Door Latch Cover Tutorial

Recently, I made some of these door latch covers. This allows us to have the door locked at all times and in case of a lockdown we can just pull it off instead of having to worry about getting keys and standing in the hall while locking the door. 

I've also seen these used in smaller kids' rooms so it doesn't make a noise when you close the door or so the child can't lock the door.

I tried a couple of different versions and ended up liking this one the best. Here is how you can make your own!

You will need: 

• small scrap of sturdy fabric (I used canvas)
• small scrap of cute fabric
• 2 hair ties (thicker ones work best)
• matching thread
• pins

First you are going to cut your fabric. I cut my canvas to 6" by 5" and the chevron fabric to 3"x5". The canvas fabric will be folded over so its double and provides more thickness for holding the latch in.  You can use a 3x5 index card for reference if you like.

(I tried various thicknesses and sizes but found the double thickness canvas with one layer of cotton to be perfect for our doors. Not too thick but enough to keep the latch from locking.)

After cutting out your pieces, you're going to squish a hair tie at one end (I preferred to put the glued section in the middle of the small section so that if it were to stretch out it would be inside of the pouch.)

I found it easiest to stick a pin to hold it in place - it works best if you do one side at a time and have it on a hard surface to push down on. Be careful not to poke yourself!

 Both hair ties will be done and should look like this.

Next, you're going to make the sandwich of your fabric and hair ties. You'll put the canvas (no real outside/inside but if your fabric does you'll want the right side facing up). Then you'll put your hair ties with the little section we pinned off just barely off the short sides of the fabric. Then you'll put the right side of the cotton fabric down, facing the canvas. 

You may then want to secure the hair ties in place with pins so they remain relatively centered.

Once everything is pinned you're going to sew around the outside of the fabric. I followed the outside of my presser foot. When you are going over the elastics be sure to slow down and backstitch a few times so that they are really secure.

Leave a 2 inch opening on one side so that you can turn it right side out.

Clip the corners so they are less bulky after you've turned your cover.

Turn the cover right side out (use the elastics to your advantage!). Poke out the corners so they look nice and are turned all the way.

Pin the unsewed side so that it is folded under. 

Top stitch around the whole cover (You could also backstitch again over the elastics if you want). 

Put one elastic on each door knob and there you go! The door remains closed but can be pushed open if needed!

I really struggled at first thinking that the cover needed to be tight enough to keep the latch completely in. This is not the case, it just needs to keep it from going into the strike plate completely. Some doors are going to be a tighter fit than others. With the double layer of canvas it allowed it to be strong but not too bulky that the door won't close.

I'd love to see how yours turn out!

Enjoy!

For more tips & classroom ideas visit my website:
www.missbrylie.com