Sweater Presents {DIY}
Yesterday I showed you guys my card catalog Christmas vignette. And today I’m back to show you how I made the sweater presents. Get. Excited.
It’s kind of crazy the things you can do with old sweaters. I’ve seen people cover different objects with sweaters: vases, wreaths, pillows, candle holders, furniture, lampshades, cuffs, trees. The possibilities are endless. When I was putting together my card catalog Christmas vignette I realized that I needed something tall to put on top of the card catalog in the back for some height. Light bulb. Cover the canvases that have been sitting in my home office for months with sweaters and make them look like presents. I have a genius thought every now and then.
Here’s what you’ll need:
• sweater
• canvas or a rectangular object (piece of wood, picture frame, etc.)
• hot glue
• ribbon
I picked up the cable knit sweaters at Goodwill on half off Saturday so they were $2.25 each. To save money I would have used pieces of wood, but I already had two canvases collecting dust so I just went with them. This could easily be a $5 or less project.
I started by cutting off the arms of the sweater, and then separating the front from the back. I laid the back of the sweater on the canvas and centered it so there was about an inch of overhang on all four sides.
Then, I flipped the canvas over and started hot gluing the sweater to the canvas frame.
Now, on to the ribbon. I cut two pieces of ribbon, centered them, flipped over the canvas, and hot glued the ribbons into place.
I made a bow with the ribbon and hot glued it where the ribbons intersect. It’s as simple as that.
This whole project took about 15-20 minutes. In case you’re wondering, my canvas sizes are 16×20 and 11×14.
Don’t throw away your sweater scraps! I saved the front of the sweater so I can cover something else with it. I saved the arms, cut them down to about 8 inches, and attempted to turn them into faux riding boot socks but I ended up looking like Santa Claus from the knees down. Perhaps you’ll have better luck than me.
I’m sort of in love with my sweater creations but I’m biased. Now I find myself thinking of other things I can cover with sweaters. Nothing is safe.
 What do you think of the sweater presents?
Have you covered anything with a sweater, other than your body?
Don’t you love cable knit? It’s my favorite.
Want more Christmas goodness in your life? Check out my other holiday projects here.
Stalk away!
These are great! I love their simple, cozy look. They add so much to you display. And I don’t see the problem with Santa calves. Ho ho ho. Work it.
I love these! Have you seen Target’s sweater Christmas trees? They’re just cones that are covered with cable knit sweater material! Everytime I’m there I think “I could make those!” and then never do… Perhaps someday.
I have seen those and thought the same thing! Creative minds think alike! 🙂
I have! I actually took an ‘inspiration’ pic of them when I was there last week. The other day I pinned an image that shows you how to make the cones out of poster board (http://pinterest.com/pin/142637513169955136/). Woohoo for doing stuff on the cheap!
Love this! The sleeves of the sweaters make great wine bottle gift wrap.
These turned out so lovely!
Super cute & totally inspiring!! I love it!
What an easy and festive project, good job girl. 🙂
LOVE this idea! I’m totally stealing it!
I adore your sweater presents!!!! Great job x
Chelsea! These are adorable! I love it!
Beautiful!
I totally read this!! (and loved it!)
Thanks for sharing… on a Saturday! 🙂
Hah! Thanks for reading!
Love it! I wish I had read this post this morning. I was at Goodwill today and I would have looked for sweaters! On a side note, our Goodwill is way over priced. I can’t find a sweater there that cheap. Thanks for the inspiration.
Girl, don’t even get me started about GW prices. Lately I’ve only shopped at the regular GW stores on half off Saturday. GW Outlet is my place. Do you have a GW Outlet in your neck of the woods?
Not that I know of, but I may need to go scouting for one! The other trouble at the one near my house is the shelves are super high for dishware and home goods and I’m only 5’2. Do you think taking a step stool GW shopping with me is going too far?!
Oh no, taking a step stool is totally not going too far. You should go shopping with another tall person or me. I’m 5’10” so I’m always the girl who’s getting things off tall shelves for petite people like yourself. 🙂
I love this, definitely trying it for next year! Thanks for sharing!
I love the added texture and coziness. Plus you could take off the sweater and reuse the canvas later if you wanted. Love!
Such a cute idea! I am in love…♥
I am in love with these sweater presents. It’s making me wish I hadn’t gotten rid of my old cable knit sweaters.
I know what I’m looking for at Goodwill this week! I, too, have canvases that are collecting dust! Great job!
Proof that hoarding canvases eventually pays off. 🙂
….and my husband thinks I just buy things to buy things! He has no idea that I have a plan for everything…sometimes it just takes a while/years to complete the plan!
I really love these! They bring such a great soft cozy texture to your holiday decor. Really sweet.
These are great I love cable knit and have been envious of pillows and other things made with it. Now I know how easy and inexpensive it cold be. Thanks
Wow these are fabulous. I love how this turned out and what a lucky find at Goodwill!
I love this project! I’ve seen so many great sweater Christmas decorations lately…gotta get to Goodwill so I can join in on the fun!
Thanks for hosting this Dare to DIY party…I have a tendency of starting lots of projects but not finishing them, so this helped give me the kick in the rear I needed!
Thanks, Ashley! And thanks for linking up! You had such great projects! Glad we could give you the kick in the rear you needed.
BRILLIANT! Can’t wait to make some. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Love, love, love how these turned out. And good score on the sweaters. I am always keeping my eye out for wool and shaker sweaters at the thrift stores to do craft projects with. I was thinking you could also wrap a picture you already have laying around and unwrap it after Christmas or even in the spring. Thanks again for hosting!
These look lovely!
now that is a neat idea! i’ve seen the sweater candles/jars, but never presents.
I have a link party called Wednesdays Adorned From Above Blog Hop and would love to have you share this with everyone. It runs from Wednesday through midnight Sunday. Here is the link to the party.
http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2012/12/7-recipes-and-wednesdays-adorned-from.html
Debi @ Adorned From Above
Hey I want to know what you keep in your card catalog? I have a couple small one but I haven’t come up with a brilliant idea of what to keep in them yet! Lol
Awesome decorations!
Hi Chelsea, those are super cute! Have seen sweater pillows but wouldn’t have thought of art. Thanks for linking up with us. Always love seeing what you’re up to. Your friends at HomeGoods
Oh my gosh, this is AMAZING!!!! I absolutely want to do this for the holidays this year. I never find that great of luck at our thrift stores though. haha! I am so smitten by all of your projects. You are way too creative.
Love these. I have made stockings from old sweaters too. Especially cute to make a tiny one from a baby sweater.
Such a sweet idea! Do you mind if I borrow some of the pictures and translate this to Norwegian for our creative site kreativeideer.no? I will credit you with your name and blog name and URL! 🙂
I love these! I never think of shopping at Goodwill.
Such a cute idea! I will definitely be looking for sweaters at all my local thrift stores!
Thank you!
These are adorable!!!!