it is never the same as the other stuff i work with.

-Tim

"But will loft to 2.3" and is more than just a quilt"

Ohhh, I wonder what Tim and Lynn have up their sleeves?

More sleeves??

I can't wait to see how the lofting works out on the "skunkless" quilt. I am going to start my winter/ Mt. Rainier quilt soon and was considering whether to leave off the momentum, but sew in a small piece of mesh into each baffle. Then maybe put a small vent in one of the chambers with a cuben flap over it.

But if this oone works out, I can forego all that trouble.

Don't worry Steven, I am planning on putting in 10 to 12 ounces of down.

Greg

I made another quilt without the m90 and they loft fine. They loft best when you flap the quilt to assist air entering the needle holes but i have been very pleased with the initial results.

-Tim

Thanks Tim!

I do that with my momentum quilt anyway. So you have convinced me.

gl

Tim can do a quilt with or without a skunk line. You should be able to do a balaclava with a skunk line and call it the Cuben Mullet.

--B.G.--