Buzz
Ugly Christmas sweater gatherings are a beloved holiday tradition. Fortunately, it doesn't require much effort or money to fashion a memorable sweater that might just snag you the prestigious title of having the 'ugliest sweater.' Head over to your nearby thrift, craft, and discount stores to gather your materials. You'll need a sweater, ornaments, bows, garland, and a trusty hot glue gun. Whether you opt for a garland-covered monstrosity or use Christmas-themed neckties to elevate your sweater's tackiness, let your imagination run wild. Remember, there's no right or wrong way to embellish your sweater!
Steps
Adorning Your Sweater with Baubles and Bows
Pick out a sweater with a dense knit to make hanging ornaments easier. Opt for a thicker weave if you plan to wear the sweater again sans decorations. A thicker knit will facilitate attaching and detaching ornaments without damaging the fabric. Choose a sweater in a festive Christmas hue like green or red, or go for a more subdued look with brown or tan. A looser-fitting sweater is preferable for this project as it allows more freedom of movement. Head to a thrift store for a wide selection of suitable sweaters.
Pro Tip: If you're struggling to find the perfect sweater, consider crafting an ugly Christmas vest instead.
Collect a variety of ornaments and an array of bows. Opt for ornaments that you wouldn't mind getting a little beat up. Secondhand stores often have sets of vintage ornaments, or you can snag budget-friendly packs at discount stores. For bows, go for stick-on gift wrap bows, fabric ones, or get crafty and make your own bows using wire-edged ribbon instructions here.
- Grab between 15-30 ornaments for your sweater. They don't need to match, and they don't need to be particularly attractive.
- For extra pizzazz, opt for glittery ornaments. They'll add some sparkle to your ensemble and catch the light, ensuring you're the life of the party.
Arrange the sweater on a flat surface to map out ornament placement. Experiment with placement before committing. Consider adorning the collar, sleeves, or hemline. You could also cover the entire sweater for maximum impact.
- For this type of ugly sweater, focus on decorating the front only. Decorating the back increases the risk of accidentally breaking ornaments when sitting or leaning.
Secure the ornaments and bows using hooks or wire. Once you're satisfied with the layout, thread hooks or wire through the ornament holes, then through the sweater, and secure them tightly.
- If you're using adhesive bows, hooks aren't necessary.
Pro Tip: Concerned about pricks from hooks and wire? Use a hot glue gun to affix your ornaments and bows. Keep in mind, though, that this method makes the sweater less reusable, but it'll be a hit at your party!
Put your sweater on carefully to avoid dislodging any ornaments. Slide your arms through first and then lower the sweater slowly and gently. If necessary, enlist the help of a friend!
- When you're ready to call it a night, simply remove the sweater. If you want to salvage some ornaments, remove them beforehand.
Creating a Gaudy Sweater with Garland
Shop for an affordable sweater or cardigan at a thrift store. The sweater's color doesn't matter much since it will be covered entirely with garland. However, if you're concerned about the base color showing through, opt for red, green, or black.
- If you opt for a cardigan, ensure you have a red, green, white, or black T-shirt to wear underneath.
Collect several yards of garland in different colors. Choose from green, red, gold, silver, or mix and match! Make sure you have enough to wrap around the entire sweater, including the sleeves.
- Garland can be found at craft stores or dollar stores.
Use a hot glue gun to blanket the sweater with garland. Lay the sweater flat and apply hot glue to a section at the bottom. Press the garland onto the glued area. Repeat this process, section by section, until the entire sweater is covered.
- Hot glue sets quickly, so work efficiently. Each section should be secured within 1-2 minutes of applying the glue. For optimal results, allow the sweater to dry for at least 30 minutes before wearing.
- Don't forget to garland each sleeve individually.
Elevate your sweater's flashiness by incorporating ornaments and bows. Once the garland is securely in place, use a glue gun to attach ornaments to the sweater. Baubles or balls work well and contrast nicely with the shimmer of the garland. You can also add candy canes, pompoms, or other small decorative items for extra flair.
- Let your creativity flow when decorating your sweater. There's no limit to what you can do!
Transforming Into a Living Christmas Tree
Opt for a green sweater to serve as the backdrop for your tree. If you're willing to retire a sweater from your wardrobe, use one you already own. Alternatively, visit a thrift store to find a pre-loved green sweater.
- Any shade of green works for this project. Bright green adds a pop of color, while dark green offers a more realistic tree-like appearance.
Secure strands of garland around the sweater using a hot glue gun. Choose silver, gold, or red garland for a festive touch. Starting from the bottom, wrap the garland around the sweater in an upward spiral, mimicking the pattern of a real Christmas tree. Apply hot glue to the sweater and press the garland into place. Allow the glue to dry fully for about 30 minutes before proceeding to the next steps.
