If you are thinking you'd like to make a draft snake, but don't want to sew, this one fills the bill! It's quick and easy, and so much more attractive than a rolled up towel! No one will ever guess that you didn't get your sewing machine out of the closet for this one!
Our entry hall has tan walls, white trim, oooogly yellow tile floor from the 70s (try to cover that up!), and a bit of dark wood. So that's my color scheme.
All of this really limited me.
- "Free" meant that I had to choose from what I have here.
- No fabric that I really wanted to use, meant that I'd do something with what I've got, with the idea that I could change this snake and salvage the fabric at some point, if wanted.
- No-sew meant I'd be limited to hot glue, and fabric self-ties.
What I found. . .
this piece of tan and white checked wool
my pinking shears
hot glue
rubber bands
4 buttons from my mom's button box (that alone might make me really like this draft snake)
rubber bands
4 buttons from my mom's button box (that alone might make me really like this draft snake)
the last scraps of a comforter, and some dried beans and baggies
First step:
I measured the doorway and added 6 inches to each end. I folded the edges of the fabric in on each end, to achieve this length. I had thought I'd turn under the final long seam edge, that would be on the exterior of the snake, but underneath. I decided not to bother. If the fabric had been a thinner material, I might have turned under this edge and ironed a crease, so it would look more polished.
Second step:
Using pinking shears, I cut wide strips of fabric (some 2-inches wide, for the ends, and some 3-inches wide for the mid section) to use as self-ties on the ends and along the stuffed portion of the snake (to hold it all together, as well as be a decorative touch).
I measured the doorway and added 6 inches to each end. I folded the edges of the fabric in on each end, to achieve this length. I had thought I'd turn under the final long seam edge, that would be on the exterior of the snake, but underneath. I decided not to bother. If the fabric had been a thinner material, I might have turned under this edge and ironed a crease, so it would look more polished.
Second step:
Using pinking shears, I cut wide strips of fabric (some 2-inches wide, for the ends, and some 3-inches wide for the mid section) to use as self-ties on the ends and along the stuffed portion of the snake (to hold it all together, as well as be a decorative touch).
Third step:
I placed the comforter scraps (any batting or stuffing would also work), a couple of inches in from one side edge, all along the snake, leaving 5 inches per end unstuffed (for tying candy-roll style (think wrapped Tootsie Roll).
I filled zippered baggies with dried beans, about 1/2 cup in each. I lined these filled baggies up next to the batting scraps, and added one more length of batting right on top of the baggies, to hold them in place. Then I began rolling the fabric up.
I filled zippered baggies with dried beans, about 1/2 cup in each. I lined these filled baggies up next to the batting scraps, and added one more length of batting right on top of the baggies, to hold them in place. Then I began rolling the fabric up.
Fourth step:
At each end, I slipped a rubber band, to hold it while I tied the 2-inch wide strips. I tied the ends candy-roll style.
Next, I added 4 more self-ties (cut to look like they were buttoned) all down the snake to hold it sealed and give it a finished look. I hot-glued these 4 self-ties closed, then hot-glued the buttons on top. They look like they're buttoned up!
Fifth step:
Sealing up the long seam along the bottom of the draft snake. When the hot-glue had set, I carefully rolled the snake over, and using the hot-glue gun, I "sealed" the long edge of fabric, that would be the seam on the underside, between the self-tied bands, with several short lines of hot glue.
Next, I added 4 more self-ties (cut to look like they were buttoned) all down the snake to hold it sealed and give it a finished look. I hot-glued these 4 self-ties closed, then hot-glued the buttons on top. They look like they're buttoned up!
Fifth step:
Sealing up the long seam along the bottom of the draft snake. When the hot-glue had set, I carefully rolled the snake over, and using the hot-glue gun, I "sealed" the long edge of fabric, that would be the seam on the underside, between the self-tied bands, with several short lines of hot glue.
Voila! One totally free, no-sew, fabric reusable, made in just over 30 minutes, draft snake!
Will the hot glue hold as well as a sewn draft snake? Probably not. But "repairing" with more hot glue is no problem. And I may just take a needle and thread to this some day, and hand stitch the seam with a running stitch, all down the length of the seam, if it seems like it will bother me. But for now, a super easy no-sew draft snake!
*update -- I've now used this snake for 4 winters, and it's still holding together as well as the day I made it!
Will the hot glue hold as well as a sewn draft snake? Probably not. But "repairing" with more hot glue is no problem. And I may just take a needle and thread to this some day, and hand stitch the seam with a running stitch, all down the length of the seam, if it seems like it will bother me. But for now, a super easy no-sew draft snake!
*update -- I've now used this snake for 4 winters, and it's still holding together as well as the day I made it!
