How To Sew Ears On A Hoodie: A Guide to Crafting Your Own

Who doesn’t love hoodies? They are a beloved fashion staple of all time. 

A necessity of winter and perfectly capable for keeping us warm and cozy during chilly days, millions of brandee hoodies are sold all around the world. 

But what if you wanna take your hoodie to the next level of personalization by adding a touch of whimsy and bespokeness?  As people who appreciate the art of sewing with our hearts, We all wanna do that right? To make our clothes extra special! 

Well…here is a simple solution to fulfill that desire without breaking much expense. It won’t take much time Or effort at all. 

The answer is simple: sew on some ears! 

In this piece, let me tell you everything you need to know to craft your own unique hoodie.  We’ll start by covering the stuff and take a look at the actual method you need to follow. 

Interested? Great, let’s begin… 

1.Preparations Stage

Alright, begin by gathering all the right stuff. There are seven things to this properly plus one additional one depending on the final result you want. 

1.1 Hoodie

First of all, any hoodie, of course! This one is no brainer right? 

Wrong! You only wanna choose a hoodie that is not only your preferred fabric color that you got for your ear but needs to be strong enough to support the weight of the ears. 

One of the most recommended ones are the cotton lycra. Opt for that one in case of any trouble. 

1.2 Fabric for Ears 

Second is the star of the project: the ears, particularly its fabric material. 

Similar to the above point, you only wanna select a fabric for the ears that complements your hoodie.  Also, make sure it’s sturdy enough to hold its shape properly. Most people prefer cotton fabric for this purpose.

1.3 Batting (optional)

This one is optional though I personally love it, The batting. This is particularly useful If you want your ears to have some volume. 

1.4 Sewing Machine and seeing tools

On to the back bone of the project, a modern sewing machine. Yes, you can use a singer machine but it is recommended to use a new one for better quality and finishing. 

Then comes the thread! Just choose a thread that matches the color, Some Pins or Clips, Sharp scissors are essential for trimming seams. 

2. How To Sew Ears On A Hoodie

Alright, now get over actual methodology in proper steps. 

2.1 Cutting pattern and Hoodie Piece

First of all you wanna start by deciding on a hoodie pattern. 

In case you are not interested or If you don’t have a pattern, you can easily trace the hoodie onto a large sheet of paper or use pattern paper to do this. 

This step is there to ensure you have a template to double check your work with.  It also preserves the original hoodie design.

Next, depending on the pattern, cut the pieces for the hoodie.  You wanna remember here that you need two mirrored pieces for the outer hood and also two for the lining.

Here it is crucial to add a 1/4-inch seam allowance to the edges and mark you actually have to make cuts. 

Also, lining pieces should remain unaltered, as while the altered pieces will be used for the outer hood where the ears will be attached.

2.2 Designing and Cutting the Ears 

Now comes the fun part—designing your ears! 

There are no particular restrictions here, you wanna create preferred ears designed in various shapes and sizes. 

Up Next, sketch your ear design on paper and add a 1/4-inch seam allowance around the edges. Just be creative here and feel free to experiment with different shapes you like. 

Now, begin cutting four ear pieces from your chosen fabric. First, two for the front and two for the back of each ear. Also, if you want your ears to have volume, make sure to cut two pieces of batting for each ear as well.

2.3 Assembling the Ears

Okay on to the fourth step? 

It’s time to begin the assembly. First, here if you give your ears structure and volume in your ears.

Now, layer the two ear fabric pieces with the batting in between properly.  Then, begin sew around the edges just remember leaving the bottom open for turning. 

Next up, Trim any excess batting and turn the ear right side out.  Now, all that is left is to press the ear to flatten and shape it. Just repeat this process for all your ear pieces.

2.4 Attaching the Ears to the Hood

Position the altered hood pieces with the outer hood pieces right sides together. Mark the desired placement for your ears on one side of the hood, ensuring they are symmetrical.

Insert the ears between the layers, with the batting inside. Pin or clip the ears in place.

Sew the seam with a 1/4-inch seam allowance, making sure to capture the ears securely. This stitching will help your ears stand up when the hood is complete. Repeat the process for the other side of the hood.

2.5 Pressing and Finishing

Okay fifth and final step, 

With the ears attaching process now finished, It’s time to press the seams open carefully.  First, turn your hood wrong side up and press the seam allowance open. 

One tip here is to stabilize the ears further, you can stitch along the seam allowance on both sides of the ears. Now, just assemble the outer hood with the lining, stitch the front edge, and finish the hoodie as directed as per design. 

Conclusion

Congrtes! You’ve successfully transformed an ordinary hoodie into a unique and playful fashion statement by adding ears or even hood pattern– whether they be bear ears, kitty ears, or any other type of animal ears – to your hood.

Just remember the key to achieving the perfect ear placement to add animal ears is by ensuring they are about an inch from the center seam of your hood lining and leaving space for inner ear. Your creativity is sure to delight peek-a-boo fans everywhere!