You know I couldn’t get through 2016 without at least one flannel project, right? I’ve got oodles of flannel shirt bits- relics of 2015- that need to be used up. And with the temperatures dropping (FINALLY!) and that instinctual desire to make everything look cozy, I grabbed a trio of shirts from my stash.
Recognize these from last year?
I decided to create a patchwork flannel draft stopper (or door snake or draft dodger) for our front door. Since I loved how my patchwork flannel table runner and multi-plaid holiday wreath looked, I decided to keep with the patchwork theme. This post contains affiliate links for your crafting convenience.
To create my flannel draft stopper, I first measured our front door- which is a standard 36” wide. If I were using one solid piece of fabric, I would have cut it at 40”. But since I was using three squares of flannel (and thus needed to account for extra seams), I cut each piece 14” x 14” using my rotary cutter, self-healing mat, and acrylic ruler. (In retrospect, I would have cut them 14” x 12” or even 14” x 10”…but coulda, shoulda, woulda).
Starting the Stopper- ironic!
When all three squares were cut, I ironed them, stitched them together, and pressed the seams flat.
Looks like my table runner- ha!
As you may have noticed in the above photo, I also nabbed some faux weathered leather upholstery fabric. Instead of using lace to cover the seams (like I’ve done in the past), I decided to use “pleather” this time around. A totally optional step…I just liked how it looked.
Anyway, while my fabric cutting supplies were still out, I cut two strips of pleather and set them aside.
Yes- I definitely like this combo.
Now, because this is a patchwork draft stopper, I decided to make a quick-and-dirty liner out of scrap fabric. I still had a lot of white bed sheet left after my Halloween candy stand, so I simply pinned my flannel to the white fabric like a pattern and cut the fabric around it.
Lining=Spill Insurance
Then, I folded everything over on itself (flannel sides together) and pinned along one short edge and the long edge before stitching them together (leaving the other short end open).
Becoming a draft stopper, slowly but surely.
Once that was done, I turned it right-side-out, pushing out the corners and gathered a bunch of rice to stuff it with!
Doesn’t that look nice?
Now, remember when I was cutting the flannel and then retrospectfully said I should have cut the squares at 14” x 12” or 14” x 10”? This is why…I had to use a LOT of rice to fill this thing…a narrower “tube” would have required less filler.
After my draft stopper was sufficiently filled with rice, I tucked in the edges of the open end and double-stitched it closed. But I wasn’t quite finished- I needed to add my (optional) pleather! And I purposefully didn’t stitch it to the flannel (I figured it would have puckered). So I just used my hot glue gun to hold the strips in place around the flannel seams. Like I said before- this is just a cosmetic thing and therefore optional.
Final touches!
And there it is, stopping any chilly air from seeping into our house- looking cozy and pretty and plaid-y.
Handsome AND functional!
The pleather is a nice touch, yes? Flannel and lace, flannel and “leather”…they both work swimmingly together! And I love that my draft stopper blends in with our “mountain cabin” decor this holiday season (and through the winter). Cozy plaid at every turn!
Craft on!
S
PIN ME!
The post Patchwork Flannel Draft Stopper appeared first on Sadie Seasongoods.