How to Make a DIY Ugly Sweater with Rudolph

The DIY ugly sweater trend is hot (pun intended)! This year, don’t go buy your ugly sweater…make it. Follow the steps below to make your own DIY ugly Christmas sweater with a fun Rudolph theme.

Each year people all over dress up in a variety of ugly Christmas sweaters. From gaudy to silly, this fun tradition adds a little comedy to a season that can sadly be more stressful than fun sometimes.

In case you aren’t (quite) prepared yet, I’ve got everything you need to get ready for a rockin’ ugly sweater party this Christmas.

Make Your Ugly Sweater This Year

You know I’m a fan of crazy simple DIY projects. The way I see it, why spend the money to buy it when you can make a comparable item faster and cheaper?

When it comes to making something that other people will actually see, I know some readers get a little worried that they need to have great crafting skills or the project won’t turn out to be something they feel good about showing off.

A DIY ugly Christmas sweater is the perfect opportunity to flex your crafting muscles without worrying about the final result! Seriously, an ugly sweater is meant to be just that – ugly – and it’s all part of the fun.

Just follow along with my step-by-step instructions to make your own DIY Rudolph sweater. It’s a quick & easy craft that’s fun to create. 

Supply Needed to Make A Rudolph DIY Ugly Christmas Sweater

• Plain sweater (Tip: Buy one at a Thrift store or use an old one that you don’t plan to use as an everyday sweater again!)
• Brown felt (a large piece that is about 1/2 yard)
• Fabric Fusion glue
• Red pompoms
• Extra-large googly eyes (these were really difficult to glue on so you might consider white and black felt instead)
• Antlers
• Hot glue and a glue gun
• Chalk

How to Make Your DIY Rudolph Sweater

This DIY project is perfect for crafters of ANY skill level. Have fun with it and don’t worry about the end result – it’s going to look amazing!

Step 1: Cut Out the Deer Head

Lay the brown felt out onto your sweater. Draw a line with chalk that would outline about half of the deer head. Fold the felt in half and cut along the line with scissors.

Step 2: Fit to Sweater

Lay the felt you just cut out onto the sweater with the chalk side down. Then, cut around the neck of your sweater (see pic below).

Tip: Fabric fusion is the perfect adhesive to put the felt onto the sweater!

Step 3: Glue to the Sweater

Be sure to put cardboard between the sweater front and back before gluing the felt head into place. This ensures that the glue won’t leak through and glue the front and back of your sweater together.

Use the Fabric Fusion to add the felt head to the sweater.

Step 4: Add the Details

Then, use your glue gun to glue on the pompoms and googly eyes.

NOTE: The eyes were EXTREMELY hard to glue to the felt (and didn’t want to stay on). I would recommend actually using white and black felt instead of the googly eyes.

Step 5: Add Antlers

Rudolph also needs some antlers! I purchased a small pair on a headband as shown below.

Then, cut the antlers off and hot glue them to the top of the sweater.

That’s it! Didn’t I mention this craft is easy?

Now, just wait for everything to dry properly before putting this ugly sweater on for a modeling show! Awesome right?

You will definitely win the ugly sweater contest wearing this amazing DIY ugly Christmas sweater.

Rudolph DIY Ugly Sweater

Use this quick and easy craft idea to make a DIY ugly sweater you can wear to your next holiday gathering.

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Equipment

• hot glue and glue gun

Supplies

• 1 Plain sweater
• Brown felt large piece – about 1/2 yard
• Fabric Fusion glue
• Red pompoms
• Extra-large googly eyes see note about the eyes down below
• Antlers I used a cheap headband and cut the antlers off
• Chalk or white fabric pencil

Instructions

• Lay the brown felt down on your sweater. Use the chalk to draw a line that outlines one half of the deer head. Fold the felt in half and cut along the line with scissors to create an entire head.  
• Lay the cut out felt on the sweater with the chalk side down. Then cut around the neck of your sweater.
• Put a piece of cardboard between the sweater front and back before gluing the felt head into place to make sure that the glue doesn't leak through and glue the front and back of your sweater together.

  Use the Fabric Fusion to glue the felt head to the sweater.
• Then use your glue gun to attach the pompoms and google eyes. If you choose to use black and white felt instead, you would still use the glue gun to attach those pieces.
• Cut the antlers off if they are attached to something like a headband and hot glue them to the top of the sweater.

Notes

NOTE: The eyes were REALLY difficult to glue on, so you might consider using white and black felt instead

Tried this project?tag us to show off your work!

More Christmas Crafting Inspiration:

• Christmas Tree SVG for an Outdoor Pallet Sign
• DIY Christmas Potholders with a Cricut
• Front Porch Christmas Decorations with Farmhouse Style
• Wooden Christmas Tree to Make Yourself

Are You Hosting a Ugly Sweater Party This Year? Grab These Free Printables!