Make Your Own Draft Stopper

Even with good weather stripping on doors and windows, drafts can still seem to seep in under your doors and really affect the temperatures in your homes. A draft stopper can make a huge difference in keeping out the cold air and helping your home heat itself more efficiently! The best part? This is a project that anyone, at any sewing ability can do!

All you need is:

• A door (always helpful right?)
• Fabric of any color
• Beans
• A sewing machine

1. Cut your fabric to 4 inches longer than your door is wide. In my case, the fabric is now 40 inches long.
2. Cut that strip of fabric to 9 inches wide. You should have a strip that is 40ish inches long and 9 inches wide.
3. Fold your strip in half lengthwise, with right sides facing each other.
4. Sew down the length of your strip, and along one end of your strip. This should look like a very long pillow case.
5. Turn your draft stopper right side out and fill with beans. Don’t fill it too full because you’re going to have to sew this shut, and you want to be able to shift the beans inside it to fit along your door.
6. On the open end, fold the edges inside the draft stopper and sew it shut.
7. If you want to have something you can wash because your children will inevitably make this draft stopper aka snake filthy, make another draft stopper that is slightly larger (add another inch to each side making the initial rectangle 10x41 inches.
8. Repeat steps 3-4. When you fold the open end inside, sew along the edge instead of sewing it shut, like a sleeve cuff.
9. Put your filled stopper inside the case and push against the bottom of your drafty door (or window). Whenever it gets dirty, wash the outer case and put it back on. Easy right? :)

If you already have a fabric you like on hand, you can buy beans for around a dollar a pound. This should last you ages…mine is over 2 years old and still going strong!

I’m linking up to Show & Tell @ Blue Cricket Design, Whatever Goes Wednesday @ Someday Crafts, Penny Pinching Party @ Thrifty Home, We Did It Wednesday @ Sew Much Ado, DIY Link Party @ Fine Craft Guild, and Whatcha Got Wednesday @ The Pumpkin Patch.