Wee Folk and Critters

I know Britta must be thinking... why would a perfectly lovely lady (me) knowingly encourage leprechauns to run amuck in the Thicket? Well.... because at heart, I think we all have a little leprechaun in us, especially at this time of year! So, I would like to introduce you to our little Gnome Leprechauns. And, yes, we do have multiple leprechauns in The Thicket, although it seems the ring leader of the group is this feisty little lad named Ronan. Ronan and his cohorts are country leprechauns, donning modified gnome hats, unlike the top hats and bowlers often seen on city leprechauns. (For those in the know... it looks a lot like a Gandalf or Sorting Hat :)

If you dare, you can make your own leprechaun... but be warned, Wee Folk Art accepts no responsibility to the havoc they may wreak! You can get the directions HERE or with our Free Patterns.  

Materials:
people turnings (wooden pegs) (2 3/8" x 7/8")
felt pieces
craft glue
pattern

Important Note: People turnings (wooden pegs) are not all created equal. Even pegs bought from the same company can be slightly different. I highly suggest you make a copy of the pattern, cut it out of paper, and “try it on” your wooden pegs. Make adjusts to the paper pattern before cutting out your felt.

Directions:
1] Make copy of pattern and cut out felt.

2]Glue leg piece to people turning. The bottom edge should be lined up with the bottom of the peg. The seam will be the back of your leprechaun. The felt should be touching in the back but not overlapping. Trim felt to fit properly.

3] Glue tunic to people turning. The top of the tunic should be lined up with the top of the body of the peg, the bottom should overlap the leg piece, and the seam should be in the back with the leg seam.

4] Glue to beard to the front of the face.

5] To make the hat, begin by pinning the cone together, overlapping the edges as shown on the pattern. Only pin the edges together. Your finger should be able to slide into the cone.

6] Using 6 strands of matching floss, and beginning at the top point of the cone, sew together the cone using a running stitch. DO NOT tie off the end.

7] Gentle pull on the thread, gathering the cone so the point curls over. When you are satisfied with the shaping, tie off the end but do not cut the thread.

8] To add the hat's rim, hold the rim against the cone so the snipped tabs are on the inside of the hat. Attach the rim by sewing a running stitch around the whole hat. You do not need to pin the rim on. Simply hold in place, easing as necessary. This is very "ish". Just make the tabs and snips are all inside the hat. Make small running stitches. When you get all the way around, DO NOT tie off yet.

9] Fit the hat on the leprechaun. The hat should be tilted backwards, exposing part of the face, but covering the top of the beard. If the hat is too big, simply pull on the running stitch and gather slightly. It does not need to be tight. When you are satisfied with the fit, tie off the thread.

10] Place glue in the inside rim of the hat where the rim is attached to the cone. Place it and the leprechauns head, adjusted as needed. Firmly pat the hat one.

11] When the hat is sufficiently dried, add the hat band. To do this, place a bead of glue on the outside of the hat along the seam where the cone meets the rim. The band seam should be on the back of the hat. The edges of the band should be touching, not overlapping. Trim off excess fabric.

12] Optional: glue a little shamrock on the side of the hat, above the band.

13] Give your leprechaun a name, and send him on his way, ready to create a little mischief!   

OUR "DISCLAIMER"! We are sharing patterns we have designed and made for our own children, families and friends. Every effort is made to share information in a clear and accurate manner. But we are only human, although I often long for superhuman powers, and as humans, mistakes will be made. We offer preemptive apologies for any aforementioned mistakes. Please let us know via comments or emails if you stumble upon a mistake or if you encounter directions that leave you scratching your head! We will rectify the situation as soon as humanly possible! Before beginning any of our patterns, think of yourself as a Beta Tester. We do not have a staff, editors or even volunteers that are crafting our projects before we share them. YOU are the first to have a go at them. As such, other than a heartfelt apology, we accept no responsibility for mistakes made, or in an extreme circumstance, for time or supplies wasted. Please tackle our projects in the same manner that we are sharing them, with a spirit of goodwill and global friendship!

