Skip to Content

DIY Sweater Clips for Your Vintage Holiday Finest

Use vintage or new holiday minis to create these unique DIY sweater clips! Perfect for embellishing your fashion items during the holidays (or any time of year!).

Skills Required: Beginner. You don’t need to make a jewelry maker, but you should have an idea how to use the basic jewelry tools listed in the materials. If you’ve been crafting for years you can probably jump right in.

vintage sweater clips

Hi guys! It’s Ashlee from My So Called Crafty Life, and I am back today to share a fun retro Christmas DIY accessory with you all.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a total nut for Christmas, especially anything vintage and Christmas! I also love fashion crafts, so this was a perfect way to combine the two.

Christmas sweater clips

I love little holiday minis and have a bunch of vintage and new little treasures that I love to craft with. At this time of year I wear a lot of sweaters, and I thought it would be fun to make a couple of vintage style Christmas DIY cardigan clips to embellish my sweaters for the holidays.

DIY sweater clip

DIY Vintage Sweater Clips

Gather These Supplies

  • Sweater/alligator clips (I bought mine at Jo-Ann)
  • Vintage or new minis like deer, Santas, wooden ornaments, mini sisal wreaths
  • Chain – length of your choice
  • Jump rings – 2 for each clip
  • Jewelry pliers
  • Jewelry cutters
  • Jewelry glue

Instructions

Miniatures with chain and alligator clips

First you need to decide which of the minis you are going to use in your project, and which end of the chain they’re going to be at.

You’ll use one mini for each side, typically. You can also use small wood circles or beads, broken jewelry, or a number of items around the home. This doesn’t necessarily have to be an expensive project!

Once you have a layout you like for each side of the vintage sweater clips, you are ready to start assembling.

Attaching an alligator clip to a piece of chain with a jewelry tool

Cut a length of chain about three to five inches. Attach each end of your chain to the hole in a sweater clip using a jump ring and jewelry pliers.

Chain with the clips at the ends

You can cut two pieces of chain, one longer than the other, to make a double chain that hangs at different lengths. for a cool effect.

If you need to glue buttons to light reflectors or wreath to felt, etc., do so now.

Chain and an alligator clip glued onto the back of a mini

Now place a good amount of jewelry glue onto the sweater clip and glue on your object. Do the same with the other side.

sweater chain clips with a christmas theme

Prop up your clips if you need to keep them level while the glue dries on little bits of wood or folded paper, etc.

DIY sweater clasps
How to make a sweater clasp
how to make sweater clips

I LOVE my sweater clips! They are so kitschy, they fit my personality perfectly. You can easily style them to your own taste just by using your favorite minis, flowers, buttons, etc.

diy sweater clips

I hope you all will make a set of sweater chain clips of your own. They are a fabulous accessory to embellish an outfit, as well as bringing some always needed cheer to your holiday style!

Yield: 1 clip

Sweater Clips

how to make sweater clips

Learn how to make sweater clips to add a little vintage flair to your Christmas outfit. These are fun for any holiday!

Prep Time 5 minutes
Active Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost $3

Materials

  • Alligator clips - 2
  • Minis like deer, Santas, wooden ornaments, mini sisal wreaths
  • Chain
  • Jump rings
  • Jewelry glue

Tools

  • Jewelry pliers
  • Jewelry cutters

Instructions

  1. Decide on the minis you are going to use for your project; one for each side.
  2. Cut a length of chain about three to five inches with the jewelry cutters
  3. Attach each end of your chain to the hole in a clip using a jump ring and jewelry pliers.
  4. Place a good amount of jewelry glue onto the clip and attach to your mini. Do the same with the other side.
  5. Let dry completely before wearing.

Did you make this project?

Please leave a rating or share a photo on Pinterest!


If you all would like to see more of my work you can find me on my blog, My So Called Crafty Life, here. I’d also love for you to check out these other fashion crafts:

Skip to Instructions