Wee Folk and Critters

Spring and Summer Gnome Home Ideas

If you haven't done it already, it's time to get your gnome home ready for the warm days of spring and summer. Below are some of our past gnomey spring things. Just click on the picture to take you to the tutorials. I have a few other warm weather accents I'll be adding soon!

Felt Flower Garland

Flower Fairies

Flower Fairy Carpet

Spring Gnome Sleeping Bag

Submitted by Kimara on Mon, 05/10/2010 - 05:57

A Whimsy of Knit Gnomes

I have always been fascinated by unique collective nouns. For instance, did you know a group of mice is called a "mischief"? Sounds about right, doesn't it? Or that dolphins travel in pods? Other names are band, horde, tribe, and coalition. (For a bunch of animal collective nouns, check out this list.) When I went to post this tutorial, I began to wonder what I should call a gathering of gnomes. Since nothing brilliant or witty came to me, I settled for a Cluster of Gnomes. Any ideas?

EDIT: One of our readers, Cami, suggested calling a group of gnomes a Whimsy of gnomes. I love the idea so much, from now on I will always referring to a group of gnomes as a "whimsy". Thanks Cami!!!

Here is the hat pattern that will allow you to turn our Basic Knit Dolls into Gnomes. The pattern for the Basic Knit Dolls can be found HERE. Decide which size doll you would like to make and follow the directions.

3" dolly
4" baby
5" toddler
8" child
10" mother
12" father

Make sure you read about gauge, materials and stitches. When you have completed the doll, use the directions below to knit and attach the gnomey hat. The 3 dolls in the photo at the top of this tutorial are the 5" toddler. The lone green gnome at the bottom is the 8" child. Directions are given for the 3" doll with sizes 4", 5", 8", 10" and 12" in parentheses. The gnome pictured in the directions is the 8" child.

Using size 6 needles, or a size that obtains the gauge, cast on 10 (15, 20, 30, 40, 50) leaving an 18" tail for sewing.

Working in a stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl one row) knit 2 (4, 6, 6, 8, 8) rows for hat rim.

Odd rows: (the right side) Knit 2 together. Knit across the row to the last 2 stitches. Knit 2 together.

Even rows: (the wrong side) Purl.

Continue until you have 1 stitch left on your needle. Clip the yarn leaving an 18" tail for sewing and pull it through the last loop .

Pin the side seams together, with the wrong sides together.

Beginning at the top of the hat, sew the side seam using the yarn tail at the top of the hat. Catch only I piece of yarn on either seam.

Gently pull the yarn on the first few stitches causing the top of the hat to curl.

Continue sewing the seam. Tie off and clip the yarn.

Lightly stuff the hat with fiberfill. You just want enough fiberfill to prevent the sides from caving in. Do not overfill or it will look like a clown's hat.

Before beginning to sew the hat to the gnome, on the inside, weave the yarn tail along the seam up 2 (4, 6, 6, 8, 8) rows. Poke the needle through to the outside.

Note: You will be sewing the hat to the gnome several rows above the hat edge. When you are done sewing on the hat, you will roll the rim upward. When positioning the hat on the gnome, remember that the first several rows will be rolled. Take that into account when deciding on placement.

Position the hat on the gnome so that the beginning of the hat, excluded the rows of rim, are touching the gnome's body in the back. Make sure the body and hat seams are lined up.

Slant the hat at a pleasing angle, remembering that part of the hat will be rolled up. Pin in place.

Sew the hat to the gnome using a running stitch. This stitch should be 2 (4, 6, 6, 8, 8) rows up from the bottom edge of the hat. You should go in and out of each stitch, making sure to catch the head beneath.

When the hat has been attached, tie off and clip the yarn.

Gently roll up the rim. It will stay in place without sewing it down.

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Copyright © Wee Folk Art 2008 - 2010. All rights reserved.

All photos, text and patterns are copyright protected. You may not copy, reproduce or redistribute any material found on WeeFolkArt.com without written permission. Wee Folk Art retains all rights.

Submitted by Kimara on Thu, 05/06/2010 - 06:02

Gnome Leprechauns

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.

Submitted by Kimara on Mon, 02/22/2010 - 14:10

Gnome Leprechaun

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!

http://www.weefolkart.com
Copyright © Wee Folk Art 2008 - 2010. All rights reserved.

All photos, text and patterns are copyright protected. You may not copy, reproduce or redistribute any material found on WeeFolkArt.com without written permission. Wee Folk Art retains all rights.

2 comments

Submitted by Kimara on Sun, 02/21/2010 - 20:37

Santa Peg Gnome

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!

Submitted by Kimara on Tue, 12/15/2009 - 11:21

At Wee Folk Art we combine our love of Wee Folk with our love of Folk Art, creating designs that are uniquely Wee Folk Art! Craft along with us by creating some of the many free patterns found on our blog.