Tutorials

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Wednesday Craft Group ~ Gnomes Galore!

in a mad rush toward this weekend's school festival craft stall we made gnomes ~ gnomes galore!

loads of teeny tiny gnomes

in matchboxes
and in pendant pouches

some simple standing gnomes
and even some knitted gnomes


Here is the little pattern I made up for the knitted gnomes ~

Use size 4 -5 knitting needles – 8 ply wool scraps


Head –
Cast on 18 stiches in your choice of skin colour
Row 1: knit, row 2: purl. Repeat for a total of 10 rows

Body –
Change wool to main suit colour and knit 16 rows (26row total)

Legs –
Knit across first 9 stitches; place other 9 stitches on a small stitch holder
Knit a further 9 rows, cast off leaving a tail of about 6 inches.
For the second leg pick up the other 9 stitches and knit 10 rows. Cast off leaving a tail of about 6 inches.
Gather up both feet and stitch up the legs/body to the head section.

Arms –
Cast on 8 stitches in skin colour
Row 1: knit, row 2: purl
Change to main body colour and knit a further 6 rows, cast off leaving a tail of a few inches (8 rows in total).
Repeat for second arm. Gather hand end and stitch up arm seam leaving top open for stuffing – stuff.

Hat –
Cast on 24 stitches in your choice of hat colour
Rows 1 and 2: knit
Row 3: purl
Row 4: knit two together at each end
Row 5: purl
Repeat rows 4 and 5 until 16 stitches remain
Then only decrease every second knit row until only 10 stitches remain
Then knit two together every knit row until only one stitch remains – cast off leaving a 6 inch tail and sew up the seam.

To make up –
Gather head and stitch up head seam – leave a 1 inch opening for stuffing – stuff legs, body and head. Close the seam. Use body colour to weave in and out around neck. Pull fairly tightly to form neck and wrap around twice, tie a knot and bury it inside to finish the neck.
Stitch arms to body and attach hat to top of head.

My 100 post giveaway is still open til Sunday night.
 
If you would like to put your name in the hat you can do it here

10 comments:

Ms Brown Mouse said...

Where's Tigger's new gnome? It would appear she's eaten the last one!

W-S Wanderings said...

Gnomes make me smile. Yours are wonderful! I love the little matchbox ones. So cozy sweet :-)

S said...

It is coming Ms Brown...I'm very busy but I haven't forgotten her x

Wabi-Sabi, Thank you, I agree they are very cute - I will do a little tutorial for them some time in the next few weeks - just as soon as i catch my breath after the fair.

erin said...

I love the pendant gnomes. what type of string did you use to go around the neck?

Linda said...

How beautiful all of these treasures are Shannon!
xo
Linda

S said...

Hello Erin - they are twist ties.. the children learn to make them in kindergarten. very basically cut your string (i used lengths of 4ply cotton, but you could use embroidery floss too) about twice the length you want it to end up - maybe a little longer, hold the ends (a friend is useful)then twist like crazy, when it looks pretty twisted and before it is folding back on itself, fold it in half, hold the ends tight and pinch the cord together as you walk up the length and it will twist together...these instructions are a bit dodgy - maybe you could find a utube video on it! LOL

erin said...

Thanks Shannon, I'm going to look it up. I think I understand, but a video might be helpful. It looks super cute & I'd like to try creating a couple of those little pendants.

TwigandToadstool said...

love those gnomes!
xo maureen

Sonia said...

Hello Shannon,

First time to your blog, am loving every bit of it!! Its wonderful! My daughter goes to a Waldorf school and she loves it. I am new to needle felting and making fairies and gnomes. I really love your tiny gnomes that you made. Do you have a tutorial for it? Its my daughter's birthday next week and I am SURE she will love it. Can you please please tell me how to make it?

Sonia

S said...

Sorry Sonia - I have been away from home for a fortnight. I do have a pattern, and basic instructions for the tiny gnomes that i could email you - leave me your email address, you can go back and delete the comment straight after, I will still get it. Cheers, S