Introduction: Wonderful World Draft Stopper
Wait, is that....nah. Make this delightful item from simple materials to stop that awful draft from coming under the door and keep you warm.
It's never too early to start Spring cleaning and see what items you can find to repurpose. Used socks aren't really for donation and there is always that odd length of foam pipe insulation left over from previous attempts to make the house more energy efficient.
With some basic sewing, you can put together your own draft stopper. Use it under a door or even a window to block the chill. Does not interfere with the normal operation of the door or window.
Please do not confuse a draft stopper with a draft dodger. You will find those further up North where it is colder.
It's never too early to start Spring cleaning and see what items you can find to repurpose. Used socks aren't really for donation and there is always that odd length of foam pipe insulation left over from previous attempts to make the house more energy efficient.
With some basic sewing, you can put together your own draft stopper. Use it under a door or even a window to block the chill. Does not interfere with the normal operation of the door or window.
Please do not confuse a draft stopper with a draft dodger. You will find those further up North where it is colder.
Step 1: Get Scrappy...
Depending on the size of the door, you may need more or less material.
You need three or four pairs of socks to use or you need some stretchy thin fabric.
You need some scrap material pieces to use for the extra decoration.
You need some foam pipe insulation pieces. They come in various sizes to fit different diameters of pipe. The bigger sizes will provide a better fit as it hugs the door better.
You will need a little bit of fiberfill to stuff the accessory pieces.
You will need to be able to sew, use of a sewing machine is not required but will make things go a whole lot faster. I use a serger since it is a whole lot of fun to make things quickly. A serger will trim and bind the seam as it goes along.
CAUTION: Know how to operate safely around cutting implements, tools, sewing needles and sewing machines.
You need three or four pairs of socks to use or you need some stretchy thin fabric.
You need some scrap material pieces to use for the extra decoration.
You need some foam pipe insulation pieces. They come in various sizes to fit different diameters of pipe. The bigger sizes will provide a better fit as it hugs the door better.
You will need a little bit of fiberfill to stuff the accessory pieces.
You will need to be able to sew, use of a sewing machine is not required but will make things go a whole lot faster. I use a serger since it is a whole lot of fun to make things quickly. A serger will trim and bind the seam as it goes along.
CAUTION: Know how to operate safely around cutting implements, tools, sewing needles and sewing machines.
Step 2: The Inter Tubes...
Measure you door or just place socks end to end to see what length of draft stopper you need.
The door I used was a bit longer than 2 feet. It coincidentally worked out to 2feet socks long.
You want to create a really long continuous tube of sock material.
You will want to create a pair of tubes connected lengthwise so you can slip it under the door. The foam pipe insulation pieces will fill out the sock tubes and hug the bottom of the door.
To extend one sock:
Cut off the end of the next sock.
Flip this sock inside out.
Insert the first sock inside and align the top edges.
Sew a seam around it to join the socks. Be sure to stretch the seam as you go along so that the sock can expand later.
When you flip it the sock back out, you should have a finished seam to create the continuous length of socks.
Repeat as necessary.
When you have two sock tubes, flatten them out and align together.
Sew one edge to join the two sock tubes together.
The door I used was a bit longer than 2 feet. It coincidentally worked out to 2
You want to create a really long continuous tube of sock material.
You will want to create a pair of tubes connected lengthwise so you can slip it under the door. The foam pipe insulation pieces will fill out the sock tubes and hug the bottom of the door.
To extend one sock:
Cut off the end of the next sock.
Flip this sock inside out.
Insert the first sock inside and align the top edges.
Sew a seam around it to join the socks. Be sure to stretch the seam as you go along so that the sock can expand later.
When you flip it the sock back out, you should have a finished seam to create the continuous length of socks.
Repeat as necessary.
When you have two sock tubes, flatten them out and align together.
Sew one edge to join the two sock tubes together.
Step 3: My Ears Are Tingling, Someone Must Be Talking About Me...
Time to accessorize.
Cut a red fabric piece to go around the sewn tubes. Seam it together to get a big fabric loop.
It should be large enough to fit when the foam pipe insulation pieces are in.
Cut a spare sock in half.
Cut a round piece of cardboard to fill out the top portion of the spare sock. Place it in and see how it looks. You may have to adjust for size for the right proportion.
Sew it to near the top to the middle seam.
Cut a red fabric piece to go around the sewn tubes. Seam it together to get a big fabric loop.
It should be large enough to fit when the foam pipe insulation pieces are in.
Cut a spare sock in half.
Cut a round piece of cardboard to fill out the top portion of the spare sock. Place it in and see how it looks. You may have to adjust for size for the right proportion.
Sew it to near the top to the middle seam.
Step 4: Hands Off...
Now we need to create a gloved hand.
I used the cuff cut off of a white sock.
Turn it inside out and seam the the cut side in a semicircle.
Turn it back out. Use a sewing machine to put in 3 divisions for the fingers. (Most cartoon characters only have four digits)
Stuff with a bit of fiberfill.
Use a magic marker to draw on details.
Sew to the black sock portion.
Stuff that with fiberfill or a small chunk of the foam pipe insulation.
Sew the end to the middle seam of the sock tube.
I used the cuff cut off of a white sock.
Turn it inside out and seam the the cut side in a semicircle.
Turn it back out. Use a sewing machine to put in 3 divisions for the fingers. (Most cartoon characters only have four digits)
Stuff with a bit of fiberfill.
Use a magic marker to draw on details.
Sew to the black sock portion.
Stuff that with fiberfill or a small chunk of the foam pipe insulation.
Sew the end to the middle seam of the sock tube.
Step 5: Ugggs...
Sew some booties with fabric scraps.
Cut out the basic shape of the sole of the shoe.
Cut out the top, removing a wedged curvy shape so you will have a rounded front.
I had to attach heel piece extension since the front top would not be enough to go around to match the sole.
Seam the top piece together.
Working inside out, seam all around the sole to the top.
Create a top rim trim piece for the foot opening. This was a simple fabric tube piece folded in half to form the bootie cuff.
Attach to the foot opening.
Turn the bootie inside out.
Stuff the bootie with fiberfill.
Cut out the basic shape of the sole of the shoe.
Cut out the top, removing a wedged curvy shape so you will have a rounded front.
I had to attach heel piece extension since the front top would not be enough to go around to match the sole.
Seam the top piece together.
Working inside out, seam all around the sole to the top.
Create a top rim trim piece for the foot opening. This was a simple fabric tube piece folded in half to form the bootie cuff.
Attach to the foot opening.
Turn the bootie inside out.
Stuff the bootie with fiberfill.
Step 6: Eeek, the End...
Your draft stopper does not need a theme but it is much cuter that way.
I was going to make it cat shaped with its legs and paws sticking up in the air. And people think this is tasteless...
Insert the foam pipe insulation pieces to fill out the main sock tubes.
Slide it under the door for a test fit. You may need to trim the length of the foam pieces.
Attach the bootie on the end. You can tack sew it on the bottom.
Enjoy!
I was going to make it cat shaped with its legs and paws sticking up in the air. And people think this is tasteless...
Insert the foam pipe insulation pieces to fill out the main sock tubes.
Slide it under the door for a test fit. You may need to trim the length of the foam pieces.
Attach the bootie on the end. You can tack sew it on the bottom.
Enjoy!