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Bug was so right when he said our gnome house needed a Santa! Here is our version of Santa Gnome, along with his sack of goodies for all wee gnome children! Following our basic Waldorf Style Gnome directions, I created Santa, with a few variations. Since these are super fast to make, you can still find time to throw one together for Christmas morning! The pattern for the Santa Peg Gnome can be found HERE or with our FREE patterns. Enjoy! 

It's Christmas and I can guarantee you, little gnomes are waiting for a visit from Santa Gnome. Here's our version to join in the Holiday fun!

Materials:
Wool felt pieces
6 strand embroidery floss or pearl cotton
"fluff" for pompom (this can be roving, yarn or cotton balls)
stuffing for sack
2 3/8" x 7/8" people turnings (wooden pegs)
Craft glue
Pattern for Adult Gnomes
Pattern

NOTE: People turnings (wooden pegs) are not all created equal. Even turnings bought from the same company can be slightly different. I highly suggest you make a copy of the pattern, cut it out of paper, and “try it on” your wooden pegs. Make adjusts to the paper pattern before cutting out your felt.

DIRECTIONS

Santa:
1] Make copy of pattern and cut out felt pieces.

2] Glue body wrap to peg. Match bottom edge of wrapping with bottom edge of peg.

3] Blanket stitch the outer edge of the cloak using 6 strands of embroidery floss.

4] Wrap cloak around the body so body wrap seam is in the middle of the back under the cloak. Use 6 strands of embroidery and satin stitch closed at neckline.

5] Blanket stitch the lower edge of the hat using 6 strands of embroidery floss. Following the pattern, embroider a snowflake on the hat. Use 6 strands of floss for the stem stitch and 6 strands of floss for the French knots. (see photo in #6)

6] Using the pattern as a guide, overlap hat edges to create cone. Pin together. Cut off the top 1/4". Unpin the hat and place a small amount of roving, cotton or "fluffy" yarn inside hat so part of it is sticking out of the hat point. Again, overlap the hat edges and pin together. Fluff should be sticking out of the end of the hat. (Don't worry if it is uneven. You can trim the "pompom" to shape after you sew up the hat. Using 3 strands of matching embroidery floss to sew together. You can either use a blanket stitch or a running stitch.

7] Using pattern as a guide, glue beard to face. To do this run a line of glue along upper edge of beard. Allow the rest of the beard to hang loose.

8] Place a line of crafting glue on the inside of the hat near the edge. Position the hat on the gnome tilting it slightly backward.

Sack:
1] Cut out sack.

2] Slightly overlap the 2 short edges and sew together using 3 strands of floss and a running stitch.

3] Fold the sack so the seam line is in the center back. Using 3 strands of floss, blanket stitch the bottom of the bag.

4] Using 6 strands of floss, sew around the upper edge of the sack using a running stitch.

5] Stuff the bag with a small amount of stuffing.

6] Draw up the running stitch tight and tie off. Create a loop for the sack's cord. This can be done in several ways. You can chain stitch a loop, braid 3 pieces of floss together or use a piece of yard or twine. Sew these on to the sack.

We would be remiss is we didn't share a Santa... Wee Folk Art style. Here is our little Gnome for the Holidays Applique Block. I started with our basic Gnome Applique Block, increased the pattern by 200%, added a beard (there is great swirly detail in the beard that is hard to discern in the photo) and dressed him in a Santa suit. This morning Bug told me we needed a Santa in the gnome house. "You're right" I said. I was thinking about some of the changes I would make to the basic Wooden Peg Gnomes, and then thought I should include the design in an applique block. Unlike most of our applique blocks that are 6" x 6", this little guy is 6" x 12". He can easily be enlarged or reduced to meet your needs. I'm thinking if enlarged, it would make a great banner! The pattern for the Gnome for the Holiday Applique Block can be found HERE or with our FREE appliques. Enjoy!

The other day I was thinking about appliqueing a gnome onto something I was making. It occurred to me, that I never created a gnome applique block! How could this be? Somehow, I felt strangely remiss in my duties! I have since rectified the situation, and present to you our Gnome Applique Block. I made it to fit on our 6" x 6" blocks, but it can certainly be enlarged or reduced to meet your needs. Actually, I'm thinking of setting it as a large center block in a baby's quilt, with the four corners having smaller gnomes. The Gnome Applique Block pattern is available here. Enjoy! 

