Project: Last of the Gnomes

I've finally finished all my gnomes and now I'm going to take a long break from blogging (probably three months), so I'm using this opportunity to wish you all a

  Very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.

The Wizz

Honey Bee

Woodland Gnomes

Snowman & Santa

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.

Project: Mr & Mrs Gnome

I made these over he weekend, they are so easy and great fun to make. You can decorate them in any way you wish ~ you could even make a Halloween Witch, a Santa Clause using this pattern.

Requirements:

1. Felt for body, arms (skin tone or tan as I have used), hat (your choice of colour)

2. Stretch fabric for nose (I only had pink so mine have rosy noses)

3. Yarn for beard and hair (or fur fabric)

4. Extra felt for clothes 

5. Glass sand (or you could substitute rice to add weight) and polyester filling 

6. Scissors & haemostats for turning arms in the right way

7. Extra strong threads and a set of doll needles

8. Trimmings i.e. buckle, buttons & ribbon

9. Tacky glue or hot glue gun and glue sticks

Click on pattern and save to your computer, print at 100% on A4 size paper. I always trace my pattern pieces onto quilter's plastic template, but you could use card or paper, whichever works best for you. A 3mm seam allowance is included.

Step 1: Cut out your felt and fabric pieces.

Step 2: Stitch the body back seam, arm pieces and back seam of the hat together using a small back stitch, leaving an opening on the arms large enough that you can turn them right side out.

Step 3: Close bottom by stitching all the way around, easing the two pieces together as you stitch, then turn your hat, body and arms right side out. You will need the haemostats to turn the arms out and to push the hat to a point.

Step 4: Next take your glass sand and fill in the bottom of your gnome. This will give your gnome the weight to make sure it stands up nicely. I put in approximately 250 grams before continuing to fill with polyester stuffing. Try not to overstuff him/her, just fill enough so you have a nice firm body on which to place your hat.

Step 5: Use a running stitch to gather the edge of the nose piece and pull it up slightly. Place stuffing in the middle and pull the gathering up tight so as to form a smooth round nose, then run a few stitches back and forth so it doesn't come undone. (I simply shaped their noses using the stuffing.)

Step 6: Add your beard to the boy gnome and make plaits for the girl. I used yarn separating the ply for the beard, but you could use fur fabric for his beard if you prefer. For the plaits I just used the yarn as it was. Position them on your gnomes so you are happy with the way they look. Then either stitch or glue in place to secure them.

Step 7: Stitch or glue the soft round nose in the centre of the beard, making sure you cover any stitches. (You may notice by this time I had forgotten to photograph what I was doing.)

Step 8: Use your imagination to trim you gnome's body. For my boy gnome, I cut a long strip of matching felt and added a small buckle to make his belt. For my girl gnome I used the felt to make a collar and added a couple of buttons and a ribbon bow.

Step 9: To attach the arms, thread your longest doll needle with enough strong thread that you can double it and run it through the body and back a few times, knot the ends together. Begin by running the needle through the inner side of the first arm, going back through the arm and right through the body to come out the other side, then through the second arm. Run the needle back again till it comes out of arm 1, then back again through arm 2, then come out at the back under where the hat will sit and do a couple of stitches to secure it, then cut the thread.

Step 10: Now attach your gnome’s hat placing it as close to the gnomes nose as possible, then stitch or glue  it in place. You may need to fiddle with the hat a bit until you get a look you like.

Of course you could simply reduce the size of all these items and make dolly props if you want to. Try it, it could be fun!