I asked my mom a few weeks ago about sewing up a synthetic underquilt for me and she said sure. I dropped the materials off to her last weekend and then last night we were chatting over email about the quilt. I told her that I had been looking for a used sewing machine to learn on through craigslist and couldn't find one for less than $150. She says that she has three of them in the basement, pick which one I want. So next weekend, I should get started on my DIY pullouts and working towards a tarp and maybe a cimarron knock-off down the road.
Also, she told me that back in the day one of my great uncles used an old industrial sewing machine to sew up their canvas tarps and hunting tents back in the 40s and 50s. Sixty years later, I'm doing the same thing for the same purpose, but with new materials!