The school cone, also known as the sugar cone, is an integral part of the start of school in Germany, Austria and parts of Switzerland. This tradition dates back to the early 19th century and has since become deeply embedded in the culture of these countries.
The school cone aka sugar cone
Its symbolic value was and is to make the start of school a joyful event for children by giving them a candy and other small gifts on their first day of school.
Historically, the cone was intended to sweeten the children's entry into the often serious world of school and to make the transition easier for them. This tradition has changed over the years, so that today, in addition to sweets, school materials, small games and books also find space in the school cone.
Is a school cone still appropriate?
The emotional value of a homemade school cone is considerable. A custom-designed school cone can reflect the child's personality and interests, making it a unique and personal gift. Making a school cone is not only a creative task, but also an emotional experience that can strengthen the bond between parent and child.
Spending time together and creating something unique can be very meaningful for the child and make them feel like they are holding something special in their hands. A homemade school cone can also become a valuable keepsake that the child may keep for many years.
Make your own school cone
You can easily make the right school cone yourself. Often, the shops don't have the right thing for your child, or they have very specific ideas about what exactly should be on the school cone.
Making these bags yourself is also a way of showing your child how important you think their start to school is. After all, anyone can buy them! childergartens often offer the opportunity to make their own school bags, but not every kindergarten child is that lucky.
If you are on your own, that is no problem. There are also great books on the Internet and in bookstores with suggestions on this topic. Sometimes it is enough to just look at the suggestions to come up with your own ideas.
Materials for making your own school cones
Of course, you won't want to forget things like glue, scissors or hot glue. You will also need sturdy cardboard paper in DIN A1 (sometimes you can get pre-made ones especially for school cone makers!) and around 2 sheets of pattern paper in DIN A1 or A2 (this will be glued to the cardboard paper later).
It is important to make sure that the box is of good quality, because the school cone you make will be filled with plenty of stuffing. To decorate the school cone, you can use wide gift ribbon as a hem and of course fabric (preferably gauze) to close the cone at the end to keep it away from prying eyes.
And then of course you need all the things for the motif. This can vary greatly depending on the child's wishes. Some girls want a mermaid design for their crafted school cone (a net in addition to the gauze would be fun here), a boy might be happy with a lion ensemble - here you can also make the crafted school cone something really special with a bit of faux fur on the hem!
Glue the candy cone
Once you have the materials you need to make the school cone, you can begin. The sturdy, white cardboard paper is the basis of the school cone. Since this cardboard is often colorless, you should stick the pattern sheets onto it first.
The color of the pattern sheets should be chosen depending on the theme of the school cone. Blue for pirates or mermaids, green for football pitches, brightly colored for Pippi Longstocking. When making the school cone, you should make sure that no waves are created when gluing the pattern paper to the cardboard.
Then let the whole thing dry for at least an hour and a half. Then roll up the cardboard like an ice cream cone. The school cone will be secured and durable if you glue the edges with hot glue and also use a stapler! Remember that the school cone you make must be absolutely sturdy; nothing would be worse on the first day of school than if the cone broke or ripped in the middle of the school party!
Decorate and design
Once the school cone is made and stable, you can continue. Draw a border (depending on your taste, maybe 5-10 centimeters) from the top edge around the cone. The fabric is then glued onto this. First, put the rest into the cone and then glue the ribbon border or the fur (for lion or cat cones) or the net (for sea creature or mermaid cones) over the fabric onto the previously marked edge.
There are no limits to your creativity when choosing materials. Now you can take the fabric out of the school cone you have made. Finally, after filling the school cone, tie it together with the gift ribbon. Now you can start working on the motif in peace. You can get inspiration on the internet or in books, as described in part one!
Buying a school cone as an alternative?
On the other hand, purchasing a school cone is available as a time-efficient and convenient alternative. Purchased school cones are readily available and can provide an easy solution for parents who don't have time to do crafting. Professionally designed school cones often look more visually appealing and offer a variety of designs that many crafters cannot achieve at home. For working parents or those who do not consider themselves particularly skilled at crafts, purchasing a school cone is a stress-free and practical option.