Sew a school cone: free pattern in 2 sizes

Sew a school cone: With our free pattern and sewing instructions, you can create a custom-made school cone for the first day of school.

• You can sew school cones from both elastic and non-elastic fabrics
• You only need straight seams to sew the school cone, making it perfect for beginners
• You can download the pattern for the school cone for free in 2 sizes
• The small school cone pattern is perfect as a sibling school cone
• I will explain how you can make your own school cone blank
• Sewing level: Easy
• Sewing time: 30 - 60 min.

Sew a school cone: a custom-made "Zuckertüte" for the start of school

The first day of school is a special occasion for every child. And naturally, this exciting new chapter in life includes a traditional "Zuckertüte" (school cone). Filled with wonderful things and ideally lovingly sewn by us parents. You can also make the school cone by crafting and covering it with paper, but a fabric school cone is more sustainable (read more about sustainable sewing here!) and can be used in various ways afterward as a keepsake. You will find instructions on how to easily sew a school cone yourself in this post.

YouTube Video: Sewing a school cone

What is a school cone?

A school cone (Schultüte) is a cone-shaped cardboard container that first-graders receive as a gift on their first day of school. They often contain school supplies like pens and fun erasers, but also sweets, which is why they are also called "Zuckertüten" (sugar cones). This custom has existed in Germany since the 19th century and then spread across the border to Austria.

How difficult is it to sew a school cone?

A school cone is a project that even beginners can easily master. Why? Because you only need straight seams. The great thing is: If you sew the school cone from a woven fabric, such as cotton poplin, it makes the whole process even easier. Because woven cotton is one of the easiest fabrics to work with imaginable.

So, have courage! With our free pattern and step-by-step instructions, sewing a school cone is guaranteed to work out.

What do I need to sew a school cone?

First and foremost, a cardboard school cone blank. You can buy these ready-made. For example, at Amazon^*

And then, of course, fabric. Simple woven cotton is the most suitable. However, you can also use jersey, felt, coated cotton, or canvas. There are almost no limits here.

Which fabrics are suitable for a school cone?

You can sew the school cone from a wide variety of materials. Here is a small fabric overview:

Additional accessories for sewing a school cone

• School cone blank (also available with a matching cushion insert!)
• Fabric for the closure (tulle, muslin, cotton)
• Decorative ribbons, patches, iron-on motifs, and decorations as desired
• Marking pen^*
• Sewing thread^*
• Tape measure^*
• Rotary cutter & cutting mat^* (read my test report on cutting mats!)
• Fabric scissors^*
• Iron^* and ironing board (feel free to read more about practical ironing aids)
• Fabric clips^*
• Sewing machine

How much fabric do I need for my school cone?

That depends on whether you want to sew your school cone from a single fabric or divide it into different fabrics. If you sew it from one piece, you will need 0.6m of fabric from the bolt for a school cone with a length of 70cm.

Free school cone pattern

You can make your own template for your school cone based on the blank you purchased. Or make it easy on yourself and use our free pattern for your first school cone.

You have the choice between a large standard school cone with a length of 70 cm and a diameter of 20 cm, or a sibling school cone with a length of 35 cm and a diameter of 11 cm. The procedure is the same for both sizes.

Print the pattern on DIN A4 at 100% scale without page scaling. Choose the print setting "Print document and all marks" so that the labels on the pattern are also printed.

Cut out the pattern pages along the blue (dashed) line and tape them together. You can also use one edge as a gluing strip. When taping together, the cut lines should meet exactly.

What if I can't find a school cone blank?

If you cannot find a cardboard blank, you can make one yourself. Simply use the pattern as a template, go to a well-stocked stationery store, and get photo board or poster board. Since most stores only carry standard sizes of 50cm x 70cm, your school cone will be slightly narrower. You should adjust the pattern accordingly.

How do I cover a school cone with fabric?

It is not really "covered" with fabric. You sew a type of cover and slip it over the blank. Similar to a pillowcase over a pillow. This cover should fit as tightly as possible without deforming the blank. Afterward, the blank is simply pulled back out, and the cover can be repurposed.

What can I do with the school cone cover later?

The cover is often stuffed with a cushion filling as a keepsake and used by the child for cuddling. If you would like to do this, try not to design your closure with tulle. This can be a bit scratchy when cuddling. You can easily find ready-made cushion fillings in the shape of a school cone^* online.

But you can also turn it into a laundry bag, sew a gym bag, sew smaller pouches, a utensilo (with pattern), or sew a wall organizer to store toys. You can also store small stuffed animals in it and thus use it as a cushion again. Plan for a little leftover fabric and cord for such projects. If you sew it from jersey, it might turn into a fun hat or a self-sewn beanie. Let your imagination run wild.

What must my sewing machine be able to do to sew a school cone?

You need a straight stitch and possibly a zigzag stitch for finishing edges. Use a universal needle. I prefer a size 70. If you use coated fabrics, a walking foot could be helpful. Maybe your machine is already equipped with one. An example is the IDT system from Pfaff.

Let’s get started!

Bonus: Free sibling school cone pattern

Here is a small tip on the side: Siblings are also, of course, happy if they receive a special sibling school cone when their brother or sister starts school.

You can use our small school cone pattern to sew the sibling school cone. The sibling school cone is sewn exactly the same way as the "big" school cone.

What can you fill the school cone with?

Maybe you are wondering what you can pack in the school cone? Of course, you can also fall back on self-sewn surprises here. This is especially great because you can tailor them completely to the taste of the little one. And sewing it yourself is inexpensive anyway. A few examples?

• Hand warmers
• Headband
• Sensory pillow
• Soap pouch
• Sensory memory game
• Pencil case
• Gym bag
• Beanie hat
• Sewn cards
• Scrunchie
• Bunting

But purchased treasures are also perfect for the school cone. Particularly popular are

• Water bottle^*
• Lunchbox with compartments^*
• Homework diary^*
• Wax crayons^*
• Colored pencils^*
• Watercolor set^*
• Sharpener^*
• Eraser^*
• Stickers^*
• Fountain pen with name^*
• Scratch art^*
• Umbrella^*
• Educational games^*
• Creative kits^*
• Learning clocks^*
• Card game^*

My tip: A mix of homemade and purchased items is perfect and provides variety. It is especially nice if you also pay attention to sustainability when filling the school cone. This includes ensuring that the selected gifts are well-made, stable, child-safe, and durable.

Conclusion: Sewing a school cone is very easy!

Who would have thought that sewing a school cone is so easy? And not only that: The homemade school cones are much more personal and can be completely tailored to the taste of the first-grader.

It is also great that you can create the school cone and outfit to match, for example, by sewing a color-coordinated jacket.

Of course, the self-sewn school cone is many times cheaper than the store-bought version. Not to mention the fact that it’s just a nice feeling to make a school cone for your child yourself, isn't it? :)

By the way: You can also use the pattern with longitudinal divisions. It looks like this, for example:

Happy simple sewing, your Sabine