Crafts: Easy-to-Sew Door Runners - Keep the Draft Out!

With cooler weather fast approaching, many of us are saying we need to purchase a door runner, or draft stopper, to keep the cold air out. If you are like me, this is something you have said for many years in a row. Well, this year, I made one, and it turned out so well, that I'm going to make several more for various other doors around the house. The craft is fairly easy to make, very affordable, and takes very little time. One other bonus is, if you are making one, instead of purchasing one already made, you can custom design it to fit the décor of your home! I plan to make a college football one for my husband's game room. I've already made one for the kitchen, and then I intend to make one out of leather for the library door. That being said, you can make any style you like, including holiday themes. If you really feel crafty, you can make matching one for your windows, as well. First you need to gather your supplied. You will need the following:

Fabric pieces that are about four inches longer than the bottom length of your door (so if your door is 36-inches, purchase 40-inches of material x 8-inches wide. You want heavy-duty fabric that is very tightly woven (no gaps, knits, etc.).

Thread, the same color as your material if you do not want it to show, contrasting colors, if you do.

Something heavy to keep it in place, such as sand, rice, foam, etc. If you want the door stopper to smell good too, you might want to purchase a heavy potpourri to fill it. If you choose the latter, make sure the pieces are small so they do not protrude through the fabric. Potpourri is an especially nice filler if you are making a holiday-themed runner as you add doubly to the holiday spirit by filling it with a related scent.

Now you are ready to begin.

Your first step is to create the tubular part of the project. With your fabric inside-out, sew along the long side (the 40-inch side) using a half-inch seam allowance. Make sure your stitches are tight. You do not want to risk letting any of your stuffing out.

Stitch one side together and turn right-side out. If you want to get really fancy, you can create the shape of an animal head, or other inanimate object, and stuff it...sewing it on to one end of the tube, or you can stitch together circular pieces of material for the ends, or any shape you want, to give it an even more customized look. If you are doing an animal, which is common, consider making feet for the side that is not tucked up against the door and sew them in when you are creating your seam. You can make the feet out of any stiff material, such as felt, to ensure it stays flat when the project is complete.

Put your stuffing of choice inside of the tube. You want to fill it about three-quarters of the way up, all the way across, being careful to distribute your filler evenly. Check your seams before you sew up the remaining open end.

At this point, you are either finished, or you can decorate with various craft items (eyes, nose, mouth, ribbons, buttons, letters, etc.) as you see fit.

This super simple project will save you a ton of money and you will thank yourself when using them because the missing cold air coming in is immediately noticeable, and appreciated.

Congratulate yourself on a job well done. This is a project so simple, you will want to share it with your friends.