Sew Fabric Draft Snakes in 1 Hour for $15
A draft snake only works if it is filled firmly enough to sit flush against the door bottom, so the fill weight is what makes or breaks it.
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The first time I stuffed a draft snake, it slumped into a sad, lumpy noodle that left a gap you could slide a hand through. The difference between a draft snake that blocks cold air and one that does nothing comes down to fill density. Cold air moves along the floor through any gap, so the tube has to be packed firmly enough to hold its round shape and press flush against both the door bottom and the floor. Loose fill compresses, flattens, and leaves a channel for air to slip through. A tightly packed tube of long-grain rice and flannel fixes that. Total cost is about $15, and you can finish it in about 1 hour with only a basic straight stitch and no pattern.
What You'll Need
- Materials (~$15 total):
- 1 yard of tightly woven flannel or cotton fabric, ~$6
- 5 lbs of dry long-grain white rice, ~$5
- Matching all-purpose polyester thread, ~$3
- 1 cup of poly-fil or fiberfill (optional, for the ends), ~$1 or use scraps
- Tools:
- Sewing machine or needle for hand stitching
- Fabric scissors
- Tape measure and straight pins
- Kitchen funnel (or a rolled sheet of paper)
- Measuring cup
How to Do It
- Measure the width of your door, then add 1 inch. Your snake needs to span the full width or cold air will sneak around the ends.
- Cut a fabric rectangle that is that length by 10 inches wide. This width gives a tube about 3 inches across, tall enough to seal but not so bulky it blocks the door swing.
- Fold the fabric in half lengthwise with the right sides together and pin the long edge. Pinning keeps the layers from shifting, which would leave a twisted tube that sits crooked.
- Sew along the long edge with a 1/2-inch seam, then sew across one short end. Backstitch at both ends, since the rice puts real stress on these seams.
- Turn the tube right side out and press the seams flat. A crisp seam gives you a cleaner shape and makes the filling go in more evenly.
- Fill the tube with rice using the funnel, about 1 cup at a time, shaking it down as you go. Pack it firmly so it holds a round shape and does not slump. Fill to about 90 percent full.
- Close the open end by folding the raw edge in 1/2 inch and topstitching twice. Double stitching stops rice from leaking out over months of use.
- Place the snake flush against the bottom of your door on the cold side. Press it down slightly to check the seal and shift as needed until no light or air passes under.
Upholsterers and sewing instructors often split a tube into 6-inch sections by sewing a straight line across it before filling. Each section holds its rice in place, so the weight cannot slide to one end, and the snake stays evenly distributed and flush along the whole door bottom.
