Crafting Cosy: How to Make Fabric Pear Door Stops from Old Jeans

This simple step-by-step guide lets you create denim door stops shaped like pears. Strong, stylish, and perfect for any room, these DIY door stops are a must-try!

I live in an old Victorian house with many rooms. The Victorians weren’t into open-plan living! And when you’re in a colder climate, having doors is a blessing because it’s so much easier to keep each room cosy. But let’s be honest, having all those doors closed all the time isn’t practical, so I rely on door stops to keep things open.

On the other hand, my son has been using a kettlebell to hold his door open. Functional? Yes. Aesthetic? Not much. Since pears are his favourite fruit, he can quickly devour a whole bag, so I made some pear-shaped denim door stops for his room.

I’ve done my fair share of denim crafts, from flowers to mushrooms, but this is my first go at fruit.

If you’re into crafting, the free fabric pear pattern I’m sharing is super versatile and easily made with other fabrics. Want to make pear-shaped pillows or pin cushions instead? Just adjust the size to fit your project.

Why Door Stops are Handy

You might wonder, “Why bother with door stops?” Well, they’re lifesavers! They keep doors from slamming shut on windy days, let in a breeze, and stay put when you’re carrying groceries. Plus, these denim pears add a fun touch to your decor.

They’re even more essential if you have pets or young kids. They prevent little fingers and paws from getting caught in doors, keeping everyone safe and sound. These denim pear door stops are not just cute but practical, too!

Materials List

• Old Jeans: Enough denim to cut out the panels for your pear shapes.
• Sewing Machine & Thread: A machine makes the job faster, but you can sew by hand.
• Fabric Scissors: Sharp scissors are used to cut the denim.
• Free Fabric Pear Pattern Print Here
• Pins or Fabric Clips: To hold the fabric pieces together while you sew.
• Denim Belt Loop: For the pear stalk.
• Leather Label from Jeans (optional): Create a leaf or use denim scraps.
• Lentils, Rice, or Dried Beans: These add weight to the bottom of the pear.
• Fibre Fill: For stuffing the rest of the pear.
• Needle & Thread: For any hand-sewing required (especially for closing the final seam).

Free Fabric Pear Pattern

For this project, I’ve created two patterns. One is for a tall, slender pear (like the conference variety), and the other is for a shorter, plumper one (think comice pear). Both styles use the same steps, with the main difference being the number of panels.

The conference pear has four panels, giving it that elongated look, while the comice pear has six panels, making it nice and round. To print, click the link in the materials list above.

Making The Pear Shaped Door Stops

I used old jeans for the fabric because denim is durable and perfect for upcycling. The belt loops came in handy, too; they make the ideal sturdy little stalks that you can grab to move the pears around or hang them up when they’re not in use.

Making the Fabric Pear Body

Step 1: Print out the template and draw around the pear shape. Remember to cut out six fabric panels for the fat comice pear and only four for the conference pear.

Step 2: Pin the Panels: Take two panels and pin them together along one of the long sides, with the right sides facing inwards. Using your sewing machine (or by hand), sew along the pinned edge with a 1/4-inch (5 -8mm) seam allowance.

Step 3: Continue Sewing Panels: Add and sew the next panel to the previous one, always keeping the right sides facing in. Continue until all panels are sewn together, forming a pear shape. I find it easier to work in sections, so I will sew two sets of three panels with the Comice pear before joining them.

Leave a Gap: On the final seam, leave a gap of about 5cm (2 inches) halfway up to fill the pear.

Attaching the Stalk and Leaf

I added a denim leaf to one of the pears, but for the other, I thought I’d try something different and use the leather label from the jeans. It adds a bit of contrast and gives each pear its unique character.

Step 4: Turn the fabric right side out. Then, make a leaf for the fabric pear, either out of denim using the template or cut from a leather label. For the denim leaf, sew two shapes together and then turn them right sides out.

Step 5: Unpick a belt loop from the jeans. Then, use it as the pear stalk

Step 6: Hand stitch the leaf and belt loop to the top of the pear.

Step 7: This step is optional, but to neaten up the bottom of my pears. I hand-stitch a button to cover where all the fabric panels meet.

Adding Weight and Stuffing

To ensure these door stops do their job, I filled the bottom part of the pears with lentils. You could use rice, dried beans, or any other small, heavy filling you have on hand. This gives them the weight they need to stay in place. The interior of the pear is stuffed with fibre fill, so it’s soft and squishy, perfect for when you accidentally kick them or they tip over.

Step 8: Place the lentils (beans or rice) in a bag before stuffing them into the pear. Otherwise, things can get a bit messy! Then, stuff the rest of the pear with fiberfill ( I use the stuffing from old pillows).

Step 9: Gently shape your pear into its final shape, ensuring it’s balanced and stands up well. Then, hand sew the hole on the side shut.

You can make the pear door stop from just one pair of jeans legs or use the legs from two pairs to create a two-tone effect.

Conclusion & Related Posts

These little guys fit perfectly into my home decor, blending seamlessly with all my other upcycled denim projects, such as pillows, waistband rugs, and even a denim magazine rack. There’s something so satisfying about turning old jeans into something new and functional; these door stops are no exception.

These door stops are great for keeping doors open and letting air flow. But if you want something to keep cold air out, check out my fun denim draught excluders.

If you’re looking for a fun, creative project that will add a unique touch to your home and prevent your doors from slamming, try these.

And hey, if you’re into craft fairs, these could be a real hit! I’ve got a friend who sells handmade doorstops at fairs, and she does well with them. People love something that’s both cute and practical, especially when it’s made with upcycled materials.

You’ll find many more of my denim creations in this A to Z of denim crafts.