Making a draught excluder is a classic afternoon project, and it is a good way to use up leftover fabric. Here is a simple way to do it.
What you need
- A strip of fabric about 100cm long and 25cm wide (more or less depending on your door).
- Thread and a needle, or a sewing machine.
- Filling: polyester stuffing, dry rice, dry lentils or fabric scraps.
- A funnel or a rolled-up piece of paper for filling.
- Scissors, pins and a tape measure.
Step by step
- Measure the door. Measure the width of the bottom edge, and add 2cm. That is the length you want.
- Cut the fabric. Cut a rectangle the length you measured by about 24cm wide. A thicker fabric such as cotton drill or corduroy holds up better than thin cotton.
- Fold and pin. Fold the fabric in half lengthways with the right sides together, and pin along the long edge.
- Sew. Sew along the long edge and across one short end, with a seam allowance of about 1cm.
- Turn it out. Turn the tube the right way round and push the seam out neatly.
- Fill it. Use the funnel to fill the tube. A mix of stuffing at the ends and rice in the middle gives weight without lumps.
- Close the end. Fold the raw edge in and sew it closed with small stitches.
Making it work better
- Weight matters. A light excluder slides away. Use rice or lentils for a heavier excluder, or add a layer of bean bag pellets inside a second inner tube.
- Keep it dry. Natural fillings can go mouldy if damp, so use polyester stuffing for a damp hallway.
- Make it washable. Use a zip or make the cover removable with a separate inner tube.
When to buy instead
A homemade excluder is lovely, but it is still a loose tube. If the door is used constantly, or the gap is large, a fixed seal is more reliable. Compare ready-made excluders with fixed door seals before you start sewing.
Ideas for a child-friendly version
A sausage dog or a snake with felt eyes is a popular project, and a good one to make with children. Use safe, non-toxic materials and keep small parts such as buttons off the finished item.