Materials:
3 colors wool felt pieces – one should be green for leaves
6 strand embroidery floss
People turnings (wooden pegs) - We buy our wood turnings from Casey' Wood
Adults 2 3/8" x 7/8"
Children 1 11/16" x 5/8"
Craft glue
Pattern for Flower Fairies
Pattern for Flower Bud Fairies

Please Note: People turnings are not all created equal. Even turnings bought from the same company can be slightly different. I highly suggest you make a copy of the pattern, cut it out of paper, and “try it on” your wooden pegs. Make adjusts to the paper pattern before cutting out your felt.

Cut out felt as follows:
Flower Fairy
Color A – petal
Color B – hat, body tube
Color C (green) – leaf
Flower Bud Fairy
Color A – body tube, cap
Color C – leaf

Directions:
1] Make copy of patterns and cut out felt as stated above. Using the pattern as a guide, embroider detail on hat and cap.

2] Place craft glue on people turnings and glue body tubes to pegs. The seam will be the back of the fairies.

Flower Fairy
3] Sew a running stitch along the upper edge of the petal piece.

4] Gently gather the stitches until the petals fit around the fairy’s neck. Tie off the thread and tack the petal to the body tube near the neck. This will prevent the petals from turning.

5] Use a whip stitch to sew the “a” edge of the petal strip to the “be” edge.

6] Repeat steps 3-5 with the leaf strip.

7] Using the pattern as a guide, mark the inner circle on the hat. Using a running stitch, sew around the circle.

8] Gently gather the stitches. Try the hat on and adjust gathers so the hat fits. Tie off the thread.

9] Place crafting glue on the inside of the hat along the gathering line.

10] Place the hat so it tilts backwards with the low end centered on the Fairy’s back. Careful squeeze the hat to make sure it is securely position. Allow to dry completely.

Flower Bud Fairy
11] Repeat steps 3 – 5 to sew leaf strip to bud.

12] Using a running stitch, sew around the outer edge of the cap.

13] Repeat steps 8 – 10.

Now, give your fairies names and send them off to play with the gnomes!

Britta awoke to the smell of hyacinths and daffodils. That could only mean one thing. Spring had finally come to The Thicket and the Flower Fairies had returned!

Whether you have a gnome house or just a little nook and cranny that Flower Fairies would like to inhabit, these little sweeties are a welcome addition to any home. The mother flower fairy, along with her little bud, will bring a smile to the faces of the wee ones in your life. 

The directions and patterns are available in our FREE Open Patterns. Start by making the flower fairies with the patterns provide, then get crazy and with little tweeking and alterations, the flower fairies can become as unique as the flowers in your own garden. Because this is such a quick, easy project, it won't be long til you have a bouquet of Flower Fairy Friends. Enjoy!  

I've finished decorating the gnome house for spring. Below you can see the projects that we will be sharing. We will take you through the whole process including treating the wood and putting up decorations. There will be patterns for the felt flower garland on the bridge, spring sleeping bags, crocheted braided rugs, striped quilt, Britta's fabric stash, needle felted gnome babies, the flower petal rug, the flower banner, and of course, the Flower Fairies. Tomorrow, I will put up the pattern for the Flower Fairies. What, you don't have a gnome home? No problem. Most of these projects can be used with any dollhouse or simply made for your child's favorite nook and cranny. So, plan to join us in making one project or all of them!

There are 6 flower fairies frolicking among the flowers. Can you find them? Spring has hit the Thicket and the flower fairies have returned! Britta has been busy getting the house ready for the warmer months ahead.

Over the next few weeks we will be sharing various projects for the Gnome House. Although we are making them for our Gnome Home, many of them can be made for any doll house or simply free play. There will be directions for the flower carpet, flower fairies, a spring quilt, a flower banner, a felt flower garland, braided rugs, and much more. Check back often and watch as the Gnome House comes alive with the best of Spring!