I’ve long wanted to make crochet gnomes to add to our Christmas decorations, but actually never got down to do that, until I took out our felted ones and saw the damages the tooth of time had left on them. I knew now was the time for some fresh ones.
My version is quite simple, since it doesn’t have legs and arms. It consists of a body, nose, hat and wool fluff for the beard. You need filling to stuff the body up and a 2.5 mm (diameter) wooden bead, or you can use filling instead of a bead. Also, you will need a sewing / tapestry needle and sewing thread.
For the gnome’s body I used doubled sport yarn and a 3mm hook for the body and a 1.9mm hook and sport yarn for the hat and nose.
Stitches in US crochet terms: chain (ch), single crochet (sc), single crochet 2 together (sc2tog), half double crochet (hdc), half double crochet 2 together (hdc2tog), double crochet (dc).
Pattern for the Gnome’s Body
Foundation and rnd1: Ch5 and join to make a ring. Sc6 in ring.
Rnd 2: sc2 in all (12)
Rnd 3: sc2 in all (24)
Rnd 4: sc1 in all (24)
Rnd 5: sc2 in one st., sc2 in next (36)
Rnd 6: repeat rnd 5 (54)
Rnd 7: sc1 in all (54)
Rnd 8: sc1, sc2tog (36)
Rnds 9- 15: sc1 in all (36)
Rnd 16: repeat rnd 8 (24)
Rnds 17-18: sc1 in all (24) You can start stuffing it here .
Rnd 19: repeat rnd 8 (12)
Rnd 20: sc1 in all (12)
Rnd 21- end: sc2tog.
When you make the first decrease at round 8, it will create dents at the edge, so fill those up quite nicely. Insert fingers inside (or your hook), pop those dents out and fill up.
Pattern for the Gnome’s Hat (top down)
Foundation and rnd1: Ch4 and join to make a ring. Sc1 in all (4) (you do not single crochet in the ring, but directly into the stitches).
Rnd 2: sc2 in one, sc1 in next st. (6)
Rnd 3: sc1 in all (6)
Rnd 4: repeat rnd 2 (9)
Rnds 5-6: sc1 in all (9)
Rnd 7: sc1 in one st, hdc2 in next, dc1 in next 2 sts., hdc2 in next,sc1 in next four stitches (11)
Rnd 8: sc1 in first stitch, hdc1 in next nine stitches, sc1 in last st. (11)
Rnd 9: hdc1 in first st., hdc2 in next 2 sts.,dc2 in next 4 sts.,hdc2 in next 3 sts.,hdc1 in last st. (20)
Rnd 10: hdc1 in all (20)
Rnd 11: sc1, hdc2tog, dc1 in next 3 sts.,hdc1 in next, hdc2tog three times (16)
Rnd 12: dc1 in all (16)
Rnd 13: hdc2 in one st., hdc1 in next (24)
Rnd 14: dc1 in 8 sts., hdc1 in 8 sts., dc1 in last 8 sts. (24)
Rnd 15: hdc1 in 8 sts.,dc1 in 8 sts.,hdc1 in last 8 sts. (24)
Rnd 16: hdc2 in one st., hdc1 in next (36)
Rnd 17: hdc1 in 3 sts., hdc2 in next (45)
Rnd 18: sc1 in all (45) Leave a long tail, which you’ll use to sew the hat to the body.
Pattern for the Gnome’s Nose
Foundation and rnd1: Ch5 and join to make a ring. Sc6 in ring.
Rnd 2: sc2 in all (12)
Rnd 3: sc1 in all (12)
Rnd 4: sc2 in one st., sc2 in next (18) Insert bead here.
Rnd 5: sc2tog, sc1 (12)
Rnd 6: sc2tog, sc1 (6) Leave a long tail, which you’ll use to sew the nose to the body.
With the body finished, cut a piece of fluff of about 10 cm. Position vertically across body and fold downwards. Bring closer to the top of body and sew the fluff/beard onto it.
Thread the tail of the hat, position in such way to cover the sewn beard part, thread a tapestry needle and sew the hat on. Lastly, thread the tail of the nose and sew it onto the body.Trim beard as per your liking.
I wanted my gnomes to have one of those adorable French-style moustaches, but was too tired to sculpt them, so off you go my moustacheless gnomes!
I hope you have fun making this!
