Just wondering if anyone on here has made their own sleeping bag before. I used ripstop nylon and quilt batting to sew a summer bag, crazy light weight, less than a pound, but only good to 55-60 degrees. Id just like some input from someone who has sewn baffles and filled with down before, as I find that very intimidating.

On the other hand, I find making a 20 degree 800 fp down sleep that weighs in at a couple lbs for about a hundred bucks, very enticing.

I like the Idea of making a sleeping bag. I have not tried that, but I'm curious now. Do you have any photos of the one you made? Did you use a plan?

Ill try to get pictures up as soon as I can. There's a couple sites online where people have made bags, both down and synthetic where I got some ideas from. I then took measurements of an existing bag I knew fit well, and took my own measurements. Its nothing fancy, I sewed each side independently, leaving fabric around the edge (about an inch and a half on edges to be sewn together) to overlap the two sides and sew up. I used toggles instead of a zipper, and its open about 3/4 of the way, so a sewed on piece with insulation in it to overlap where there's an opening.

I sewed them like you would a pillow, inside out, then inserted batting and sewed horizontal stitches both to make it look more like a traditional bag (its hot pink and lime green, so the stitches may have been in vain) and to keep the batting in place. Then I sewed the pockets shut and together.

I realize re-reading this that it makes little sense, even to me. As I said, I will try to get pictures of it up soon, and if you have any questions feel free to ask.

Cheap and basic:

Made a couple bags by buying down comforters on clearence at Kohls. Folded them in half and sewed two sides. Cost? $20.00 each.

Glad I'm not the only guy here who sews. I inherited a machine from my aunt and also have an industrial machine (think duluth packs). My ma did tons of sewing when I was young, until ms put a stop to that. My dad had to take over if he wanted any of his things sewn, and he is the one who rounded up the big machine.
I have sewn a number of items. No sleeping bag, but I made my hammock quilt with PL1 insulation, 30*F). Check out thru-hiker for some good sewing tips/kits (including baffles). He also has what is likely the highest quality 900 FP down around. Some of the challenges are, measuring the down for each baffle, keeping it from floating all through the house (it is highly suggested to set up a tent in your house and closing yourself up in it while adding down), zippers etc. He has some good tips for seams, zippers etc.
Someday I will tackle a down overquilt with baffles.

There are many folks on HammockForums.com who have made their own sleeping quilts. I believe some have done sleeping bags. Take a look at the DIY thread.

(BTW, hammockers do not own sewing machines. They own "thread injectors." Don't let it confuse you.)