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One of the most convenient features on Steph's porch is a magnetic screen door we modified to fit into the screen door. With it, Steph's dog, Tosh, and her doggie friends can go in and out without assistance.
The current edition of the screen door has been faded and weakened by the Florida sun. It was time to make a new one!
When looking for a pre-made magnetic screen door to modify, we found that this particular one comes in various widths. By getting the correct width, we'll only have to tailor the length.
To modify the length, I laid the screen door on top of my sewing mat, matching up the lines at the top so I could use the guide lines to help me cut. Those yellow things are pattern weights. I'm using them to weigh down the screen to keep it in place. You can also use cans, large washers, books, etc, to accomplish the same thing.
This graphic shows the length we need for the screen door opening.
I chalked the screen and cut it out. I used a sewing chalk called Tailor's Chalk which is a different consistency and shape than sidewalk chalk. Although, in a pinch, you could use it.
To finish the bottom cut edge, we're going to remove about two inches from the finished hem and sew it onto to the cut edge. I folded up the hem and then cut next to the folded up edge to give me the length I needed. These are Sewing Clips which are handy for when something can not be pinned.
The cutting was done in two steps. First I cut each side, stopping at the middle due to a magnet that needed to be removed before cutting all the way through.
The magnets in the center of the door appear to be in a lining so I had to cut through two layers in order to get the magnet out.
Once the magnet was removed I was able to cut all the way through.
After taking care of the raw edges (see video), I laid the hem piece over the cut edge of the bottom using clips to keep it in place.
I'm using a zig zag stitch at a 3 length and a 4 width with a 90 gauge needle along with heavy duty upholstery thread. This is a Janome Sewist 725S sewing machine.
Basically, I'm appliquéing the hem piece over the cut bottom edge.
Here I'm stitching the side edge as the last step.
This is what it looks like when it's finished. There's a weight in the bottom. You can see it near the right edge. Push that as far away from the stitching as possible and continue to stitch across the bottom. It's tricky but it is possible.
Because of the magnet in the center near the bottom, this finishing had to be hand sewn.
Here it is finished and ready to be taken to Steph's house to fit into the screen door opening.
The velcro was still in good condition on the door frame so we just used it. If you're starting from scratch, use the self-adhesive velcro that comes with your new door to attach to the door frame.
We thought Tosh would have a little hesitation with the new door insert, but she moved through like it was old news!
Marty, one of Tosh's doggie friends, had no trouble either!
And, Niles, sailed through with no effort!
I'm sure we will be revising this in two or three years as the weather is so hard on fabrics. But it is still the best solution we have found for giving the dogs easy access to the backyard.
Having made this three times, I can tell you this version was so simple. The first time, the insert was made from scratch, the second, I modified an existing door that was not the correct width. That one had to be modified on the sides and bottom which was a lot of work.
This alliteration was the easiest yet. I wouldn't hesitate to tackle this again! Please note: This is not a sponsored post. FYI: We are not professionals, and we don't claim to be. This is what we found worked for our project. Yours may need a little different approach. Safety first! FYI: Affiliate links are being used on this page. Purchasing via these links help support MDP. Related Projects
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