When the evenings draw in and the heating goes on, a chilly breeze sneaking under the door is one of the most annoying things about autumn. A fabric draught excluder is one of the simplest fixes you can make yourself. It is a beginner-friendly sewing project, it uses less than a metre of fabric, and you can make it to match your curtains, cushions or hallway in an afternoon.
Here is how to make one, plus our pick of in-stock fabrics that work well for the job.
What You Will Need
- A strip of sturdy fabric (see the measuring guide below)
- Matching thread and a sewing machine, or a needle if you prefer to hand sew
- Filling: polyester toy stuffing, old towels or offcuts cut into strips, or a mix of stuffing and a heavier material such as dried rice sealed in an inner bag to add weight
- Pins, fabric scissors and a tape measure
- Optional: a ribbon or a short strip of fabric for a hanging loop
How Much Fabric Do You Need?
Measure the width of your door and add 2–5cm so the excluder covers the gap fully, plus 1.5cm at each end for seam allowance. For the depth, a finished excluder of around 8–10cm across sits nicely against most doors, so cut your fabric about 25–30cm wide (that gives you the circumference plus seam allowance).
A standard internal door is often around 76cm wide, so for most doors a single strip cut across a 140cm-wide fabric is plenty. In practice, half a metre to one metre of fabric will usually make one or two excluders, with offcuts left over for a matching cushion.
Choosing the Right Fabric
A draught excluder gets pushed around with the door, trodden on and dragged across the floor, so you want something with a bit of weight and a tight weave. Upholstery and furnishing fabrics are ideal because they are made to cope with daily wear.
- Safari Streak Upholstery Curtain Brocade Fabric, Brown is a warm, earthy brocade at 140cm wide, currently reduced to £4.49 (was £14.99). It also comes in other colourways, including Wine Red, so you can match it to your room.
- Striped Upholstery Curtain Brocade Fabric, Wine gives a classic, traditional look that suits hallways and living rooms. It is 140cm wide and now £5.39 (was £11.99).
- Plain Madagascar Curtain Fabric, Teal is a plain upholstery and seating fabric if you prefer a clean, modern finish. It is now £8.09 (was £8.99).
- For something fun, Short Pile Fun Faux Fur in Black makes a cosy, fluffy excluder and is great for a sausage dog or black cat design. It is 150cm wide and available in cuts from a quarter metre (£6.99).
Step-by-Step: How to Make a Draught Excluder
1. Cut your fabric. Cut a rectangle to your measurements, for example 82cm long by 28cm wide for a 76cm door. If you are using a striped fabric, decide whether you want the stripes to run along the length or around the tube before cutting.
2. Fold and pin. Fold the rectangle in half lengthways with the right sides together, so the pattern is on the inside. Pin along the long raw edge.
3. Sew the long seam. Stitch along the long edge with a 1.5cm seam allowance. If you want a hanging loop, fold a short piece of ribbon in half and tuck it inside one end so the ends poke out with the raw edges.
4. Close one end. Sew across one short end. Trim the corners to reduce bulk, then turn the tube right side out, using a wooden spoon handle or a knitting needle to push it through.
5. Fill it. Stuff the tube firmly. If you are adding weight, put the heavier filling into a smaller inner bag or a sealed sandwich bag first and position it along the bottom, then pack stuffing around it. A firm, even filling stops it sagging in the middle.
6. Close the other end. Fold the raw edges inside by 1.5cm and slip stitch or ladder stitch the opening closed by hand for a neat finish. Alternatively, gather the end with a running stitch and tie it off for a cracker-style look.
Tips for a Professional Finish
- Use a longer stitch length on thick upholstery fabrics so the machine feeds smoothly.
- Use a zip or Velcro in the end seam if you want to remove the cover for washing.
- Add a face with felt ears, button eyes and a tail to turn faux fur into a sausage dog, a lovely gift for children or pet lovers (avoid buttons for very young children).
- Make a double-sided version by sewing a sleeve that slides under the door with a tube on each side, so it moves with the door.
- Match your décor by using leftover fabric from your curtains or cushions.
Get Cosy This Autumn
A homemade draught excluder is quick, practical and a great way to use sturdy furnishing fabric. Whether you go for a smart brocade, a plain teal or a fluffy faux fur pup, you will have a cosier room in no time.
Browse our reduced upholstery fabrics and pick up everything you need for your next home sewing project at Bull Ring Fabrics.
