Since there are only a few weeks left, I want to focus on making patterns. So this week my mum asked me to make a few gnomes for presents. So, my goal this week was to make a gnome! My mum sent me an Instagram reel for what she wanted and told me I could do whatever I felt like.

So for this gnome, I wanted to try using a different stitch. This is because the gnome is going to be larger, so using a larger stitch will make the process faster! I used a half-double crochet stitch for the entire gnome and made it in 5 pieces, so it does need to get sewn together. Many crocheters like to make no sew patterns, where you don’t need to sew each arm, leg, etc. This is so that the finished product is more seamless. I like that technique but my issue is that if your stitches aren’t all the same size then the front of the piece could have big holes where the other side wouldn’t. Simply put, by not making it a no-sew pattern, I get to decide which side of the body, hat, or arm should be at the front.

Here is the pattern I made for the gnome,

Body

With red, Starting chain 4, slip stitch into the first chain and then chain 2 from that slip stitch.

R1: into small circle, hdc x10 (10)

R2: inc x10  (20)

R3: hdc x20 BLO (20)

R4: (hdc x4, inc) x4 (24)

R5-R6: hdc x24 (24)

Fasten off

Arms X2

R1: with desired skin color, sc 6 into magic circle

R2: (sc, inc) x3 (9) 

R3: switch to red, sc x9 (9) 

R4: sc, dec, sc 2, dec, sc (6) 

R5: sc 6 (6)

R6: (sc, dec) x2

Fasten leaving tail to sew

Nose

R1: with skin color, start chain 3, slip stitch into the first chain and then chain 1 from that slip stitch, hdc 10 into small hole (10)

R2: hdc x 10 (10)

Fasten leaving tail to sew

Hat 

R1: with white, Start chain 3, slip stitch into the first chain and then chain 1 from that slip stitch, hdc 6 into small hole (6)

R2: hdc x6 (6)

R3: switch to green, (hdc 2, inc) x2 (8)

R4: hdc x8 (8)

R5: switch to white, (hdc, inc) x4 (12)

R6: hdc x12 (12)

R7: switch to green, (hdc 2, inc) x4 (16)

R8: hdc x16

R9: switch to white, (hdc 3, inc) x4 (20)

R10: hdc x20 (20)

R11: switch to green, inc x20 (40)

Fasten leaving a long tail to sew.

 

Now I know that it looks confusing for those who don’t crochet, but that’s okay! These patterns I am making are not for beginner crocheters to use. I definitely recommend using a video for a pattern instead of a written pattern as a beginner.

So I think the gnome turned out very well, (my mum loved it so it got mom approved!) when I make the next one, I want to try something different with the hat, making it longer or curving it more maybe. My goal for the next gnome is to work on increasing, if you look closely at the hat, there are a few rows that look like they’re jutting out. This is either because my stitch sizes were off a little on those rows or the way I increased the gnome created those weird curves. My stitches could also be off because I used half-double crochet stitches which I’m not used to. Anyway I’m excited for the next gnome, I really hope you guys like this one!

My Gnome!!!