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Sew a doorstop in under 30 minutes

16.12.2020 by Sabine Schmidt

Türstopper nähen in unter 30 Minuten

Sew a doorstop: Even beginners can easily sew a practical doorstop themselves using a piece of felt and a piece of ribbon. With a free pattern and detailed instructions.

The most important things at a glance

  • Doorstops are practical because they prevent doors from slamming shut in a decorative way
  • The doorstop is simply hung with the loop around the door handle on one side and tied around the handle on the other side of the door
  • It can be sewn from felt, leather, cork, faux leather, SnapPap, and many other materials
  • You can download the pattern here in the post
  • Sewing time: under 30 min.

Sewing a doorstop for beginners

I really love sewing for my home. And I am always happy about my self-sewn and crafted creations. For example, colorful cushions or my boho macramé plant hangers. Or beautiful seasonal decorations like folded stars or Easter baskets.

Doorstops are not just super practical – they are also the perfect last-minute gift for loved ones. And not just for cat owners.

Up here in the north, it can often be quite stormy. With the doorstop, I can prevent the doors from slamming shut when airing out the rooms.

That's why I've conjured up beautiful DIY doorstops for all the doors. Since then, nothing slams anymore. :)

Doorstops can also be used effectively as pinch guards for toddlers. This way, little fingers are well protected.

But doorstops are also ideal for your four-legged roommates, because they keep the doors open for them.

Materials for sewing the doorstop

The doorstop is finished with raw edges. Therefore, firm materials that create nice cut edges are particularly suitable.

The following fabrics, for example, work well for this sewing idea:

If you would like to sew the doorstop out of jeans, for example, that works great too! Cut it with a 1 cm seam allowance and finish the edges with pinking shears after sewing. This will fray a little over time and looks casual.

In this way, you can perfectly upcycle your worn jeans and do something for the environment at the same time.

Sewing a doorstop: Which filling is the right one?

To ensure the doorstop is nice and firm, it should be stuffed as well as possible with filling material. Particularly suitable are

Important accessories to sew the doorstop

Where can I download the pattern?

Click here for the free pattern download

Note: The pattern contains two pieces for "straps," which you can use to make loops and ties out of cord, leather scraps, or grosgrain ribbon as you please.

You don't have to stitch the grosgrain ribbon over the entire width, but can simply insert the straps or loops when sewing together and catch them in the seam.

So, how do you like the practical doorstop?

By the way, it's also great if you have a cat or a dog... ;) You can also sew seasonal doorstops for Christmas or Easter. Super cute and an absolute eye-catcher!

But you probably have your own ideas too, right? :)

Happy simple sewing,

your Sabine

Sewing a doorstop

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I sew a doorstop as a beginner?

The doorstop is simply sewn together with raw edges after it has been filled and provided with ribbons. This is quick and can be done in no time, even for beginners.

Why should I sew a doorstop?

Doorstops are extremely useful when it comes to keeping doors slightly open. They are suitable as a pinch guard for small children's hands, or to keep doors open for cats and other pets.

What do I need to sew a doorstop?

You need a little fabric of your choice, e.g., felt or cork fabric. In addition, you only need a little stuffing and a piece of ribbon.

How long does it take to sew a doorstop?

Including cutting the fabric, you will need about 30 minutes.

Which fabric is suitable for a doorstop?

The doorstop is finished with raw edges. Felt, leather, cork, or SnapPap are ideal materials for this type of construction.

Links marked with * are affiliate links: If you make a purchase through them, we receive a small commission. The price remains the same for you.

Step-by-step instructions

Sew a doorstop

The door stop is sewn from felt (or another sturdy material) with raw edges. Click here to download the free sewing pattern. Sewing time: under 30 min.

  1. Step

    Prepare the cut pieces

    You need:

    • 1 pattern piece made of felt or another material of your choice
    • 1 loop piece and 2 ties, e.g. woven ribbon, grosgrain ribbon or bias binding edgestitched closed
    • Alternatively: 1.40 m grosgrain ribbon or woven ribbon (if the ribbon is to be sewn all the way around as in the example)
    • approx. 20 - 25 g stuffing
    Prepare the cut pieces
  2. Step

    Mark the front

    Mark a line on the felt piece for sewing on the ribbon.

    The line should be 5.5 - 6 cm from one of the edges, depending on the width of the ribbon.

    Mark the front
  3. Step

    Mark the back and apply Wondertape

    Mark a line at the same height on the back.

    Stick a strip of Wondertape a little away from the line on the front and back.

    Mark the back and apply Wondertape
  4. Step

    Adjust the loop length

    You can vary the length of the loop a little depending on the thickness of the door.

    Adjust the loop length
  5. Step

    Stick the ribbon onto the felt

    Stick the ribbon onto the felt along the line on the front and back. Leave a loop at one end.

    At the other end you should end up with two ties of equal length.

    Stick the ribbon onto the felt
  6. Step

    Topstitch the ribbon

    Line up the ribbon accurately and topstitch it in place from the top with a seam allowance of 2 - 3 mm. This works very well with an edge stitching foot, for example.

    Topstitch the ribbon
  7. Step

    Stuff the door stopper

    Fold the long sides wrong sides together and start stuffing the door stopper with stuffing.

    Stuff the door stopper
  8. Step

    Pin the edges together

    Pin the edges together, aligned, with pins or fabric clips.

    Pin the edges together
  9. Step

    Close the edges

    Close the edges with a straight stitch and a seam allowance of 3 - 4 mm.

    Close the edges
  10. Step

    Sew up to the corners

    Sew the open edges together up to the corners and lock the seam.

    Sew up to the corners
  11. Step

    Seal the ribbon ends

    If the ends of the ribbons tend to fray, you can seal them with a lighter.

    Seal the ribbon ends
  12. Step

    Put the door stopper to use – done

    Now you can already put your door stopper to use.

    Put the door stopper to use – done

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About the author

Sabine

I come from Siegen-Wittgenstein, where I spent my childhood breaking in cows, jumping off haystacks and scraping a D- in needlework class.

Today, being creative feels like indescribable happiness to me – and it grows even more when I can share it with others. Since 2016 I have been celebrating my passion for sewing on this blog, and I love that sewing connects so many people.