Project

Draft Dodger

Source: The Martha Stewart Show, January 2009

Introduction

Be sure to make a draft dodger to keep your heating bill down -- it's a great way to save money.

Resources

We used Yesterday's News cat litter, which is made from recycled newspaper, 99.7 percent dust free, and moisture absorbent. It is available at most pet-supply stores. Wood-grain fabric by Joel Dewberry, "Ginseng" collection, available at quilthome.com.

materials

Measuring tape

Decorative cotton fabric

Draft dodger template

Rotary cutter and scissors

Sewing pins

Sewing machine

Iron

Scissors

Hand-sewing needle and thread

Recycled newspaper cat litter

steps

Measure the width of door or window.
Cut a piece of fabric that is 9 1/4 inches wide by the measurement that was taken. Cut two 3 1/4-inch circles (template provided) from fabric.
Fold rectangular piece of fabric in half lengthwise, right sides facing, and pin raw edges together. Sew along the length of the open side with a 1/4-inch seam allowance, creating a long tube. Somewhere in the middle of the tube, leave about a 4-inch gap in the stitching. Backstitch at both sides of the gap, as this will be the opening for turning the draft dodger right-side out later.
Press the long tube flat, with the seam in the center. Press seam open.
Press circles in half, then in half again. Open. Lining up the creases in the circles with the creases in the ends of the tube, pin circles into each end of the tube, with right sides facing in.
Baste the circles into place with a needle and thread, and remove pins. (The extra step of basting makes machine-sewing these small pieces easier.)
Machine-sew each circle end to the tube with a 1/4-seam allowance. Remove basting.
Turn tube right side out and fill with cat litter.
Stitch opening closed with needle and coordinating thread.