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.

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.

Step 2: Dismember and Decapitate the Stuffed Animal

Cut off limbs and the head of the stuffed animal. Most Beanie Baby type plush toys have fiber in the heads and even in some limbs so your sweater will still be lightweight. Experiment a little with the positioning of the body parts. I found that they worked best on the stomach of the sweater.

Sew the head and limbs into position!

Step 3: Sew Bells On

Once you have an Alien-like stuffed animal protuberance from your sweater you need to add something to catch the ear. I sewed bells around the waist hem and the sleeves of the shirt.

Step 4: Accessorize!

Stitch a cheap kitschy wreath on the sweater, throw a bow in your hair, maybe some ornament earrings... I couldn't find a battery powered LED string to add lights to the reindeer's nose or to make the rest of the sweater twinkle but I know they are available.