Are you fed up of having a draughty house? You are most definitely not alone. Before I lived in this house, I lived in the draughtiest house I have ever been in. I ended up using a staple gun to staple blankets to the bay window to conserve heat. Of course, I had to make a draught excluder or two.
We had gas heating so as long as the doors were closed and I had the curtains closed, it got quite warm but who wants to deal with that?!
I’m very lucky that now I only need to put a couple of draught excluders down to keep the heat inside the rooms.I am looking forward to getting one of those smart meters that are being installed for free at the moment until 2020.
How To Make A Draught Excluder
They measure exactly how much gas and electricity you’re using. I am convinced that I could save a fortune! Even if it isn’t actually a fortune, every penny counts. Smart Energy GB has all the information you need about smart meters and getting one in your home.
Supplies you will need to make this draught excluder:
- 36"x18" Strong Cotton Duck Fabric (I Used Cath Kidston which you can get via ebay)
- Pinking Shears (cutting zig zag reduces fraying)
- Clover Water Soluble Pencil Assortment
- Singer 60-Inch Tape Measure
- Sewing Pins
- Janome Pink Lightning Basic, Easy-to-Use, 10-Stitch Portable, Compact Sewing Machine with Free Arm only 5 pounds
- Polyester Fiber
- 2 Colours of Yarn
- Clover Pom Pom Maker
- Tapestry Needle
- Scissors to cut thread and yarn
- Iron and ironing board (not shown)
How To:
- Measure the width of your door. I wanted to cover the draughts underneath and coming through the gaps underneath the hinges. Mine measured 36”x18”
- Iron your material.
- Create a template or measure straight onto the fabric and mark out 36”x18”.
- Then cut.
- Fold in half and press with the iron.
- Pin all sides together. I pinned both ends to ensure it wouldn’t move while it was going through the sewing machine but you will only sew along the length and one end.
- Sew.
- Turn inside out and stuff with toy stuffing.
- Take the very ends and fold the top down, press and pin.
- Stitch closed
- Make your pom poms - the width of the ends could take 4 large pom poms.
- Use a tapestry needle and yarn to stitch the pom poms onto the edges.
- Et voila!
Now you know how to make a draught excluder of your very own, you could make one for every door in your home and save a fortune!
You can even measure exactly how much energy you are using with a smart meter and by adopting small energy saving tips you can really make a difference
Do you have any decorating ideas to add onto a simple draught excluder? For example; the pom poms I added above. Let me know in the comments below!
