Upcycling a Sleeping Bag into a Lightweight Ski Touring Jacket Update

For my upcycling project, I am transforming a sleeping bag into a lightweight ski touring jacket. I purchased an EcoPro LW210 lightweight warm-weather sleeping bag from Goodwill to maximize fabric yield at a low cost. I have already deconstructed the bag by removing the seams, separating it into two large fabric sheets—gray on one side and green on the other—and extracting the insulation. These materials are now prepared for cutting the jacket pattern, with the option to reintegrate the insulation for added warmth.

Figure 1. The ECOPRO LW210 sleeping bag is the base material for my project

The next step in creating my ski touring jacket is developing the pattern for cutting the fabric. I initially planned to disassemble an old rain jacket and trace its components onto butcher paper. However, the jacket’s stretchy fabric led to inconsistent and imprecise patterns. Instead, I will draft my own pattern from scratch using drafting tools and referencing Metric Pattern Cutting for Menswear by Winifred Aldrich. My goal is to complete the pattern and cut the fabric by the end of the weekend, allowing me to begin sewing next week.

I am allowing myself as much time as possible for sewing, as it can be a meticulous process. Since this jacket is designed for ski touring, it requires multiple pockets and vents, all of which will need zippers to keep out snow and wind. While I have some sewing experience, I am still a beginner, and installing zippers—along with adding pockets and vents—will take time.

The jacket I am aiming to replicate is the Norrona Lofoten Hiloflex 200 Hood (see Figure 2). One of its key features is a hood with a built-in mask that can be pulled over the face. Since I have never sewn a hood before, I want to allow extra time to refine it if needed. The mask inside the hood will likely be the most challenging element to replicate. While I would like to include this feature, it is not essential and will be completed last if time permits. My priority is to ensure the base jacket is well-constructed and visually clean before adding extra details.

By the end of next weekend, I aim to have the jacket fully sewn. This timeline allows for an additional week to ensure I stay on track with my manufacturing schedule and complete the project on time. If I remain on schedule, this buffer will give me ample time to correct any mistakes and refine details, ensuring a final product I am truly proud of.

Since this jacket is designed for ski touring and we are in the middle of the season, finishing it as soon as possible means I can start using it in the backcountry right away. I am excited to be working on this project and optimistic about the final result.

Figure 2. The Norrona Lofoten Hiloflex200 hood is the inspiration for the jacket I am creating.

Images

1. https://www.amazon.com/ECOOPRO-Warm-Weather-Sleeping-Bag/dp/B084RPJJQD?th=1
2. https://www.norrona.com/en-GB/products/lofoten/lofoten-hiloflex200-hood-men/

This post was edited using ChatGPT for clarity and conciseness.