- Don't forget to adorn the sleeves with garland as well.
- Depending on the amount of garland you have, you can decorate just the front or both the front and back of the sweater.
Add a few ornaments along each strand of garland. Use the hot glue gun to attach eye-catching ornaments to the garland. Focus on decorating the front of the sweater to prevent ornaments from breaking when sitting or leaning against surfaces.
Pro Tip: Illuminate your sweater by incorporating LED lights powered by battery packs. Opt for plain white bulbs or vibrant multi-colored ones for added visibility and impact.
Create or acquire a star to serve as the crowning jewel of your Christmas tree ensemble. While a traditional gold or silver star is classic, don't shy away from something more dazzling, such as a glitter-covered or multi-colored star. These can often be found at dollar stores, craft stores, or thrift shops.
- As you'll be holding the star throughout the party, ensure it's lightweight enough to carry comfortably all night long.
Position your hands above your head while holding the star to embody the tree. During the festivities, showcase your costume by extending your arms upward and clasping your hands together. Carry the star to complete the portrayal of the Christmas tree.
- To enhance the authenticity of your outfit, cut a tree skirt in half and affix it to the bottom of your sweater using a hot glue gun. Ensure the skirt's ruffles face downward for the full effect.
Exploring More Festive Ugly Sweater Concepts
Fashion a 'punny' wreath to wear around your neck. Purchase an affordable holiday wreath from a dollar store or craft shop. Use a hot glue gun to attach pictures of celebrities to the wreath, creating humorous wordplay.
- For instance, create 'Wreath Witherspoon' using images of Reese Witherspoon.
- Utilize pictures of Aretha Franklin to craft 'A-wreath-a Franklin.'
Recreate a scene from a beloved Christmas movie using felt and hot glue. Select a plain-colored sweater in green, red, or black. Choose a favorite holiday film and cut out images from a memorable scene using colored felt. Arrange the scene on your sweater using a hot glue gun.
- Popular movies like A Christmas Story, Elf, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and others offer plenty of iconic scenes to replicate on your sweater.
- For instance, for How the Grinch Stole Christmas, you could depict the Grinch's face wearing a Santa hat. For A Christmas Story, consider crafting a large metal pole or a turkey.
- Use a black marker to add fine details to the felt.
Pro Tip: Opt for Christmas patches or appliqués as an alternative option. These can be sewn or ironed on to achieve a similar effect.
Utilize Christmas ties to create an outrageously tacky sweater. Choose a red or green sweater and gather 5-6 Christmas ties (scour your local thrift store for unique finds). Lay the sweater flat and arrange the ties to span across the body from the neckline. Use a hot glue gun to affix the ties to the sweater.
- The more garish the ties, the more spectacular your ugly Christmas sweater will be.
Fashion a humorous sweater using a mirror, Santa hat, and beard. Opt for a black, green, or red sweater to align with the holiday theme. Employ a small Santa hat or craft one from felt. Attach the hat to the sweater using a hot glue gun. Beneath the sweater, affix a lightweight mirror. Below the mirror, create a beard using cotton balls.
- Since it's an 'ugly Christmas sweater,' viewers will see their own reflection when they look at you.
Create a couple's sweater depicting the front and back halves of a reindeer. Select matching sweaters for you and your partner. Use brown felt to cut out the front and back sections of a reindeer. One sweater will feature the front half, while the other will display the back. Attach the felt pieces using a hot glue gun.
- When positioned together, the reindeer should appear complete.
- For added whimsy, attach differently colored Christmas bows to each sweater, giving the impression that the reindeer is expelling them from both ends.
Attach a large stocking to your sweater and stuff it with sweets. Source a red or green sweater from a thrift store and procure a sizable stocking from a dollar store. Use a hot glue gun to affix the stocking to the center of your sweater or sew it on securely. Fill the stocking with chocolates, candy canes, or small toys.
- You could even opt for 3-4 smaller stockings and fill each one with assorted treats.
Pointers
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Don't limit yourself to just the sweater! Let your imagination run wild and create quirky shoes, pants, hats, and more.
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If you're short on time to craft your own ugly Christmas sweater, check out a thrift store for attire. There's no need to splurge on a garment you'll wear just once.
Essentials
Adorning a Sweater with Baubles and Bows
- Sweater
- Ornaments
- Bows
- Hooks or wire
- Hot glue gun
Using Garland to Create a Flashy Sweater
- Sweater or cardigan
- Garland
- Ornaments
- Hot glue gun
Transforming into a Christmas Tree
- Green sweater
- Garland
- Ornaments
- Star
- Hot glue gun
