Make a No Slip Stay Put Door Draft Dodger

I installed metal draft blockers on the front and back doors of The Condo. Then I noticed that some areas of The Condo were still cold and a bit drafty – around the doors to my coat closet and pantry, which are both on outside walls. These drafts meant that my heater needs to work a little harder to keep the Condo warm in winter and the air conditioning needs to work a little harder to keep the Condo cool during the summer.

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 These drafts were wasting energy and costing me money – something I try to avoid. I like to save energy and save money on my heating and cooling bills.

What to do? I needed something to block the drafts on those interior doors. I didn’t think a metal draft plate would work on my wooden hollow core doors. I didn’t like how traditional fabric door draft dodger/door draft blocker/door draft stopper/door draft snake won’t stay in place. So I made a no slip stay put door draft dodger. Here’s how I did it.

Not only is making this no slip door draft blocker quick and easy project, but it is also a great stash buster!

Sew a No Slip Stay Put Door Draft Blocker 

You will need:
Fabric - a fat quarter of fabric like these should do just fine depending upon the size of your door of course.

Sewing tape measure

Fabric scissors 

Thread

Needle

Straight pins

Sewing machine

Chopstick, spoon handle, or other pokey tool like thing 

Stuffing - such as dried beans, popcorn, rice, aquarium gravel, batting/stuffing (there are several examples here), pipe insulation, scrap fabric/rags/t-shirts, bottle caps, wine corks, etc.

Iron

Ironing board

Tacks or small nails

Hammer

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Make it:

1. Use the measuring tape to measure the width of your door.

2. Use the scissors to cut a piece of fabric that is six inches wide and as long as your door measurement plus one inch for a seam allowance.

You’ll notice that I got a little wacky with the material for my draft blocker. I had material leftover when I made my flaming skull iron board cover, so that’s what I used. I figure that since the fabric has flames on it, it might keep the heat in and the cold out a little better. Well, that and no one is really going to see this little draft doo dad but me.

You don't have to use flaming skull fabric for this project to work. You can use whatever fabric you like.

3. Fold the top edge of your fabric over and press in place.

4. Fold the bottom edge of the fabric over and press in place.

5. Fold one of the long ends of the tube over two inches toward the center of the fabric and pin right sides together.

6. Use the sewing machine to sew the seam in place.

7. Remove the pins, turn the tube right side out, and press the seam into place.

8. Fold the top edge of your fabric over 1 inch from the top of the fabric towards the middle of the fabric and pin it in place to make the top tab.

9. Use the sewing machine to sew the seam in place. Remove the pins and use the iron to press the seam.

10. Fold the bottom of fabric so it meets the bottom of the tab to make a tube. Pin through both layers.

11. Use the sewing machine to top sew the seam in place to make a tube with a tab and a closed end.

12. Stuff it! The tube that is. Use your pokey tool or funnel if needed to stuff the tube full of your filling.

• Hint: If you decide to use something light like batting or fabric for the majority of your stuffing, try to put something a little heavier in the draft blocker so it will stay close to the ground and actually block a draft.

I used bottle caps and wine corks for my draft snake because I’ve been collecting them forever and needed to use them in a project too.

13. Fold the raw edges of the end of the tube toward each other and sew the tube closed with the needle and thread.

14. Use the hammer to hammer the tacks through the tab and into the door. And you’re done!

The tab insures that the draft dodger doesn’t slip when you open and close the door. Brilliant!

Draft Dodger/ Draft Snake/Draft Blocker Variations

• Double draft dodger. You can sew the tabs of two no slip draft blockers together and slide it on either side of a door or window. I did this with the door that goes from the unheated laundry room to my unheated utility room.

• No sew variation #1. Cut the leg off a pair of old pants, or a pair of tights, or the arm off an old sweater. Stuff it & tie ends. Tack it to the door.
• No sew variation #2. Roll up an old towel or rug. Wrap it in duct tape and make a tape tab at the top of your draft blocker Tack it to the door using the tape tab.

If you'd rather buy than DIY, click to learn more about my favorite options below!

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