Hey everyone. Today you will learn how to turn those long, skinny batting trimmings into draft stoppers and door pillows that actually stop cold air.
You know the strips I mean, y'all. Every time you trim a quilt, you get these perfect long leftovers. Too narrow for a placemat. Too good to throw away.
Those strips roll up beautifully. Roll one tight, slip it into a simple fabric tube, and you have a door pillow that blocks a draft. Make it shorter and softer, and it is a neck roll. Here we go.
Why Bamboo Batting Works So Well Here
Bamboo batting is soft and drapey, but it still has body. A draft stopper needs to settle into the gap under a door, not sit like a stiff log. Rolled bamboo conforms a little, and that snug fit stops the air.
For a door pillow, roll firm and tight, with enough heft to stay put. For a neck roll, roll looser and softer. Same scraps. Same tube. Completely up to you.
What You Will Need
- Long skinny batting scraps, ideally 3 to 6 inches wide and at least 30 inches long
- Bamboo batting scraps if you have them, or a small package to supplement
- Sturdy cotton, denim, or home decor fabric for the outer tube
- Rotary cutter, mat, and ruler, or sharp fabric scissors
- Sewing machine with a universal needle, size 80/12 or 90/14 for denim
- Polyester thread in a matching color
- Pins or clips, measuring tape, and a chopstick or turning tool
- Optional: dried rice or poly pellets for extra weight
Sort scraps by length first. Longest strips make the cleanest rolls. Shorter pieces can hide in the middle.
How to Make a Draft Stopper or Door Pillow
- Measure your door. Most interior doors are 30 to 36 inches wide. Add 1 inch for seam allowances. That is your tube length.
- Cut the fabric tube. Cut one rectangle, your door width plus 1 inch long, by 9 inches wide. That wraps a roll about 2 1/2 to 3 inches across. Want it chunkier? Cut 11 inches wide.
- Sew the long seam. Fold fabric right sides together along the long edge. Stitch with a 1/2-inch seam allowance and backstitch at both ends.
- Close one end. Turn the tube right side out. Fold one short end in by 1/2 inch and stitch across, close to the fold. Take your time. It does not have to be perfect.
- Roll the batting. Lay your longest strip flat and roll it tight, jelly-roll style, keeping edges even. Add strips around the outside until the roll is a little fatter than your tube. It will compress going in.
- Test the fit. Slide the roll in from the open end. It should feel snug, not strained. If seams pull hard, peel off one layer. I learned that the hard way.
- Close the open end. Tuck in any poking batting. Fold raw edges in by 1/2 inch, pin, and stitch across close to the fold. Or hand-stitch it closed. Both work just fine.
- Put it to work. Lay it against the bottom of the door and nudge it snug with your foot. Just like that, the cold line under the door is gone.
Tips and Variations
Make a neck roll. Cut your tube 16 to 18 inches long and roll looser. Tie it with ribbon about 2 inches from each end, like a wrapped candy. Super duper cute on a bed.
Add weight. If your stopper wanders, pour a half cup of rice or pellets into each end before adding the roll. The extra heft keeps it planted.
Mix scraps with confidence. Put bamboo on the outside for a smooth surface. Cotton or poly scraps can hide in the center. We're not reinventing the wheel here.
Wash with care. Spot clean first. If it needs a real wash, use cool water on gentle, then air dry flat.
And remember, y'all, you are your own worst critic on a simple project like this. A slightly crooked seam still stops a draft. If I can do this, y'all can do it. Thanks for sewing along with me. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop Quilters Dream Bamboo Batting Package (Available For Pre-Order) — Craft 46" × 36" at Linda's Electric Quilters.
