What ugly Christmas sweater fits a baby bump, and which ones announce the baby?

What ugly Christmas sweater fits a baby bump?

An ugly Christmas sweater fits a baby bump when it has extra room through the middle: a maternity cut, an open front, or a stretchy knit a size or two up. Here are the four kinds that work, from the most bump room to the least:

• A maternity-cut ugly sweater. Tipsy Elves makes two: the Women’s Best Gift Ever Maternity Bow Christmas Sweater and the Women’s Big Reveal Reversible Sequin Maternity Christmas Sweater. Both come in XS to 3X, and both are 100% acrylic, hand wash or dry clean only. All eight sizes of both were in stock on November 7, 2026.
• An open cardigan or vest. Nothing has to stretch over the bump, so an open ugly Christmas cardigan works from the first trimester to the last weeks. Tipsy Elves’ women’s ugly Christmas sweaters collection had 18 cardigans on November 7, 2026, and the 15 full-length ones all go to 3X.
• A regular ugly sweater, sized up. Fine for a small bump, but check the waist number on the store’s chart first (the numbers are below).
• A homemade one on a maternity or nursing top that already fits you (see the DIY section).

Which stores sell maternity ugly Christmas sweaters?

Very few stores sell maternity ugly Christmas sweaters: Tipsy Elves is the only ugly sweater specialist we found with real maternity designs, and Amazon and Etsy sellers fill in the rest. On November 7, 2026, we read the online catalogues of eight maternity brands, 17,999 listings in all: Angel Maternity, Hatch, Ingrid & Isabel, Isabella Oliver, Kindred Bravely, Latched Mama, Motherhood Maternity and PinkBlush. Not one listing had “ugly” in its name, and not one top had Christmas, Santa, reindeer, gingerbread or elf in its name. Over at the ugly sweater stores, Tipsy Elves had 2 maternity sweaters among its 2,505 products, and UglyChristmasSweater.com had none among its 248 sweaters with sizes.

So where else can you look? Pregnancy Christmas sweaters on Amazon come from lots of sellers, and many are printed sweatshirts or tees, so read each listing’s material and size chart. Etsy shops make custom announcement sweaters with your own words. And if you’d like cozy and festive rather than tacky, Hatch’s Pippa Fairisle Sweater is a merino Fair Isle knit that Hatch describes as a boxy, straight shape for easy layering that accommodates the bump at any stage, in XS to XL.

How much bump room does a regular ugly sweater have?

A regular ugly sweater has much less room around the middle than a maternity cut with the same size letter. Tipsy Elves’ own charts show the gap: its women’s sweater chart is built for a 29-30.5 inch natural waist in a medium, while its maternity jumpsuit chart allows a belly of up to 47 inches in the same medium.

Does sizing up a regular ugly sweater work when you’re pregnant?

Sizing up a regular ugly sweater works for a small bump, but each size adds only a few inches around the middle. On UglyChristmasSweater.com’s size chart, every size step adds 4 inches of waist, from 24-26 inches in an XS to 52-54 inches in a 4XL. On Tipsy Elves’ women’s sweater chart, each step adds 2 to 5 inches of natural waist: a medium is 29-30.5, a large 32-33.5 and an XL 35.5-37. So going up two sizes from a medium buys about 6 to 8 inches of waist at those two stores, while Tipsy Elves’ own maternity jumpsuit chart allows up to 47 inches of belly in a medium. Going up also makes the shoulders and sleeves bigger: an UglyChristmasSweater.com XL’s arm is about 2 inches longer than a medium’s (34.5-35 vs 32.5-33 inches). One more thing to keep in mind: a waist on a size chart is the body the sweater is made for, not the sweater’s own measurement, and knits stretch. Use these numbers as a guide to how much room each cut is planned around.

Do maternity ugly sweater size charts list body length?

No, none of the ugly sweater or maternity charts we read lists a body length, and length is what decides whether a sweater covers the bump. Tipsy Elves’ charts list bust and natural waist, UglyChristmasSweater.com lists chest, waist and arm length, and Hatch lists bust and hip. The only length hint we found was Kindred Bravely calling its Cloud Fleece Half Zip Nursing Pullover a “waist-length cut”. Before you order, lay a top that covers your bump flat, measure it from the shoulder seam to the hem, and ask the store how long its sweater is in your size.

How do you measure yourself for a maternity ugly sweater?

To measure yourself for a maternity ugly sweater, take three numbers: your bust, your bump at its fullest point, and the length you want from shoulder to hem. Then match them on the store’s own chart, picking the size you’ll need on party day.

1. Bust: a soft tape under your arms, around the fullest part, level with the floor. That’s how Tipsy Elves’ and Hatch’s charts say to measure.
2. Bump: around the largest part of the bump. Tipsy Elves’ maternity chart says to Measure around largest part of pregnant stomach circumference, and Hatch measures the waist over the belly at the widest part.
3. Length: from the shoulder seam to where you want the hem, using a top that covers your bump now.
4. Count the weeks: if you’re 24 weeks along on November 13, you’ll be 29 weeks at a party on National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day, Friday, December 18, 2026. Leave room for those 5 weeks.

