$5 Walmart Summer Quilt

I was at Walmart tonight and found a polyester twin sized blanket for $5.

It was 72"x90", so I cut 30" off the length, leaving it at 72"x60". Then I folded it in half long ways and tapered it to 24" (48" unfolded) for the foot box. I sewed that seam, then laid it out so the seam and opening were in the middle. I rounded the bottom a little and sewed that shut, then turned it inside out.

This type of material won't fray where it is cut, but just in case, I sewed a zigzag along all the edges.

Weighs 18.6oz on my scale and rolls up to 6"x10". I'd say by itself it would keep me warm down to about 50°. I could probably take it down to 40° with a fleece, wool socks, and a hat. This is for tent camping only, as wind would blow right threw it.

Here's the matial after I cut it to 6'x5' and folded it in half.

This is after I cut the taper and foot box (with measurements).

After sewing the vertical footbox seam, I unfolded it and curved the bottom, before seaming the bottom seam

This is the final product

Rolls up loosely to 6"x10". Here is a 24oz Heiny can for comparison.


Not the warmest and not the smallest or lightest, but it will work for me. It will dry fast and I won't have to baby it.

Very creative idea. I would be curious to find out how it works our for you. Just take a back up just in case it doesn't work out.

I shut the heat off a couple nights ago and tried this out. It got to about 58. I stayed nice and warm, actually, I had to take my feet out of the footbox, because they were too hot.

Something I didn't anticipate was how itchy the material is. I need to try washing it a few times. If it doesn't soften up, I might be gifting this one.

I made another out of lightweight fleece I got for $8. It weighs 3oz more, but is way softer. Again, I tried it with the heat off and my feet got too hot (this time it got down to about 53 inside the house). It was way more comfortable, though. I may "vent" the footbox, somehow.

Of the two, the fleece is warmer, more comfortable, and packs much smaller, even if it is a few oz heavier. I think it will be a decent summer solution, until I can afford something very lightweight.

They are both warmer, lighter, and pack smaller than the 3lb Coleman sleeping bag they are replacing

nicely done. Not high tech or complicated but that's the beauty of it. Sure it won't go to very low temps, but I don't think that's your intention with it.

You might want to try a military poncho liner works for me and 100s of thousand of GIs over the years.

I actually do have a military poncho liner. Its pretty good warmer nights. Not quite as warm as the fleece and several ounces heavier. I keep in in my bug-out-bag with it's matching poncho tarp. I never "borrow" anything from my BOG for camping, just in case I need it and forgot to put something back.

Nice work and I like your style of creating something on the cheap. I've been kicking something like this around for awhile now but have essentially zero sewing skills. My wife has a new sewing machine and I might have to convince her to give it a shot.