Beat the chills this winter by stitching up a quick and easy draft dodger. Not only does this project keep your house cozy by blocking cold air from leaking through doors and windows, but it looks great and saves on heating bills too. This tutorial fits most standard 36″ wide doors, but can be adapted to fit windows, sliding glass doors, etc.

Final measurements: 40″ x 5″

Materials:

• 3/8 yard linen-cotton fabric *(We ordered ours from Spoonflower)
• Polyester fiberfill Poly Pellets **
• Ruler
• Water soluble marker
• Thread to match
• Scissors
• Hand sewing needle

Optional Materials:

• 2 ¾ – 3 yards of piping
• BERNINA Piping foot #38
• Rotary Cutter\Mat
• Funnel

*If using a directional print or creating a dodger larger than a standard door, more material may be needed to achieve desired results.

** Poly Pellets are plastic stuffing beads that can typically be found with the fiberfill or doll making isles of most brick and mortar stores.

Instructions:

1. Measure and cut two 41″ x 6″ long rectangles from material.

2. Round off corners. This makes it much easier to apply piping (optional) and gives it a neat, clean appearance.

All seams are ½” unless otherwise specified.

1. If using piping, baste the piping to the right side of one rectangle. If using the BERNINA Piping foot #38, place the piping under the right side of the foot, with the thicker left side snug against it while sewing. 

If you do not have a piping foot, use BERNINA Zipper foot #4 with the needle on the far left, stitching close to original seam line of piping.

TIP: Clip the curves of the piping\rectangle to have the edges lay flat. Clip close to, but not through stitching.

TIP: To finish the ends of your piping, overlap the ends by crossing them over each other and secure in place with basting stitch. Snip ends of excess piping off even with raw edge of the rectangle.  

2. Place rectangles right side together, matching raw edges. Sew, leaving a 5″ – 6″ opening for turning.

3. Clip corners and turn right side out through opening.

4. Stuff draft dodger firmly with fiberfill—do not over stuff (like a pillow) so that it easily lays close to the door\window.

TIP: To keep from overstuffing your draft dodger stuff it firmly, then roll it on a hard surface to evenly distribute the fullness.

5. To add weight to your draft dodger to keep it in place, add two cups of poly pellets through opening, using a funnel if necessary. If you have difficulty distributing the pellets through the dodger, you can alternately stuff the dodger with fiberfill and poly pellets.

6. Handstitch opening closed.

Finished with your door dodger? Tackle other drafty areas such as sliding glass doors and windows…. Just change the length of your finished project!