Maternity brand Hatch has simple advice for its own knits: Your pre-pregnancy size is the best starting point to find your size at HATCH. Between sizes, Hatch’s size guide says to size up for a more relaxed fit.

Which ugly sweaters work as a pregnancy announcement?

The best pregnancy announcement ugly sweaters make people look twice: a reveal, a gift bow on the bump, or a few clear words. Tipsy Elves’ Big Reveal Reversible Sequin Maternity sweater has sequins that flip to show a hidden design, its listing says, and the Best Gift Ever Maternity Bow sweater puts a big bow on the front. UglyChristmasSweater.com’s Ugly Christmas Sweater Gift Wrapping Bow Cardigan (XS to 3XL) is an open-front version of the same joke.

Words that stay sweet and office-safe on an announcement sweater:

• “Baby’s First Christmas” with an arrow pointing down at the bump
• Bun in the Oven over a felt gingerbread oven door
• “Santa’s Newest Elf” or “Elf in Progress”
• Your due month on a big gift tag: Do not open until May

You’ll find ready-made pregnancy announcement Christmas sweaters on Amazon, and Etsy shops will print your own wording.

What can an expecting couple wear together?

An expecting couple can match with one maternity sweater and one regular ugly sweater in the same theme. A few ideas: a gift bow on the bump and a “Best Gift Ever” tag on the partner; “Mom to Be” and “Dad to Be” (or two “Mom to Be”s); or two big felt snowmen with a tiny snowman on the bump. Amazon has matching pregnancy Christmas sweaters for couples, and a Best couple or group award was named on 6 of the 15 contest pages we counted for our contest guide.

Is an open cardigan or vest better than a pullover when you’re pregnant?

An open cardigan or vest is often easier than a pullover later in pregnancy, because nothing has to stretch across the bump and you can open it when the party gets warm. Kristin Manna made the same point in Romper on November 20, 2017:

Can we just say how much we love a bump-as-ornament sweater? One felt circle and a little gold cap, and suddenly the whole room is grinning at the cutest decoration at the party.

A sweater vest is a great way to show off your baby bump while not feeling suffocated. Just keep the buttons open and let that belly hang out.

Where to find one: Tipsy Elves’ women’s collection had 18 ugly Christmas cardigans on November 7, 2026. Fifteen are full length and go to 3X, like the Gaudy Garland, Gingerbread Man and Tacky Tinsel cardigans. Three are cropped (Christmas Cowgirl, Tinsel Light Up and Cozy Knit Checker Mint), so they won’t cover a bump. UglyChristmasSweater.com had three cardigans, including the A Christmas Story Leg Lamp Button Up Cardigan in XS to 5XL. Amazon has women’s ugly Christmas cardigans and ugly Christmas sweater vests too.

1. Nursing a baby at the party? Yes: wear a button-front or zip nursing top and add pin-on decorations.
2. Announcing the baby at the party? Yes: pick a reveal or bow maternity sweater, or put a DIY design on the bump.
3. Bump still small on party day? Yes: your usual ugly sweater, or one size up after checking the waist number.
4. Bump big or growing fast? Pick a maternity-cut sweater, or an open cardigan or vest.

What can you wear to an ugly sweater party while breastfeeding?

To an ugly sweater party while breastfeeding, wear a top with nursing access, like a button-front cardigan, a side-button sweater or a half zip, and make it ugly with pin-on decorations so the access still works. Three plain nursing tops that make good bases:

• Kindred Bravely’s Ultra Soft Maternity & Postpartum Cardigan, S to 3X, with Button-down access for easy breastfeeding; all seven sizes in grey heather were in stock on November 7, 2026.
• Angel Maternity’s Remi Maternity Nursing Knit Jumper, XS/S to XL/2XL, with side buttons for breastfeeding (33% polyester, 32% nylon, 30% acrylic, 5% wool).
• Kindred Bravely’s Cloud Fleece Half Zip Nursing Pullover, S to 3X, whose zipper goes below the bust. It was sold out in grey heather on November 7, 2026.

Any full-length ugly Christmas cardigan worn open over a nursing tank works too. Think about where the baby rests while you hold them: keep bells, sequins and pom-poms off the shoulder and upper chest, and put the big decorations low on the front.

How do you make a DIY pregnant ugly Christmas sweater?

A DIY pregnant ugly Christmas sweater makes the bump the star of the show. Start with a sweater, sweatshirt or cardigan that already fits your bump, then add one big design right on the front with felt and safety pins, so you can move it as you grow. Bump designs that people love:

• A giant ornament: a felt circle over the bump with a little cap and hook on top.
• A snow globe: a pale felt dome over the bump, a tiny snowman inside and a base underneath.
• A gingerbread oven: a felt oven door on the bump with Bun in the Oven above it.
• A Christmas pudding: a brown felt circle with white “icing” on top and a sprig of holly.
• Santa’s belly: a wide black felt belt with a gold buckle across the bump.

