‘Tis the season for festive parties! And, if you have an “Ugly Christmas Sweater” party coming up, I’ll be on CBS-LA today sharing 5 easy do-it-yourself ideas! Here’s a sneak peek at the tacky sweaters I’ll be sharing!
It seems that the “Ugly Christmas Sweater” theme gets more popular every year! I love that its a bit of a comedic relief from a season that can sometimes come with a lot of stress and buttoned-up holiday attire. Plus, if you decide to create one yourself, there’s no pressure to make it perfectly cute… It’s called UGLY for a reason! Another bonus to ugly sweaters? They’re inexpensive to make! You can use a lot of holiday decor and materials that are already found around your home. Or, check out your local dollar store or Michaels for affordable craft supplies!
Check out this fun holiday stocking sweater I shared on Instagram using all materials from Michaels craft stores:
Below are instructions for creating five easy ugly holiday sweaters – I even included a kids’ sweater and Hanukkah sweater! Feel free to adapt these sweaters to what’s easiest for you and what materials you may already have at home!
5 UGLY HOLIDAY SWEATER IDEAS:
Kids Christmas Tree Sweater
Your children will have lots of fun creating an ugly Christmas sweater with you, and this simple Christmas tree sweater idea is so easy for little crafters!
Materials Needed:
- Red sweater/sweatshirt
- Felt – green and yellow
- Tacky Christmas decor, like mini jingle bells, bows, mini ornaments, etc.
- Old craft supplies like mini pom poms, glitter, beads and buttons
- Needle and thread – the thread should preferably contrast with red sweater and tree, like a bright yellow!
- Black fabric paint
- Elmer’s glue
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
DIY Steps:
- Cut a large Christmas tree shape out of the green felt and a star out of the yellow felt. Sew onto red sweater with needle and thread. It doesn’t have to be perfect – remember, this is an “ugly” sweater!
- Let your child take it away with Elmer’s glue and décor items! Add glitter, bows, buttons and pom poms to the tree! Parents can help with hot glue gun for the heavier décor, like jingle bells and ornaments
- Use black fabric paint down the arms to create a “string” and add colorful pom poms to resemble Christmas lights.
- Allow to dry for 6-12 hours before wearing.
“Christmas Vacation” Tree Sweater
This sweater is perfect for fans of classic Christmas movies! Friends will get a hoot out of the fake squirrel climbing the Christmas tree, just as it terrorized the cast in National Lampoon’s “Christmas Vacation” movie.
Materials Needed:
- Green sweater/sweatshirt
- Tinsel garland
- Mini LED lights
- Squirrel dog toy
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
DIY Steps:
- Wrap tacky tinsel garland around green sweater and hot glue into place.
- Wrap LED lights around garland and secure light bulbs to sweater with hot glue. Make sure your string of lights is long enough to wrap around the sweater and the battery pack can fit into your back pocket.
- Hot glue mini ornaments around the sweater to make it look like a Christmas tree.
- Hot glue a toy stuffed squirrel on the sweater. I preferred to glue it on the sweater’s shoulder.
Tacky Hanukkah Sweater
Not everyone celebrates Christmas, so this tacky Hanukkah sweater is perfect for our Jewish friends!
Materials Needed:
- Blue Sweatshirt
- Gold sequins stickers
- Gold, white, yellow felt
- Silver iron-on vinyl shimmer paper
- Foam letter stickers
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
DIY Steps:
- Cut a menorah out of silver glitter iron-on vinyl paper. Iron the menorah onto the sweater.
- Cut 9 candles out of white felt and 9 flames out of yellow felt. Hot glue onto the sweater.
- Hot glue gold sequins to the flames.
- Stick or hot glue foam letters to spell “Happy Hanukkah” on the sweater.
Festive “Stranger Things” Sweater
Great for a Hollywood Christmas party filled with Netflix binge-watchers, this “Stranger Things” sweater feels festive with its LED lights while celebrating a favorite TV show.
Materials Needed:
- Red sweater or thick red shirt
- Iron-on letters
- Mini colorful LED lights
- Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks
DIY Steps:
- Iron on the alphabet in three rows, as seen on the wall in “Stranger Things,” onto the shirt
- Hot glue mini colorful LED lights above the letters to resemble the wall in “Stranger Things.”
Easy Stocking Sweater
This easy DIY sweater also makes a convenient pocket to hold your wallet, phone, keys, or better – a bottle of wine!
Materials Needed:
- Green or red sweater
- Sturdy stocking
- Tacky flair, like bells, pom poms, bows, glitter
- Elmers glue
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
DIY Steps:
- Hot glue a sturdy Christmas stocking to the center of the sweatshirt
- Use Elmers glue and hot glue to add tacky flair to the sweater, like glitter, bows and bells
Let me know if you go to an Ugly Sweater Party and what you plan to wear in the comments below! Or, connect with me on Instagram and TikTok where I share more lifestyle and family tips. Merry Christmas!
XO Maggie
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Maggie Jackson 