Make any sweater an ugly Christmas sweater

If you've ever tried to find an ugly Christmas sweater at the last minute for the increasingly popular "Ugly Christmas Sweater" party then you might have heard the thrift store employees tell you that they are all sold out. I did. And of course, i knew i had the skills to make an ugly sweater - maybe not from scratch though. So if you have basic sewing skills and a few hours of time you can make any sweater fit the occasion.

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Step 1: Gather your stuff

You'll need some of this stuff:

A sweater (aim for at least having some traditional Christmas colors or patterns)
A plush toy (obviously a reindeer would be good but other animals might work too)
Thread
Needle
Scissors
Bells
Battery operated LED light string
Other kitschy decorations

I have to credit this reindeer frozen in carbonite (case-modded to look like a stocking) for the inspiration.

boingercat says: Dec 4, 2011. 6:40 AM

This is so great!! It makes me wish I had an ugly sweater party to go to, just so I could make one!

unanimoose says: Jan 23, 2010. 12:44 AM

OMGOMGOMG... thank you for the great idea. I'm going to an Ugly Sweater Party tomorrow and I made one with a precious moments baby doll... I cut her in half and made her look like i'm breast feeding her :) wierd i know. but hey it's an Ugly Sweater Party.... Keep up the good work.

zieak (author) in reply to unanimooseJan 23, 2010. 1:45 AM

Please post a photo!

unanimoose in reply to zieakJan 24, 2010. 5:08 PM

Here ya go. don;t say i didn;t warn you. I tied for third btw.
Thanks again for the idea.

boingercat in reply to unanimooseDec 4, 2011. 6:38 AM

OMG, that is hysterical!! You are very creative....

tbalderrama in reply to unanimooseNov 16, 2011. 6:31 PM

That is so funny!!! I need to make one like that!! That really gave me and my family a laugh! thanks so much for posting a pic!

zieak (author) in reply to unanimooseJan 24, 2010. 6:33 PM

HAHAHAHA! That's great!

sir instructable says: Feb 25, 2010. 8:06 PM

you should put this on the sew warm contest.

LuciferTengu says: Dec 22, 2009. 6:37 PM

Just don't sew your cat to the sweater... You don't want to give him away.

zieak (author) in reply to LuciferTenguDec 23, 2009. 10:20 AM

She was Quality Assurance. Assigned to test the stitching quality!

LuciferTengu in reply to zieakDec 27, 2009. 4:45 PM

Ah yeah, i totally missed that she was a calico... But yeah I've had one of my cats tear off a button on one of my shirts, so yeah they like to "check" the quality.

KMOM14 says: Dec 27, 2009. 12:12 PM

LOL. I think it is cute!

CindyM52 says: Dec 24, 2009. 11:09 AM

I love it! LOL What a great idea. I love the reindeer.

zieak (author) in reply to CindyM52Dec 25, 2009. 11:19 AM

Thank you!

diydept says: Dec 24, 2009. 9:23 PM

Cute idea,I like it.

mateo1025 says: Dec 23, 2009. 2:15 PM

Total Recall comes to mind... "Quaid, start the reactor..." :P

zieak (author) in reply to mateo1025Dec 23, 2009. 5:51 PM

Free your mind...

porcupinemamma says: Dec 23, 2009. 2:33 PM

lol! ;0)

Hiroak says: Dec 23, 2009. 1:03 PM

Great Idea and I still have two days until Christmas. You look much better in the last pic than the previous it must be the sweater.

zieak (author) in reply to HiroakDec 23, 2009. 2:03 PM

Like Frosty's top hat!

zascecs says: Dec 22, 2009. 10:52 AM

Ha ha ha!!! I love it, but poor reindeer... =)

zieak (author) in reply to zascecsDec 23, 2009. 10:22 AM

It has a better home... Who knows what kid would have been tearing at it trying to get to the goodies inside. On the plus side, this sweater will be worn every year. The stocking would definitely have been outgrown!

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canida says: Dec 22, 2009. 5:57 PM

Wow. This is truly inspired.

zieak (author) in reply to canidaDec 23, 2009. 10:21 AM

Thanks!

thepelton says: Dec 22, 2009. 5:08 PM

It does not remind me so much of "Star Wars" as it does "Alien." In other words, somewhat creepy, but with a funny twist.

zieak (author) in reply to thepeltonDec 23, 2009. 10:21 AM

Definitely. When i sewed the head on that's all I could think. It wasn't until I did the write-up that i realized that the reindeer looked like it had its body frozen in something.

stripedstarfish says: Dec 22, 2009. 8:13 PM

awesome - i love it! so corney but it has a place in my closet.

zieak (author) in reply to stripedstarfishDec 23, 2009. 10:19 AM

There is a time and place for it!

atombomb1945 says: Dec 23, 2009. 6:32 AM

You could always mount the head on the sweater like it was a hunting trophy.

This is cute, I like it.

zieak (author) in reply to atombomb1945Dec 23, 2009. 10:18 AM

Heehee... With a piece of felt cut to a shield-like shape to give it a plaque look... That would be neat. Especially a collection of them - one for each of Santa's reindeer.

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caitlinsdad says: Dec 22, 2009. 9:07 AM

Authentic Beanie Babies are mostly filled with that microbead pellet stuff. I can't even go near my kid's collection, let alone dissect one.

It's only ugly when you have a matching pair of couples' sweaters.

zieak (author) in reply to caitlinsdadDec 22, 2009. 10:39 AM

I have torn apart a half dozen Beanie Babies (another upcoming project) and they all had pellets in the body but fiber stuffing in the head. Some had fiber stuffing in limbs too.

I guess you could stuff the fabric from the body in the head and limbs and just discard the pellets in a pinch though.