Throw an ugly-sweater party

An ugly Christmas sweater party only needs one rule: everyone arrives in the worst holiday sweater they can find. The rest is snacks, a vote and a good laugh. It’s an easy, cheap evening that works in a small apartment, and it’s the kind of party that feels like an occasion without much planning.

Plan the evening

Pick an evening in the first three weeks of December, before people leave for the holidays. Weekday evenings can work well if your friends are free. Send the invitation in a group chat two or three weeks ahead and say plainly what to wear. Add a line like “borrowed and thrifted both count” so nobody spends much.

Six to ten people is comfortable at home. More than that and you need more seats, more food and a louder playlist.

Find the sweaters

Thrift stores and charity shops are full of holiday knitwear in December, and prices are often low. It also helps to:

• Ask older relatives or friends whether they have one in a cupboard.
• Look at online resale sites if you can’t get to a shop.
• Decorate a plain sweater with felt, pom-poms, bells and old ornaments. Fabric glue or a few stitches will hold them on.

You only wear it for one night, so you don’t need to spend more than a few dollars. If a guest can’t find a sweater, a tacky hat or cardigan counts.

What to put out

You don’t need to cook anything impressive. A table of easy things is perfect:

• A bowl of popcorn or crisps
• A cheese board or a plate of crackers
• Something sweet, like cookies, which you can buy or bake
• A hot drink, like cocoa or mulled juice, and plain water
• Something to drink with alcohol if you like. It’s optional, and only for guests who are 21 or older in the US. Always have something without alcohol too.

Ask guests about allergies when you invite them, and put a label by anything that contains nuts. If you serve hot drinks, keep the pot away from the edge of the table.

Run the evening

1. Greet people at the door and take photos while everyone is fresh. A plain wall or a blanket on the wall makes a good backdrop.
2. Give everyone a slip of paper and a pen when they arrive.
3. Have snacks and drinks out and music on.
4. After an hour or so, ask everyone to write their vote for the ugliest, the funniest and the most creative sweater.
5. Count the votes, say the winners aloud and give out a small prize. A cheap candle, a box of chocolates or a silly trophy works.
6. Put on a movie or play a game and let the evening wander.

What goes wrong

• Someone shows up in a plain sweater. Hand them a spare, or hang a few ornaments on them. Nobody minds.
• The room gets hot. Wool in a small apartment adds up. Open a window and make sure guests can take sweaters off.
• Votes cause awkwardness. Make several categories so everyone has a shot at something.
• Candles near sweaters. Knitwear and decorations can catch fire. Keep any open flame away from sleeves, or use battery candles.
• Too much food. Keep it simple, and send leftovers home in containers.

Afterwards

Take a group photo before people leave. Return any borrowed sweaters, and donate your thrifted one back to the shop in January, or keep it for next year. Plenty of friend groups make it a yearly thing and keep a running list of winners.

Small touches that help

A few extras make the night feel planned without costing much. Put a basket by the door for shoes if your floors are delicate. Write a playlist of holiday songs, the sillier the better. Print or draw a simple ballot with each category, so voting takes a minute. Leave a lint roller out, because knitwear sheds, and a few safety pins for drooping decorations.

Make it a winter evening

Turn the lights low, string up a few lights and keep the music soft once the voting is done. You could pair the party with a gingerbread house on the table, or finish the night with a holiday movie on the couch.