Whether you love them, or love to hate them, ugly sweaters have become as big a part of the holidays as Santa himself. While there’s something to be said for the original, nostalgic appeal of pulling an old homespun snowman sweater out of the deep closet archives, the whole theme could use a little refresh.
For starters, let’s ditch the word “ugly.” The holidays are a time for magic and celebration, so get those ugly vibes out of here! Embrace that festive kitsch and let some over-the-top outfit decoration help show off your inner glow. Check out the below Ugly Sweater DIY tips & learn how to go full Clark Griswold.
Merry & Lights
For a light-up sweater you’ll need:
- One strand of battery-powered twinkle lights
- Needle and thread
- Pullover sweater
Placing your battery pack near the hem of your sweater (so you can slip it in your jeans pocket!), lay your strand of lights over your sweater in the design you want and stitch it into place. Flip over and repeat on the other side. When you’re ready to lose the lights, carefully snip your stitches and remove the thread.
Be the Tree
For a Christmas tree sweater you’ll need:
- Gold garland
- Mini ornaments
- Needle and thread
- Any style green sweater or cardigan
Lay out your design on one side of the sweater, and stitch the garland and ornaments into place. Turn over and repeat. After the party, carefully snip the stitches and you can transfer those trimmings to another tree!
Chill Frosty
For a Snowman sweater you’ll need:
- Black felt
- Orange felt or construction paper
- Needle and thread
- White pullover sweatshirt or hoodie
Cut the black felt into two large circles for the eyes, and smaller circles to form the mouth. Either cut a triangle out of felt, or make a paper cone out of paper to use as the nose. Stitch them on your sweater and remove them when you’re done.
Gingerbread Tux
For a Gingerbread Person sweater you’ll need:
- Black felt
- Multi-color felt
- Hot glue
- Fabric paint
- Brown thermal or sweater
For a more detailed look, you might want to consider something permanent like fabric paints. You could also cut out your snowflakes, peppermints, and bowtie from felt before stitching them on as in the other examples.
All Wrapped Up
For a Gift Sweater Dress:
- A bag (or 2) of bows
- Needle and thread
- Black dress
This DIY couldn’t be simpler. Just peel off the backing to each bow and stick them on your dress to create an impressively presentable effect. You’ll want to give each bow a quick stick to keep it secure, or if you’re thinking you might want to keep this crafty number around a little longer, a dab of fabric glue would be even easier!
Show us your Ugly Christmas Sweater DIY projects by tagging us on Instagram & Twitter with #AEJeans @americaneagle and you could be featured on our site, social media, or blog!
