Introduction: Wee-proof Sleeping Bag Protector for Little Campers

By barvasfiend.blogspot.com
About: There's not much to say, I am mostly hair.

This is Ed. She likes pirates, robots, dinosaurs, rock-pools, swimming, rockets, maps and 'fixing' things. She also likes camping. Camping is exciting. Sometimes a bit too exciting. 

Ed has been toilet trained since whatever age confirms your prejudices about good parenting. Basically, it's been a long time. But the disruption of routine can cause little campers to forget themselves and neglect the kind of etiquette that built an Empire. Or whatever it was. 

Being kitesurfers/surfers and divers normally we camp near the coast, where the weather is relatively benign and there is usually access to water. However, our next camping adventure takes us inland on our way to The Other Coast, through the desert, where the nights are cold. Washing options will be limited and whatever is washed will have to be dried before bedtime. 

The beauty of this instructable is two-fold, the first was making a sleeping bag insert that can be washed an dried in one day, with limited water. The second stroke of genius was buying an ancient sleeping bag for $2 that we can throw away when we reach the tropical coast (where we will simply sleep under a thin layer of mosquitos).


Step 1: Stuff You Will Need

I just used basic sewing thread, some elastic and some salvaged buttons. And of course the $2 sleeping bag. This sleeping bag is a kid's size one with a hood and a zip up the middle to keep a whole family of snakes in. 

Step 2: Sewing!

I made little loops that were the right size for the buttons then sewed one in each inside top corner and two more inside about five eights down the bag. 

Then I got an old flannel sheet and laid it over the bag and sewed buttons on where the corresponding loops are.  

Step 3: Wool Insert

Then I got an old woolen blanket that I'd half felted in hot water, laid it over the sleeping bag and cut it to the right shape, and made some small slits in it to match the buttons. Then I buttoned the felted blanket onto the cotton sheet, so I had two layers that could be easily separated for washing.  

Step 4:

Then I simply buttoned the two layers into the sleeping bag using the elasticated loops. It is not completely water-proof and won't protect the bag from the 'fire-truck' manoeuvre but it will protect from little accidents which is more likely in our situation.

You could also make another layer (as  many as you like) including one of waterproof sheet material. 

And that's it.

HAPPY CAMPERS!