For several years, our shop manager Kate has been making the paper snowflakes and 3D paper stars customers can see in our shop windows, and so we thought we’d share some of her favorite holiday DIY crafts!
First up is an easy peasy tutorial to make miniature winter hats for a holiday garland— or, as we plan to use them, toppers on bottles of wine and homemade cranberry cordial! This is a craft that can be done with your wee ones, but as it involves scissors, some adult supervision may be necessary.
Happy crafting, and we wish you all a sparkling holiday season!
You will need…
Yarn (this is a great way to use up the end of a skein leftover from other projects!)
Cardboard roll from paper towels or toilet tissue
Scissors
Cotton balls
Step 1
Cut a piece of the cardboard roll, approximately 1/3” to 1/2” thick.
Step 2
Cut lengths of yarn all equal in size, approximately 5-8”. An easy way to ensure they’re all roughly the same size is to wrap multiple times around a book, and then cut through the resulting loop.
Step 3
Tie the yarn in a simple square knot onto the cardboard loop. This should be an easy one for former scouts and all the sailors here on the St. Lawrence River!
Step 4
Repeat the square knots around the circumference of the cardboard loop. I like to make sure that they are all done in the same manner, creating the loop on the outside, as it makes for a more “knitted” look in the final product.
Step 5
Push all of the threads through the central loop, creating the brim of the hat.
Steps 6 & 7
Cinch with matching yarn about 1” from the base, tying tightly in a double knot, and stuff with a cotton ball to maintain shape.
Step 8
Trim threads into a rounded shape to form the hat’s pompom topper, and voila! Mini winter hats! String together for a festive winter garland, or use as a topper on wine bottles for those last-minute gifts!