Since I joined the Navy I have discovered the joys of shirt stays, an adjustable elastic band used to keep you shirt tucked in by clipping to your shirt and socks. I haven't weighed mine but they can't be more than 1 or 2oz.

I'm thinking of clipping them to either side of a quilt to keep it snug at night. Maybe the band could go under a sleeping pad. Has anyone tried this? Unfortunately I lent my quilt to a friend so I can't test it for everyone!

Here's a picture of shirt stays for those who haven't seen them.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/719kTBnnwLL._SL500_.gif

I apologize if this idea has been posted before, I couldn't find it on search.

Edited by sharalds on 04/12/2010 10:39:34 MDT.

"Shirt stays" sound like a much better idea than "shi*t stays" :)

(I did not know we had a profanity detector, but apparently we do and it searches the body of our message only hence the added *)

Edited by sharalds on 04/12/2010 10:39:52 MDT.

I can't tell from the picture what the mechanism is that grips and attaches. If it's like suspenders with a little claw that grips when clamped closed, you could poke holes in your quilt with it.

Otherwise, it's quite similar to how my Golite quilt works. However, my quilt uses little plastic tabs that are sewn in with the seams, not clamped to the outside.

This makes me think about how straps and bands feel under someone when they are sleeping. I just finished a quilt yesterday (photos to come) and have been thinking about this. Problem, or no?

here's a closeup of the fastener, it's hard to explain but the fabric goes between the rubber circle and the metal piece, then you slide the rubber circle forward to cinch the fabric. The picture shows the rubber circle in the "closed" position.

thus the advantage over suspenders is that you don't actually pierce the fabric, although with thin UL fabric it may tear if you put too much stress on it.

http://dsasd.org/store/images/shirt%20holders.jpg

Since you put the straps around the pad, you don't feel them at all. I have slept with the straps around me instead of the pad, when it was warmer, and I still didn't feel them. They're very thin. The whole thing, at least on the Golite quilt, is kind of fragile.

I can picture the shirt stay clasp. It sounds just like a garter belt. I would worry about the shirt stay things wearing a hole in the fabric of the quilt. But maybe you could sew on some small fabric tabs to put through the shirt stays. I'm pretty sure that would work perfectly.

OIC, thanks.

Hey guys - I changed the forum thread to be more, ah, G-rated. And accurate. :)

Thank you! That was an embarrassing typo for sure. :)