keeping out the draft

I had big crafting plans for today, but a few draft snakes* had to take precedence at the sewing machine. When I rearranged our living room earlier this fall, I failed to take into account just how chilly it would be to sit on the sofa under the trio of (charming, but not weather-proofed) casement windows. I'm going to make some for Jack's office too (another historic drafty building) and those need to be four feet, eight inches long. Quite a snake.

It was snowy this morning, and this afternoon, it's clear and cold - my favorite weather. While having coffee with the kind and funny Melissa this morning, I kept looking out the window and seeing these fat snowflakes floating about, and it made me really happy. It's a relatively unusual sight around here. Melissa sent me home with one of her fabric boxes; it's really lovely and simple and just my style (and a good place to store M&M's paper-chain-in-progress). Thanks Melissa! 

* I made my draft snakes by sewing a tube that is as long as the window is wide (I used some wool, but any fabric would work). I turned it right side out and filled it with rice (I think people usually use sand, but I didn't have any) and sewed the opening closed.

Comments

[ashb]

what a great idea! draft snakes :)
I could really use some draft snakes, our windows are very old in our home too. I'd make them myself but our windows are 81 inches wide, I don't have that much patience for a snake! They make beautiful picture windows though!

xoash

[melissa f.]

it WAS a happy morning! thanks again, stephanie.

[chanel]

have just stumbled on your blog, you are so clever!

[Briana]

How do you make a draft snake? I could probably use one or five at my drafty old 1929 craftsman duplex.

[sally]

How funny. I am in the middle of making two "dinosaurs" to sit in front of the boys' bedroom doors.

Love your new fabric box!

[tut-tut]

I like your snake; though we've always called these "draft dodgers." What holds up the sides of the fabric box?

[Blair]

snakes of the best kind, we need some here. Buckets of snow!!

[sprizee]

What material do you use to stuff your snakes?

[traci]

i love the colors of this post. the muted grays, greens and blues. exactly how i picture the start of winter in my mind. i love this time of year, when we start being inside our home more consistently and wrap up in warm wooly blankets. my knitting always makes a spike and every year i pretend i'll knit us all socks. maybe this year i'll stop pretending and do. and while i'm at it those snakes would work quite nicely in my 100 year old drafty home. thanks for the calm inspiration steph.

[Sarah van Wijck]

Just popping by to say how inspiring you are. Your photos, your craft...everything is just gorgeous.

[Michelle]

I'm wondering if the rice will mold with the moisture that happens on old windows. I guess this sounds like I'm projecting a bummer, but I'm just thinking out loud 'cause I need to make some, too. Maybe it's just our bedroom windows that get the condensation.

[sunshine]

I have made one of those before we used it for my door at my old house somehow it got lost in the last move. I should make another draft dodger for this house my front door is horrific for leaking in cold air.

[jerusha]

what a great idea! so inspiring, thank you.

[Briana]

Thanks for the information on how-to! I will get around to this after I finish my Christmas hand-mades! Thanks!

[silvia]

i am portuguese and i dont speak english very well (i`m sorry )but i just want to say you that you can`t imagine how your blog is important for me.i have a husband and two daughters and with your blog i can see another world with a lot of differences but with some kind of things equal.i was a little bit lost between the girls,house and a little shop that i have.....miss something...maybe inspiration for something that i can`t realize i can do , for something that the most people here don`t prize.thank you

[Jennifer]

I need to make like 20 of those! Great idea.

[hannah]

oh how i wish i could have shared a cup with you two. dang, i just sent all my woolens to blair...

[mary]

another brilliant idea, stephanie. i need to do the same with our windows. same situation: three big windows just over the sofa. we've talked about getting new windows, but I really love the casement windows. They're so much more appropriate for the house.

[jenny vorwaller]

hi stephanie,

so far our christmas decor consists of a max paper chain across our mantel :) your imagery of snow is lovely, i can almost see it swirling outside a chilly window...

[angelique]

Hey, I just have to chime in in my professional capacity as a historic preservationist to say good for you, and Mary above, for coming up with an old-fashioned solution to your old-fashioned windows and not jumping to the conclusion that they must be replaced. With an architect for a husband, you probably know all the good reasons not to shuck old windows, but if you ever need it, I'll be happy to treat you to my entire diatribe!

Your house, as always, is beautiful.

[lsaspacey]

I'm in the process of making some draft dodgers right now! I'm using aquarium rocks in mine. They're going to be really heavy but I don't want any chance of the cold air getting in.