That's Woolly Something

Woolly Gnome

This pattern originated shortly after the release of the candy corn pattern. Do you notice a correlation shapewise? It creates a perfect Santa shape, as well as a Leprechaun and a witch, and who knows what else?

Look under Coffee Dyed Roving for directions on how to dye the roving for the beards. Dying the roving gives the beard a more rustic look.

Gnomes for all Seasons.

Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn, they are all displayed here (below)! Add your own favorite seasonal personalities to each gnome.

Two Sizes.

Both gnomes used the same pattern, the only difference is in the needles and yarns used. The garden gnome on the left, used 2 strands of Nature Spun worsted weight yarn carried together and size 13 needles. The gnome on the right is the traditional size and measures about 7 inches after felting.

The smaller gnome uses one strand of worsted weight yarn and size 10.5 double point needles. What's nice about the larger gnome is that it gives more room for embellishing. The embroidered vegetables are stitched using a fine 2-ply yarn. A tomato was created using red roving and needle felted into a ball. I added a stem and attached it to the top of the hat.

Curly Mohair Beards.

The curly, wild looking beard above was created using 'washed mohair locks'. They are short pieces of silky soft mohair, the first clippings of a kid goat. The short pieces are then needle felted to the face individually, until a full-beard is created.

The mohair locks come in 1 and 2 ounce packages. I have also bought them dyed in blacks, purples, all colors. They are perfect addition for the witch's hair!

Mitilda the Witch.

This gnome was great fun to create.

For directions on how I made this, click HERE.

Saint Patrick's Day Leprechaun.

This little leprechaun is a great gift for that Irish family member or friend. Click HERE for directions on how I made this gnome.

Woolly Santa Claus.

These two Santas vary in size again. The one on the left is the traditional size gnome, using worsted weight yarn and size 10.5 needles. The Santa on the right is smaller, using sport weight yarn and size 7 or 8 double point needles. The Santa hat's shimmery brim (left) is the result of carrying Trendsetters Aura white novelty yarn along with Nature Spun's Aran as you knit the I-Cord bindoff to create the hat's brim.

The hat brim on the sport weight gnome (right) was knit using cream yarn and then machine felted, according to pattern directions. After felting, a piece of cream roving was twisted slightly creating a rope and then it was needle felted over the knitted brim. This technique creates a fluffier-looking edge that matches the needle felted roving ball at its tip. To create tiny polka dots, little seed beads were sewn to the hat.

Santa's Beard.

The curly, wild looking beard on the larger Santa uses the 'washed mohair locks'. The short pieces are needle felted to the Santa's face individually, until a full-beard is created. The smaller Santa uses clean, white wool roving needle felted into a closer, cropped beard.

My Garden Gnome.

This is my ultimate favorite gnome! Don't you just love his facial expression? Be sure to play with the shape of the gnome's beard, giving him more personality.

Cucumber Gnome (right).

The cucumbers were made out of green polymer clay. I poked a hole in the end of each cucumber before baking them. The leaves are cut from acrylic felt.

Green floral wire is strung through the cucumbers and about the hat, wrapping the ends around a dp needle to create curly cues.

The watering can was found in a miniature store. A great place to find small gardening tools, as well.