Draft Dodger Crafts

Use basic materials to make a draft dodger.

A draft dodger is a tube of fabric or other material that prevents cold air from leaking in under a door. It is also known as a draft stopper. It also prevents warm air from moving out. Although a draft dodger is not substitute for caulking and sealing, it provides additional comfort in a rental unit or in a home that is hard to renovate. You can make a simple draft dodger using many different crafting methods and you can use materials you have on hand at home.

Rag Rug Draft Dodger

Braid strips of fabric together to make a draft dodger.

This is the simplest form of draft dodger. Get old decorative pieces of fabric and tear them into strips that are slightly longer than the width of the door. Clip three of the fabric strips together at the top and braid them together. Sew the top and the bottom of the braided draft dodger and slip it onto the crack under the door. You can also do more complex braiding with four pieces of fabric if you wish.

Crocheted Draft Dodger

Make a long crocheted item that looks like a thin scarf.

Measure the width of your door. Crochet a chain as long as the width of the door.
Measure the height of the hole under the door. Double this and add an inch to get the proper height for the draft dodger. Add single crochet stitches to the chain until the crocheted item is the correct height. Add a length of foam to the middle of the long crocheted draft dodger. Bring the top edge down to the bottom edge and crochet the two edges together to make a draft dodger.

Tube Draft Dodger

Use fabric that matches your decor.

A simple decorative fabric tube is the traditional draft dodger craft. Determine the height of the crack under your door and double it. Add two inches onto this measurement so the draft dodger will completely cover the hole under the door. Hem each end of the fabric. Lay the fabric wrong side up and place foam stuffing in a line down the inside the fabric. Sew the two sides together to make a tube.

Instead of foam, you can also use rice or dried beans to create a heavier draft dodger. You can also use plain fabric and add stencils to the fabric before you sew it together. Some people turn their draft dodgers into animals. You can add a cat head, dog head, or snake head to the end of the draft dodger.

Potpourri Draft Dodger

Add scents to your home with your draft stopper.

Create a sewn draft dodger with a twist. Instead of stuffing the craft with foam, rices, beans or fabric, stuff it with items that give your home a lovely smell. Add potpourri to the inside of the draft dodger or spritz the fabric with essential oils before sewing it together. A potpourri draft dodger should not be washed and is best used in dry climates. You can also design it with hook and loop tape at the seam so you can add and remove potpourri and wash the fabric.

References

• Craft Passion: Recycle Tutorial: Braided Rag Rug
• Designing Vashti: Draft Snake
• Sew 4 Home: Last Minute Gift Pillows Door Draft Buster