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Monday

Project: Christmas Gifts

I had so much fun making the first two little gnomes, I decided to make some for friends and I'm not finished yet. However, I thought I'd share the first three couples to see if I can inspire some of you to take out your needles and thread.


These were inspired by the gingerbread man (you may remember this little guy). Using tee shirt fabric for the nose means you can stuff it as full as you'd like, and in this case I wanted my boy gnome to have a huge nose.


These two forest gnomes feel the cold, so they are wearing mittens. I used the initial arm pattern to draw the shape and added 5mm to the seam so the mittens would slip over the finished arm. Then I stitched them on using a running stitch (tacking stitch) pulling it up tightly to give it a slight gathered look.

For the first two gnomes and this little guy's moustache I used wool roving and for this girl's plaits I used yarn.


This time I added stripes to the hats and stitched them in place using blanket stitch (same as buttonhole stitch). Once again using the wool roving for whiskers and plaits, as well as giving them mittens to wear.

I'm going to make a few more, but I think I may try adjusting the hat pattern to give them a slightly different look. I may even make a couple with dangly legs as I think these are a great way to use up more of my stash. 

If you need me to answer any questions, just give me an "ahoy" in the message box.


33 comments:

  1. A gnome army :). I love the little details you added, the belts, mittens and the apron. I have not yet gotten around to make one. When I find the time I might add some eyes. Some of those that move when you shake them are somewhere in my stach.

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    1. Hahaha! I never thought of a gnome army Mia, but I did think about adding "kids". Honestly I can think of so many variations for these, they will keep me sewing for ages! I have seen some with eyes, but they were the black boot button type like they use in some teddy bears. I'm going to do some with ginger whiskers as I have quite a lot of wool roving on hand and it saves me buying fur fabric.
      Big hugs,
      X

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  2. Theyre adorable.
    I immediately pictured a couple of little Vikings made like this.

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    1. Thanks Rachel. Oh yes, Vikings look great with those little hats with horns, are you going to make some?
      Big hugs,
      X

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  3. The gnomes are so cute. :) I love their little hats.
    -Quinley

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  4. They are so great! :)

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  5. I really like the colors and different "themes" that you used with this, Xanadu.

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    1. You know me Barb, doing them the same would be boring and it's fun coming up with different gnomes. I'm really pleased you like them, now I just have to think of a few more . . . any suggestions?
      Big hugs,
      X

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    2. What do you think of angel gnomes?

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    3. Yes, they would both be cool too Barb, especially for Christmas. I think this is a real case where one would only be limited by their imagination or Pinterest! Hahaha! There are some terrific ones, there are witches, bike riders, vampires, gardeners, skiers and fishermen.

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  6. Some of your friends are very lucky this year! I love them all - yes and a couple of Vikings would look great, too.
    The mittens are a great idea.

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    1. Oh it's really just a little bit of fun to make them smile Uschi and I am so enjoying making them. I'm not sure I'll tackle a pair of Vikings, but I may do one. Thanks!
      Big hugs,
      X

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  7. A great variety of gnomes you have there ! The pattern does lend its self to a nice range for the imagination . Vikings sounds good, they have a similar look to start with.
    Various sizes sounds good too. How lucy your friends are going to be ! hugs x

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    1. Thanks Dee, I'm finding this creative burst very comforting after losing Coco, making these keeps my mind occupied and hand busy. :)
      Not quite sure how my friends will react, but hopefully they will bring a smile.
      Big hugs,
      X

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    2. Good that's it's helping keep you busy. I'm sure your friends will feel Lucy if not Lucky even ! ;) hugs xx

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    3. 🤣🤣🤣

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  8. Oh my gosh these are so cute! Your friends will be thrilled with their gifts, so thoughtful of you.
    Big Hugs,
    Dorian

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    1. Thank you so much Dorian. I can see I'm going to have felt scraps that will need to be used up, so I may make some decorations for my tree next. :)
      Big hugs,
      X

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  9. It seems like you've been having a lot of fun making these guys. And you seem to work really fast! I work at such a slow pace that it would take me two weeks to complete 1. From the bunch, my favourites are the first couple, maybe because they look more "Christmassy" to me. I love how you managed to make all of them quite different by changing the color schemes and tweaking things here and there.
    Have a lovely rest of the week.

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    1. Oh yes MC loads of fun, they seem to take on a character of their own as I sew. I think you could manage a pair in a week if you put your mind to it. I like to sew by hand, but some of the gnome could be sewn on your machine. It's so easy to change the look of them that way. :)
      You too, bug hugs,
      X

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  10. Thanks Linda, I think it adds a little more interest, I may add feet yet. :) I'm not going to Vikings, but I do have others in mind. I'll show you when I'm done.
    Big gnugs to you too! 🤣
    X

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  11. Hola Xanadu, veo que te has divertido mucho haciéndolos, te han quedado muy bien, seguro que les gusta a tus amigos, estoy deseando ver cuáles más haces.
    Besos

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    1. Muchas gracias Maribel, solo quedan un par más para terminar ahora, así que pronto se los mostraré.
      Grandes abrazos,
      X

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  12. Awww, they are so cute! I especially love the last couple! The mittens are fantastic idea.. and I also though of Vikings ;)! Maybe some Valkyries even, with tiny wings on their caps ;)

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    1. Thanks Chiriann, but what is about Vikings that has you drawn to them? So many of my readers have referred to them. Why don't you make a Valkyrie and let us see what you imagine...perhaps I should issue a challenge to all my readers?? That would be interesting. 😂
      Big hugs,
      X

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  13. These are lovely!!! I'm glad to see you being as creative as algways.
    Big hugs

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    1. Thank you so much Alejandra ... how have you been, it's been ages!
      Big hugs,
      X

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    2. I've been okay, still fixing my house on my own, started a little garden too :D

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    3. I understand, fixing up a house takes a lot of time when you are doing it all by yourself, but it's very satisfying too. We are about to renovate our kitchen ourselves, the only thing we can't do ourselves is the electrical, luckily we have found a terrific electrician who's already begun working with us. Cannot wait until we finish, it will take us a while (hence the break from blogging) but it will be worth it. 😊

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  14. Hello and look at these gnomes! :) Great with mittens, so they do not freeze.
    Big hugs!

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