1. Pick the base. A maternity sweater, a nursing cardigan or a red maternity sweatshirt.
2. Cut the shapes. Craft felt sheets are easy to cut and don’t fray.
3. Attach them so they come off. Safety pins or a few loose hand stitches let you move the design as the bump grows. Press Christmas iron-on patches on before you put the sweater on, never while you’re wearing it.
4. Add the extras. Tinsel trim, pom-poms and a gift tag with your due month.

Homemade sweaters do well at contests, too: “Best DIY” was named on 8 of the 15 contest pages we counted for our ugly sweater contest guide.

When should you order a maternity ugly sweater for a December party?

Order a maternity ugly sweater as soon as you know the party date, in the size you’ll need on that day rather than today. National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day is Friday, December 18, 2026, and the first Hanukkah candle is Friday, December 4 (our ugly Hanukkah sweater guide has ship-by dates). On November 7, 2026, all eight sizes of both Tipsy Elves maternity sweaters were in stock, but in Tipsy Elves’ plus-size collection only 2 of 17 sweaters still had a 3X that day, so bigger sizes can go first. Our 2026 party checklist has the invite dates if you’re hosting.

Now go find that sweater, jingle-bump champion. Measure for party day, keep it cozy, and let that bump be the brightest ornament in the room.

Sources and further reading

• Tipsy Elves: Women’s Best Gift Ever Maternity Bow Christmas Sweater (read November 7, 2026) — XS-3X; 100% acrylic; hand wash or dry clean only
• Tipsy Elves: Women’s Big Reveal Reversible Sequin Maternity Christmas Sweater (read November 7, 2026) — XS-3X; reversible sequins; 100% acrylic
• Tipsy Elves: Size charts — women’s sweaters bust and natural waist; Pregnant Maternity Jumpsuits belly circumference
• Tipsy Elves: Women’s ugly Christmas sweaters (read November 7, 2026) — 72 items, 18 cardigans
• UglyChristmasSweater.com: Ugly Sweater Size Guide — chest, waist and arm length, XS-4XL; no body length
• UglyChristmasSweater.com: Ugly Christmas Sweater Gift Wrapping Bow Cardigan — XS-3XL
• UglyChristmasSweater.com: A Christmas Story Leg Lamp Button Up Cardigan — XS-5XL
• Hatch: Size guide — pre-pregnancy size, bust and hip; "Your pre-pregnancy size is the best starting point"
• Hatch: The Pippa Fairisle Sweater — merino; "accommodates the bump at any stage"; XS-XL
• Kindred Bravely: Ultra Soft Maternity & Postpartum Cardigan — S-3X; button-down nursing access
• Kindred Bravely: Cloud Fleece Half Zip Nursing Pullover — S-3X; zip below the bust; waist-length cut
• Angel Maternity: Remi Maternity Nursing Knit Jumper — side buttons; XS/S-XL/2XL
• Romper: 12 Maternity Ugly Christmas Sweaters FTW (Kristin Manna, November 20, 2017) — the open sweater vest tip
• National Capital Poison Center: Swallowed a button battery? — severe damage in just 2 hours; hotline 800-498-8666

Questions and answers

Can you wear a regular ugly Christmas sweater when pregnant?

Yes. Early on, or with a small bump, a regular ugly sweater one or two sizes up usually works. Each size up adds only about 2 to 5 inches of waist on Tipsy Elves’ women’s chart and 4 inches on UglyChristmasSweater.com’s, so later in pregnancy an open cardigan, a vest or a maternity cut is easier.

What size ugly Christmas sweater should I get if I’m pregnant?

Start from your pre-pregnancy size, as the maternity brand Hatch advises, then check your bust and bump against the store’s own chart and size up if you’re between sizes. Choose the size you’ll need on party day, because your bump keeps growing after you order.

Does Tipsy Elves have maternity Christmas sweaters?

Yes. On November 7, 2026, Tipsy Elves sold two: the Women’s Best Gift Ever Maternity Bow Christmas Sweater and the Women’s Big Reveal Reversible Sequin Maternity Christmas Sweater. Both come in XS to 3X and are 100% acrylic, hand wash or dry clean only.

What do you put on a pregnancy announcement Christmas sweater?

Short, sweet words work best: “Baby’s First Christmas” with an arrow, Bun in the Oven over a gingerbread oven, “Santa’s Newest Elf”, or your due month on a gift tag. A big bow on the bump, like Tipsy Elves’ Best Gift Ever design, tells the story without any words.

How do you make a pregnant ugly Christmas sweater?

Pick a sweater or cardigan that fits your bump, then make the bump the centerpiece: a felt ornament, snow globe, gingerbread oven or Santa belt. Attach it with safety pins or a few stitches so you can move it as you grow and take it off after the holidays.