Make a fabric draught excluder
Sew a fabric draught excluder from scraps. Measure the door gap, make a tube, fill it evenly and check how it sits along the floor.
- Estimated time
- 45 min
- Skill level
- Beginner
Before you start
Choose an interior door where a loose fabric roll can sit on the floor and be moved easily. Check how wide the gap is and where the roll will go when the door opens. Use firm, tightly woven fabric and clean, dry scraps so the filling stays put.
Tools and materials
- Sturdy fabric
- Tape measure
- Scissors
- Needle and thread
- Clean fabric scraps for filling
Step-by-step instructions
Measure the gap
Measure the width of the opening and check that a loose roll can sit against the closed door without blocking a walkway.
Sew the tube
For a roll about 8 cm across, cut a strip 28 cm wide and 4 cm longer than the opening. Fold it lengthways with the outer faces together. Stitch about 1 cm in from the long raw edge and close one end with the same allowance. Turn the tube right side out before filling.
Fill evenly
Turn the tube right side out and pack it with small scraps until it holds its shape and still settles against the floor.
Close and fit
Tuck in the raw edges at the open end and stitch it closed. Place it against the closed door and move it aside before walking through.
Check the result
Place the roll along the closed door. You should see contact with the floor across most of the gap. Push the filling into any flat spots by hand and move the roll to one side whenever the door needs to open.
Troubleshooting
Choose a different door if the gap provides ventilation, if the door needs to close automatically or if the roll would obstruct an exit.