Ah yes, can see your opinion that buying a kit degrades the DIY ethic, but here's the thing. When you buy Ray's kits, you're paying for fabric mostly. His instructions are priceless, but if you go to a fabric store and buy JUST the fabric, the cost is almost identical. Having all the correct fabrics without having to do the homework to hunt down a supplier, and excellent instructions for no extra cost? Oh yea, no doubt about it.
One could definately sew something like a quilt without any instructions, but after learning the tips and tricks Ray learned from all his experience taking these quilts on 4 thru hikes across america, I was glad to have some guidance in the construction of mine. But fuck, this isn't an ad for Jardine's site. Go buy the fabric/insulation somewhere, pop a beer, and make your own style quilt. Whatever you make, it will probably be better than the cookie cutter shit on the market! Yeah!