Frostline Kits - Boulder, Colorado

My dad made a bunch of Frostline gear in the 70s. Most of his outdoor kit is stuff he sewed together - down sleeping bags, down parkas, backpacks, stuff sacks, a four season tent - the list goes on and on.

I did some searching a few years ago and found scant reference to Frostline. Basically I learned they went out of business. I'd love to get my hands on the patterns for the kits. Unfortunately the patterns for my dads stuff have been lost. Does anyone out there have the patterns and instructions for any of the kits? I'm interested in updating the materials and creating some cool outdoor gear of my own based on the older patterns.

i've seen vintage REI patterns on EBAY

You could call or visit Ragged Mountain near North Conway, NH. Down in their basement, they have technical fabric by the yard, and they have, or at least had, some patterns for tech stuff hanging on one wall. I wanted a waterproof equivalent of the venerable L.L. Bean tote bag and found the fabric and pattern there.

Wow that takes me back! I did a couple of Frostline kits in high school in the 70's. They did not come with patterns, everything was pre-cut.

David Houston wrote:Wow that takes me back! I did a couple of Frostline kits in high school in the 70's. They did not come with patterns, everything was pre-cut.

Frostline didn't supply patterns. Rather the kits included all the required fabric pieces pre-cut. Plus thread, snaps, cord etc as needed. And the instructions were great - I basically learned how to sew with their kits back in the mid-70s.

And FWIW they were in Broomfield not Boulder. There is probably a wikipedia article on them.

I don't know what you guys are talking about so I Googled. This link looks interesting.

oregonphotos.com/Frostline1…

Gunks Jesse wrote: My dad made a bunch of Frostline gear in the 70s. Most of his outdoor kit is stuff he sewed together - down sleeping bags, down parkas, backpacks, stuff sacks, a four season tent - the list goes on and on. I did some searching a few years ago and found scant reference to Frostline. Basically I learned they went out of business. I'd love to get my hands on the patterns for the kits. Unfortunately the patterns for my dads stuff have been lost. Does anyone out there have the patterns and instructions for any of the kits? I'm interested in updating the materials and creating some cool outdoor gear of my own based on the older patterns.

Hi Jesse 

I have an unmade complete down sleeping bag kit.  
It’s all there, with the instructions, well preserved and in perfect condition.

It’s for sale and I’m not sure what I should charge.  I live  in St Albertnear Edmonton, Alberta  

Claire 

There were a few other companies besides Frostline that made kits. I still use some of the gear I made from Frostline kits in the 70’s. You can see pictures here. 

I have the instruction books for some of the gear, and a pattern for a medium size down sweater (I traced the parts onto newspaper). I recently used that pattern as a basis to make this parka.  Unfortunately I don’t have access to the books or patterns until spring.

Claire Beaudoin wrote:

Hi Jesse 

I have an unmade complete down sleeping bag kit.  
It’s all there, with the instructions, well preserved and in perfect condition.

It’s for sale and I’m not sure what I should charge.  I live  in St Albertnear Edmonton, Alberta  

Claire 

I made two Frostline down bags in the 70s. One came out with great loft. The second was REALLY disappointing. Down back then wasn't controlled for fill power, so while a good batch might be 650 in^3/oz (still only so-so by today's standards), the next one - as in my case - was probably 450 fill power.

I'd ask $50 for your bag kit.