Like most in the United States right now, we are experiencing an Arctic freeze. Temperatures here in Texas have dropped to the teens and are expected to continue there for several days. Our home is generally well protected for hurricanes, but not necessarily for cold weather. I went to a University in the Midwest, so I am familiar with colder temperatures and unique ways to stay warm.
We have hardwood floors in our living room and as the temperatures began to drop it was evident that our doors could use a little more insulation. I decided to make some draft door stoppers to minimize the seepage of cold air in, and the escape of hot air through the cracks of the base of our doors.
I have seen these in use before and now is the right time to make my own. I don't anticipate much traffic through our doors because we plan to enjoy cozy family time at home. I however, did not want to contend with repositioning the stopper every time someone opens and closes the door. My version uses self adhesive hooks and ribbon loops to attach the stopper to the door. Install once and done.
Here is a quick tutorial on how I did it.
I made one with a fun red plaid from my stash and another with machine embroidery and Luxe Cuddle. I use my Baby Lock Altair to customize the text I wanted.
For a festive touch, I uploaded and added a JPEG image and had the Altair IQ Designer automatically digitize it for me.
To embroider, I used a pressure sensitive sticky stabilizer to support the Luxe cuddle without having to add the top hoop. Is a good option for hard to hoop fabrics and when you don't want a hoop impression on the fibers of the fabric. It's difficult to see in this photo, but I also added a water soluble topper to the Luxe Cuddle. This topper allows the embroidery to stitch out on top of the pile of the fabric instead of sinking into it getting lost.
I chose to embroider the text with a fun metallic thread for a little added sparkle.
After embroidering, I continued the construction as indicated in the tutorial above.
It has made such a difference to the temperature of our house. These were fairly quick and easy to make and install. I love that the covers are removable for a décor change and washing.
If you are overwhelmed with your holiday making, here's a quick and easy no-sew option for windows. Grab a king size pillowcase (or the leg of a pair of outgrown jeans), several yards of fabric that can be rolled to the length of the pillowcase, and double-sided tape.
Insert the fabric roll down one side of the pillowcase. Apply double-sided tape to the opening and press closed.
Roll the excess fabric over the fabric roll inside the pillowcase. Once you have a tight roll, apply double-sided tape to the flap and press seal closed.
Set the window stopper in place. When warmer temperatures return, remove the double-sided tape and you can reuse your pillowcase and fabric roll.
Stay warm out there and happy sewing,Bianca