Creepmas Ugly Sweater

Hey ghouls and creeps! Who else out there loves taking boring, old or tired garments and turning them into something awesome? This project takes a generic pullover sweatshirt and turns it into a super festive but spooky ugly sweater just in time for the holidays!

The Creepmas Ugly Sweater project is considered easy for its super simple embellishment application and sleeve alterations. The time entailed could vary depending on your access to a die cutting machine, but so worth the time investment! Intimidated by easing/sewing sleeves? Don’t worry, this project is a great way to practice this sewing technique!

Step 1: Cutting Appliques: Using the JPG or SVG files below cut your appliqué pieces for your ugly Creepmas sweater! Pro-tip: iron Heat n’ Bond on the wrong side of your cotton prior to cutting out applique pieces so you’re only cutting once!

SVG file: https://bjdiycutfiles.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/ugly+sweater+template.svg

Step 2: Removing Sweatshirt Sleeves: Begin by removing the overlock stitching that connects the sleeve to the rest of the sweatshirt.

After removing both sleeves, remove the cuffs and set aside. Take one sleeve and remove the underarm seam, this will be your sleeve pattern later.

Step 3: Making Sleeves: Fold your holiday fleece in half to the width or length of the sleeve. Because I wanted the stripes on my fleece to go horizontal on my sleeves, I folded the width of my fleece to the width of my sleeve. You may choose to orient your sleeve the other way so you would be folding the width of your fleece to the length of your sleeve.

Pin your sleeve pattern through both layers of fleece, and cut all the way around the pattern.

Fold your sleeves in half lengthwise, with right sides together, and sew your underarm seams on both sleeves with a 3/8″ seam allowance.

Turn sleeves right side out, and do a basting seam (about a 1/4″ from the edge) around the bottom of the sleeves to synch to the circumference to fit the cuffs. Pro-tip: When basting only backstitch on one end of the stitch line so that you can use the thread tails on the other end to gather your sleeve bottom.

Begin gathering sleeves and place cuffs around sleeve bottoms, with right sides together, line up raw edges and underarm seams, and pin in place.

Sew the cuffs to the sleeves with a 3/8″ seam allowance and turn right side out. If you find that your basting stitches are poking out you can either stitch around the cuff seam again making sure to catch stitches within seam allowance, or remove basting.

Turn the body of your sweatshirt wrong side out. Stick sleeve up through the inside of the sweatshirt and line up the armhole and sleeve cap edges. Make sure to match up the underarm and side seams, as well as the center of the sleeve cap with the shoulder seam. I found that the sleeves on my sweatshirt had no difference in the front and back of the sleeve cap, so I was able to ease it into the sleeve hole in this way. If the slant varies from the front to the back on your sleeve caps you may have to ease the sleeves differently. Sew your sleeves to your sweatshirt with a 3/8″ seam allowance.

Step 4: Applique Application: Turn your sweatshirt right side out, and lay flat on your working surface front up. Place your appliques on your sweatshirt front, and play around with piece placement.

Once you’re happy with how your applique pieces are arranged, peel Heat n’ Bond paper off the backside of each piece and return the piece to its spot.

Iron the pieces in place, lifting and placing the iron on top gently so the pieces don’t migrate. Iron pieces thoroughly, making sure to fuse all edges and corners.

You may choose to edge stitch your appliques to reinforce them, I just fused them in place. According to Heat n’ Bond the ultrahold iron-on adhesive is washable when using the delicate cycle with warm water.

You’re finished! Use your new ugly sweater to pose for your Christmas card photo this year, or when zooming this holiday season with friends and family. Use the appliques for other clothing or home decor to display your Creepmas style!

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Ready for your next project? Here are some tutorials on the blog I think you’ll like! Frame Flip tutorial: https://britnijade.com/frame-flip/, Macrame Wall Hanging: https://britnijade.com/macrame-wall-hanging-w-bones/, or the Spider Web Macrame: https://britnijade.com/spider-web-macrame/. Enjoy!