No-sew draft snake : it's no. 3 and it was free!

So, I've been needing to make the 3rd and final draft snake this month (for the entry hall). But I've been more than reluctant. First of all, I want this to be no or low-cost, after all, I'm trying to save money with a draft snake. Why spend money to make this?! Second, my supplies of large scraps of fabric are dwindling, and I did not have something that I really wanted to use. And third, I'm just not in a sew and stuff "mood". And I wanted to make this in under 45 minutes, which I definitely did! Just over 30 minutes, once I found all my supplies.

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)

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).

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.

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.

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! 

(See No. 1 draft snake                         and           draft snake no. 2).

Using what you have

Wednesday afternoon, I had one mood collide with another mood. I wanted to "purge" parts of the house, while at the same time be productive in some way.

I went through drawers and cabinets, trying to get rid of something from each area. I retired 3 very holey tee-shirts, and 1 equally holey fleece jacket. I had been in a store the week before, took my winter coat off to try on a new fleece jacket, only to feel embarrassed at the state of my tee shirt underneath. Yikes! I'd worn one of my "only around the house" shirts out in public! So, got rid of the worst of the worst.

Recycled a bunch of product boxes (why do I save these things?).

Found loads of bars of soap (and I thought we were about out of soap -- silly me). These are bars that I've received as gifts over the years. I put them in drawers to add fragrance. Well, it's time to begin using them. We now have the most lovely of soap in all of the soap trays!

I also found this vase, this candle and this part of my sea glass collection (the browns and whites). I set the candle aside for the day.

Then back to that store where I'd tried on the fleece jacket while wearing the holey shirt. I happened to pass some nice glass candle holders. And I thought to myself, "now that's what I need for the candle that I found!" I was ready to buy one of those holders when I remembered that glass vase. Candle, vase -- I think I may have something here. Now if only I had something to set the candle on inside the vase, that would complete the look. Aha! The sea glass collection that's been gathering dust all these years!


Putting the three together, I now have a nice candle in a holder, for the coffee table in the living room, all using what I had!

What fun things have you done lately using what you have?