"Twist and Shout Draft Excluder" - Free Cushion Crochet Pattern For Home in Paintbox Yarns Recycled T-Shirt by Paintbox Yarns

Twist and Shout Draft Excluder: Free Crochet Pattern Overview

The Twist and Shout Draft Excluder is a free, beginner-friendly crochet pattern designed by Paintbox Yarns. Despite being listed under cushions, this project is specifically a draft excluder — a long, stuffed tube placed at the base of a door to block cold air drafts. The finished item measures 17 cm (7 in) wide and 69 cm (27 in) long, making it a practical and decorative addition to any home. With its bold colorwork and chunky construction, it works up quickly and makes an ideal project for those new to crochet who want a satisfying, functional result.

Design and Colorwork

The pattern features a striking multi-color design worked in three distinct shades, giving the excluder its playful, eye-catching character. The three colors used are:

• Color A – Mid Blue Shades
• Color B – Bold Yellow Shades
• Color C – White Shades

The combination of bold yellow, mid blue, and white creates a vibrant, graphic contrast that suits contemporary and eclectic home interiors. The color-striped or twisted construction implied by the name Twist and Shout gives the finished piece a dynamic, lively appearance that elevates it beyond a purely functional object into a decorative home accessory.

Techniques and Construction Method

The draft excluder is constructed using the worked in the round technique, meaning the crochet fabric is formed as a continuous tube rather than flat panels that are seamed together. This approach is particularly well-suited to making a draft excluder, as it naturally creates a hollow cylindrical shape that can be stuffed to achieve a firm, rounded form.

Working in the Round

Crocheting in the round is a fundamental technique in which stitches are joined at the end of each round to form a seamless circle or tube. This method eliminates the need for side seams and produces a neat, professional finish on both the inside and outside of the work. For beginners, working in the round with a super chunky yarn on a large hook is especially forgiving, as the large stitches are easy to see and count.

Primary Stitch

The main stitch used throughout the pattern is the double crochet (UK terminology), which is equivalent to the single crochet in US terminology. This is one of the most fundamental crochet stitches, creating a tight, dense fabric that is ideal for a stuffed item like a draft excluder, as it prevents the stuffing from showing through and gives the finished piece good structure and durability.

The pattern is written in UK crochet terminology, with US equivalents provided in italics within round brackets throughout the instructions, making it accessible to crocheters from both traditions.

Materials

Yarn

The recommended yarn is Paintbox Yarns Recycled T-Shirt, a super chunky weight yarn. This yarn is made from recycled textile materials, giving the project an eco-conscious appeal. Its thick, tape-like construction works up rapidly on a large hook and produces a chunky, robust fabric perfectly suited to a hardworking home accessory like a draft excluder. The pattern requires 800g in total, split across the three colorways: one ball each of Mid Blue Shades, Bold Yellow Shades, and White Shades.

Paintbox Yarns notes that they cannot accept responsibility for the finished item if any yarn other than the recommended yarn is used, and that yarn quantities are based on average requirements and are therefore approximate.

Hook

The pattern calls for a 10mm crochet hook, which corresponds to UK size 000 and US size N/15. This is a large hook appropriate for super chunky yarn and helps achieve the correct tension efficiently.

Additional Materials

• Stuffing — required to fill the tube and give the draft excluder its firm, rounded shape once the crochet is complete.

Tension (Gauge)

The stated tension for this pattern is 7.5 stitches and 8 rows to 10 cm (4