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5 Steps to an Adorable Decorative Snowman

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Are you looking to add a little wintery cheer to your decor?  Do you have a friend who would appreciate a little gift that is hand-made with love?  This adorable little Snowman may be just the idea you are looking for.  PLUS, it’s a great way to reuse a plastic bottle!

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 1 empty water bottle (we used a 1 litre water bottle)
  • Dry rice or similar product to weight the base of the bottle
  • 1 sheet of letter size paper
  • 7oz. Bonded Fibrefill or Batting (we used 3/8 yards)
  • 3/8 yd – ½ yard of Cotton Jersey Knit or similar fabric for body of the Snowman
  • ½ yard of Ribbing for the scarf and hat
  • Heavy thread or lightweight cord (we used drapery cord)
  • Thread to match jersey and ribbing
  • Hand-sewing needle
  • Tape measure
  • Ruler, fabric marker, and scissors OR ruler, rotary cutter, and cutting mat
  • Fabric Scissors
  • Pins
  • Blunt needle or safety pin
  • Sewing machine with straight stitch and zigzag stitch

Sewing instructions:

Step 1:  Fill! To get the rice neatly into the bottle, we folded a piece of letter paper in half and formed a cone to use as a funnel.  Add enough rice to nicely weigh the bottom of the bottle.  We added about 1 cup of rice.

Step 2:  Wrap! Measure the height of your bottle along the side.  Cut a piece of bonded fibrefill this height across the width of the fibre fill.  Our piece was 10” x 64”. Wrap the bottle in the fiberfill and pin in place as shown.

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Thread a hand-sewing needle with a length of thread long enough to stitch from the bottom of the bottle to the top and back again.  Using long stitches, hand-sew the end of the wrap in place as shown.

Step 3:  Stuff. Measure snugly around the wrapped bottle.  Our measurement was 19.5”. Cut a piece of jersey knit the measurement around the wrapped bottle PLUS 1” for seam allowances by the height of the bottle PLUS 2” for seam allowances and ease.  Our calculation:  19.5” + 1” = 20.5” and 10” + 2” = 12”, so we cut a piece 20.5” wide by 12” tall.

Using a zigzag stitch, make a ½” hem at the bottom edge of the fabric.  Repeat for the top edge of the fabric.

Using a zigzag stitch, make a ½” hem at the bottom edge of the fabric.  Repeat for the top edge of the fabric. Fold the piece in half with the right sides facing each other.  Using a straight stitch and ½” seam, sew along the raw edge. Leave the hems open (i.e. do not stitch through the hems).  Turn the tube right side out and slide it over the wrapped bottle.  The bottom of the fabric tube should line up with the bottom of the wrapped bottle.  At the top, the fabric should extend past the top of the wrapped bottle. Line up the lengthwise seam with the join in the fibrefill.  This will be the back of your Snowman.

Step 4:  Cinch. Start with the bottom hem of the fabric tube.  Take a blunt needle or safety pin and use it to draw a strong thread or lightweight cord through the channel created by the hem.  Then cinch in the hem so it pulls the fabric in toward the bottle as shown in the second image.  Tie a secure knot in the thread or cord to hold the cinching. Trim thread or the cord close to the knot.

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Repeat the process at the top edge of the fabric tube.  This time, cinch the fabric all the way up to the cap of the bottle before securing it with a knot (Second photo below) and trimming the thread/cord.

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Step 5:  Dress. It’s time to dress our little friend.  Let’s start with a cozy scarf.  Cut a strip of ribbing approximately 6” by 18” (the perfect size for our Snowman, you may be short/longer depending on the size of your bottle). The length of the scarf should run parallel to the length of the fabric. 

Cut ½” wide fringe into the ends of the scarf.  The length of our fringe is approximately 1”.  Tie the scarf tightly around the bottle to create a pleasing Snowman shape.  Make sure the ends of the scarf are sitting level with each other.  Make sure the seam in the main fabric is facing to the back of your Snowman.

Now to make a festive hat.  Cut a piece of ribbing about 19” wide by 18” long (single layer).

Fold in half lining up the two 18” sides.  Starting with a backstitch 1” from the top edge, sew along this seam with ½” seam allowance.  Stop sewing and backstitch 1” from the bottom edge.

Press the seam open with an iron. Create a doubled tube by bringing the lower edge up to the top edge with the “wrong sides” facing each other as shown in the second image.  You are creating a little toque (or beanie).  The lower folded edge is the opening, and the top will be closed to create a little pom-pom.

Through all layers cut a fringe into the top (raw edges) of the hat (similar to the fringed scarf (i.e. 1/2” wide by 1”).  DO NOT cut into the lower folded edge!

Cut a 1” strip of the ribbing along the length of the fabric.  Lay this strip under the hat, approximately 2”-3” from the top edge of the hat.  Tie a bow in the strip to cinch the top of the hat and create a fringed pom-pom.  Clip the ends of the tie to match the length of the fringe.

Slip the hat snugly onto your Snowman with the seam of the hat facing the back of the Snowman.  Flip up the brim at the front of the hat to reveal their little face. Tuck the back of the hat into the scarf at the back to keep it securely in place.

Enjoy your new wintery friend or gift them to someone you love.  Then, grab another bottle out of your recycling bin and make another one! 

If you loved this tutorial, let us know by leaving a comment! If you want us to tackle certain sewing techniques, or a D.I.Y. you have in mind be sure to leave a comment. Our Newsletter subscribers are the first to know of new Blog Posts so be sure to sign up using the Newsletter bar at the bottom of the blog. 

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