UpCraft your Ugly Christmas Sweater

Turn an Ugly Christmas Sweater into Holiday Home Decor!

We all have that one ugly Christmas sweater, you know the one… the blinking reindeer nose, the questionable pom-poms, the snowman with googly eyes.  Maybe it made a splash at last year’s office party, but this year, it’s ready for reinvention!  Instead of tossing it, upcraft it into a cozy, kitschy throw pillow for your holiday home décor. It’s an easy, eco-friendly way to breathe new life into an old holiday relic, and I promise, it’s so much cuter on your couch than in the back of your closet!  Let’s get started.

Supplies:

• Ugly Christmas sweaters (One sweater per pillow)
• A square or rectangle throw pillow from your couch (Remember, this is a pillow cover and easy way to update your everyday throw pillows for the holiday season!)
• Fabric scissors
• Chalk or fabric marker
• Sewing machine (or needle and thread if you’re doing it by hand!)

Make it:

1. Lay it out!

First, lay the sweater flat and smooth it out.  Place the pillow form on top to gauge your size. Use chalk to trace a square or rectangle around the pillow, adding about a half-inch for seam allowance.

2. Cut it up!

Only cut the top and sides of your traced square. Leave the bottom hem untouched, this will become your pillow’s opening, and most sweater hems are already nicely finished.

3. Stitch it around!

Flip the sweater so the “right sides” are facing each other. Sew along the sides and top with a straight stitch, about ½ inch in from the edge.

4. Flip and stuff!

Turn your sweater cover right side out, carefully push out the corners, and insert your pillow form through the hem opening and stuff your pillow form inside.

Top tip: you’ll want the pillow cover to fit snug!

There you gave it!  An ugly Christmas sweater turned into a charming holiday throw pillow!  It’s festive, fun, and a great conversation starter, not to mention a fabulous way to keep textiles out of the landfill.  Did you know over 17 million tons of textile waste end up in landfills each year?  Projects like this one help reduce that number.

So go ahead, embrace the ugly, and turn it into something unbelievably cute.

For more sustainable holiday home decor ideas, try making this festive table runner from old neckties!

Merry Upcycling & Happy Holidays!