I keep seeing these fabric doorstops all over the place: at Spitalfields market, at my favourite local fancy goods store, but I am cheap and I thought I should make my own (of course!), but I am also lazy and it has taken me a while to get round to it…

I used the template in Simple Sewing as a base pattern but I made a change to the construction. Christmas looms like a big scary loomy thing, and I think these would make a nice gift – they’re pretty, practical and quick to make – but trying to post one to someone would be ruinously expensive if they are full of beans already.

So instead of having the bottom made of one piece of fabric I gave it an overlapping flap. I thought about using a zip to fasten it, but settled on Velcro. I have faith in Velcro. Isaac was not so sure, but we filled it, well not full, because we didn’t have enough rice, but mostly full. And then I happily hoisted it off the table and swung it around, much to Isaac’s horror.

But it held, and let’s face it, all the time it spends on the floor is going to press the Velcro even closer together. This one is staying with me – I’ve been propping my door open with a fan for two years – but Isaac has requested a slightly smaller one for his office door. That’ll give the cat something nice to bash into when she goes hurtling down the hall.