Ugly Christmas sweaters are more than a holiday trend — they’re a whole festive experience, especially for kids who love color, glitter, and anything silly.
Whether your little one has a school holiday party, a family photoshoot, or just wants to sparkle around the house, these 18 DIY ugly Christmas sweater ideas for kids will bring out their creativity and Christmas spirit. Each idea is easy, budget-friendly, and perfect for kids of all ages.
1. Pom-Pom Snowball Sweater
Kids love soft, colorful pom-poms, and this sweater turns them into a festive snowstorm.
Use a plain sweater and hot-glue pom-poms all over the front in different sizes.
For more detail, add white yarn “snow trails” so it looks like snowballs are flying across the sweater.
It’s bright, cheerful, and perfect for toddlers and young kids.
2. Rudolph Nose Light-Up Sweater
Turn your child into a walking Rudolph.
Glue brown felt antlers on the shoulders, add googly eyes, and create a big red nose using a battery-powered LED light.
Kids adore the blinking effect, and you can position the nose so it rests right at the center of the sweater. Add glitter felt for extra sparkle.
3. Gingerbread Cookie Sweater
This design is as adorable as holiday baking.
Cut gingerbread men out of brown felt, decorate them with puffy paint “icing,” and place them marching across the front.
Add cotton trim along the neckline and sleeves to mimic sugary frosting. Kids will love wearing their own delicious-looking sweater.
Read More: 14 Christmas pajamas for women
4. Snowman Buttons & Scarf Sweater
Transform a white or light-blue sweater into a cute snowman outfit.
Attach black felt circles as coal buttons and glue on a mini fleece scarf across the chest.
You can even add a tiny felt carrot nose popping out from the side.
The layered accessories give the sweater a 3D wintery charm.
5. Christmas Tree Garland Sweater
Kids adore anything colorful and sparkly, and this sweater delivers.
Use green felt to create a Christmas tree triangle shape, then decorate it with yarn garland, mini ornaments, bells, and beads.
Top it off with a bright star.
For a more dramatic effect, let the garland wrap around the sleeves too.
6. Elf Collared Sweater
Let your child become Santa’s cutest helper.
Create a pointed elf collar with green and red felt, attach golden bells to the tips, and glue on big black felt “belt buckles.”
You can add striped felt to the sleeves to mimic elf arms.
This idea works wonderfully on a green or red sweater.
Also Check: 15 Ugly christmas sweaters diy wreath
7. Gift-Wrapped Bow Sweater
For kids who love flashy designs, this giant gift-bow sweater is a hit.
Use a big ribbon to create the effect of a wrapped present across the sweater, running from shoulder to waist.
Add a huge bow in the middle. If you want more child-friendly fun, add a gift tag with their name.
8. Reindeer Silhouette Glitter Sweater
This one is simple but looks stunning.
Cut a reindeer silhouette out of felt, glue it to the sweater, and then outline it with glitter glue for a fancy finish.
Kids love adding rhinestones for a sparkly nose, and you can even add pipe-cleaner antlers for a 3D pop.
9. Ugly Candy Cane Sweater
Make the sweater look like candy canes exploded everywhere—kids LOVE the silliness.
Add felt candy cane stripes across the sweater in random directions.
Glue little bows, peppermint cutouts, and red pom-poms for a multicolored candy theme.
It’s sweet, loud, and perfect for holiday parties.
10. Santa Belt & Buttons Sweater
This classic design is always a crowd-pleaser.
Glue a wide black felt strip across the waist to mimic Santa’s belt and add a large gold buckle.
Use white pom-poms as “buttons” going down the center. Kids enjoy adding extra decorations like glitter snowflakes or mini gift boxes.
11. Snowflake Wonderland Sweater
Turn a plain sweater into a winter wonderland by scattering felt snowflakes of different sizes.
You can layer them for a 3D textured look and add pearls, sequins, or glitter around the edges.
Use a light-blue sweater for the perfect frozen-themed color palette kids love.
12. Tinsel Explosion Sweater
Go full ugly Christmas mode with this over-the-top tinsel sweater.
Wrap tinsel around the sleeves, neckline, and edges of the sweater.
Add ornaments, bells, and yarn accents.
Kids find this one hilarious because it makes them feel like a walking Christmas tree.
13. Christmas Lights Sweater
Battery-powered LED lights turn this DIY into magic.
String short light sections across the front, holding them in place with yarn loops or glue.
Add felt bulbs around them so the sweater looks festive even when the lights are off.
Kids love the glowing effect and usually request more lights!
14. Friendly Monster Holiday Sweater
This idea is great for kids who love silly monsters.
Make a large monster face using felt—big eyes, goofy teeth, fuzzy eyebrows—and add a Santa hat or reindeer antlers to make it festive.
Kids enjoy customizing the monster to look extra silly or cute.
15. Snow Globe Sweater
This is one of the most unique ideas.
Cut a snow globe shape from clear plastic, fill it with fake snow, sequins, or tiny felt shapes, and seal the edges onto the sweater.
It becomes a moving, shakeable decoration that kids will show off proudly. Add a felt base to complete the globe.
16. Grinch-Inspired Sweater
Kids LOVE the Grinch, making this one a must-try.
Use bright green felt to create the Grinch’s mischievous face.
Add yellow eyes, a red Santa hat, and a big grin across the front.
For extra fun, put fluffy trim on the sleeves and neckline to match the movie style.
Read More: 15 Ugly christmas sweaters diy lights
17. Holiday Animal Sweater
Choose your child’s favorite animal—panda, cat, unicorn, dog—and dress it up in festive gear.
Add felt antlers, Santa hats, gift boxes, or scarves to create a funny holiday version of their favorite pet.
This is a great personalized DIY kids adore.
18. Ornament Hanging Sweater
Create hanging ornaments with felt circles, glitter, and ribbons.
Attach them across the chest so they look like they’re dangling from a clothesline.
Kids enjoy making each ornament different — some sparkly, some silly, some covered in stickers.
DIY ugly Christmas sweaters for kids are a fun way to celebrate creativity, laughter, and holiday cheer.
With these 18 exciting ideas, your child can show up to any festive event wearing something completely unique that they helped bring to life.
Plus, it’s an affordable, memory-making holiday activity the whole family can enjoy.
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