When the days get colder, you can help to winter proof your home and fight the chills with these easy to make draft stoppers. They are long, weighted fabric tubes that sit in front of doors, window ledges and anywhere else you need to block a draft. They save energy and cost very little to make.
With a few supplies and a little snipping and stitching, you can make your own draft stoppers. You can get creative with fancy designs such as sausage dogs or snakes or you can keep it simple with nice fabrics. As a kid I used to entertain myself with my great aunts snake shaped draft dodger. I thought it was a toy. I’ll share some patterns for the fancier designs along with an easy no sew pattern that you can make in about ten minutes!
Types of Fabric
You can make make your draft blocker attractive with beautiful heavy fabric patterns or you can make it quirky by styling it like a sausage dog or snake. You can also make it using the pant leg of an old pair of denim jeans or thick tights.
- heavy fabric
- old curtains or table cloth
- old jeans
- Thick knee socks (perfect no sew option)
- Thick tights (stocking)
Filling Options
For the filling you want something with some weight to it. This ensures that it stays firmly in place and snugs up against the area nice and tightly. Good options include
- Buckwheat
- rice
- sawdust
- Beans
- A mixture of the above
Easy To Follow Pattern
Measure the length of the area you want the draft stopper to cover (the width of a door for example) for your length and measure 8 inches wide for the width. Fold the fabric in half lengthwise and stitch up one end and the long side. Fill the tube with your chosen filling and then sew or tie it closed.
Other DIY Draft Stopper Patterns
If you are a master of crafting the sky’s the limit. If you want to go the extra mile here are some cool patterns for you.
Ready To Order
If you don’t feel like making your own you can find some really cute draft stoppers on Etsy and Amazon.
Reynard Weighted Fox Draft Stopper
Grey Red Plaid Bear Animal Door Draft Stopper
The Maine Sales Company Chickadees Pattern Draft Stopper