The ideas here run from flat sweater-shaped ornaments made with scissors and glue to a crochet sweater with separately sewn-on appliques, and what decides your pick is whether you already crochet.
If you do, the cream ribbed sweater is the one worth the hours; if you don’t, stay with the felt fireplace, the tinsel wreath on black or the ornaments, and a wreath worn over a plain black shirt skips the sweater altogether.
1. Ugly Sweater Ornaments
A flat, sweater-shaped ornament is the smallest way to bring the ugly-sweater look to a wreath. White makes a clean base, and candy canes and red dots are enough pattern to read as a knit.
Make a batch and vary the designs so they look like mismatched sweaters.
Loop a ribbon through the top and hang them around a wreath, or give them out as favors. Scissors and glue are all it takes.
2. 3D Tinsel Wreath Sweater
Black does the heavy lifting here. Against it, a big green tinsel wreath looks fuller and the colorful ornaments pop, which is why I’d choose a black sweater over a green or red one for this idea.
Build the wreath separately so it holds its shape, tuck the ornaments in, and add the red bow last. Then attach it to the front of the sweater.
3. Wreath and Fireplace Sweater
Red wool, a felt fireplace and a small wreath make a scene instead of a single motif, and that is what I like about it.
Felt is forgiving to cut with ordinary scissors, so the fireplace can be a simple shape.
Layer a few warm colors of felt for the glowing fire, then glue white flowers around the wreath above it. Lay everything out on the sweater before gluing, since felt pieces are hard to reposition once they set.
4. Wreath Worn Like a Sweater
Skipping the knitting altogether, this version turns the wreath itself into the sweater. A plain black shirt underneath lets the lights, ornaments and striped bow stand out.
It suits a party where each guest builds one, and the judging can be as silly as you like. Decorate the wreath densely, because a sparse one just looks like a hoop around your neck.
5. Crochet Wreath Sweater
Crochet appliques turn a plain cream ribbed sweater into a keepsake.
A crochet wreath sweater works best when one raised green wreath with a red bow is the centerpiece, and small motifs like a snowflake, a candy cane or a mouse in a stocking fill in around it.
Make each piece separately, then sew them on. This is the slowest idea in the list, so I’d save it for someone who already crochets and wants a sweater they can wear every December.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I get the ugly sweater template?
Missouri Star Quilt Company sells it, both in person and online.
The small size is the one used for a sweater-themed wreath project. The company has a few sizes, so check which one fits the space you plan to fill.
How else can I used the template?
Use it to decorate an actual ugly sweater, not just a wreath. Cut the sweater shapes out, thread a ribbon loop through the top, and they become small ornaments for a wreath, a tree branch, or a party favor.
