Tuesday 11 October 2011

A comedy make!

Apparently, draft excluders are all the rage.  Could I make them to sell?  Heck, yeah, I say!  I start thinking of a design.  The obvious (and with hindsight, sensible) route is to cut two long rectangles from your chosen fabrics and stitch together, stuffed with something a little weighty. End pieces are optional.   "Too easy" I think  "my draft excluders need to stand out in the saturated draft excluder market.... "

So I set out to ruin a perfectly decent design...

Are you ready for this picture?


Brace yourself....


for the unveiling of....the return of the Hungry Caterpillar!


Stopped laughing? 

Shall I explain? I thought adding gathers and therefore lumps would look interesting...and I also totally  misjudged the size such that only a show-jumper would be able to enter the room if this were in the doorway.

I had an inkling it wasn't right so it was with trepidation that I showed James.....he looked (and his face twitched) and he said that draught excluders were meant to be smaller and not such a "feature" in a room and that I should chalk this up to experience...

Anyone got any ideas on how I can repurpose this?  or do you think there's a market for "ride-along" draught excluders?!

In other news I've taken the plunge into my first ever swap.  I've steered clear of these so far due to the pile of other sewing commitments I've got...but at lunchtime yesterday decided that I'm way more productive when there's deadlines (it's only taken me until 37 to realise this!) so filled in the form and snuck in at the last minute.   For the uninitiated (Mums etc!) a secret swap is where you make something for a partner (in this case a cushion) based on what you think they'll like and someone else (who will be a mystery until the parcel arrives!) will make one for you.   Here's my inspiration mosaic (to help my partner know what I'd like...)



Now I'm excited!
x

17 comments:

  1. Hilarious post C! How about tying plain ribbon round the narrow parts of the bulges? Or go with the same pattern, but this time make it all green and it will look like a pod of peas - you could start your own line in veggie draught excluders!! Don't give up! Jxo

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  2. It took everything I had not to sign up for the swap knowing full well I have taken on too much for the next few months - but I wanted to soooooo much!

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  3. Draughts need not apply to your house! Seriously though it's not that bad I dread to think what one I made would look like, I think the pea pod idea is fab.
    I have just finished a mug rug for a swap and I can't wait to send it off and see the one I get sent, so excited. I took part in a mini quilt swap too it was really good fun, my quilt ended up in America and the one I received was so beautiful. You won't regret it and how wonderful would it be to receive one of your cushions WOW.

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  4. Wonderful post! Lop it in half and stuff it good, then you have 2 back support cushions. For draught excluder mark II go a wee bitty smaller ;-) but do try again cos its genius!

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  5. Hmmm and the drafts would just go through the gather gaps - div!
    Doesn't Felix want a pony?

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  6. I don't really have any suggestions, but I'd go with what Judith or Sarah said :) It's cute though. Swaps are so exciting, have fun with it!

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  7. Draft excluder's are very useful, the more I look at the bumps the better I like it. At least you didn't make those ones that look like dogs, cats or the like and use the legs doing the splits as the "draft" bit, now they are weird xx

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  8. Hee hee, err, no, sorry, no clue, I'd stick with the ride-along idea and set Felix on it...

    Have fun with your swap!

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  9. Great mosaic! Guess you are pillow fighting, cushion capering or combatting!? Have fun!

    The draught excluder is just on a grand scale - send it to Buck House! They have show jumpers visiting so that should be ok!

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  10. Draught excluder is hilair.... I think the only sensible thing to do would be to move to a larger house with bigger doors.

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  11. Great post! If you lop off the bottom four inches of your doors it'll work really well!

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  12. Hi, sorry to post this on yours again, but you said you couldnt reply here (to my comment) because I have a "no reply" on my profile, if its not too much trouble can you tell me how to get this corrected?? xxx

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  13. That draught excluder is amazing! I love it! The best projects are the ones that don't turn out *quite* how you imagine them... ;)

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  14. I like your draught excluder, the fabrics you chose ar estunning and I quite like the caterpillar look! I think you should keep it an use it yourself. Prototypes take a while so keep going with the designing.

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  15. I don't think the draught excluder is too bad at all! Very pretty colours, and it does have to be big enough to exclude the draughts, doesn't it?!

    Pomona x

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  16. Oh my goodness, that was funny! The caterpillar comment and the "feature" are what got me the most. hehehe It's a pretty feature, though. I do like the fabrics a lot! :)

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  17. When I first saw it I thought it was holder for bags, You hang them up and stuff your plastic bags into them. Sorry I know this does'nt help. Love the fabric though :)

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