Large Gnomes for Little Hands

 

I know it probably seems like I just got back from visiting Drew, Meghan and the Little Lady in Wisconsin, but, to me it seems like forever! I’ve got another trip planned mid May, and since it would be impossible for me to go empty handed, I tried to decide what I wanted to make to bring. Although I really wanted to make her some our Waldorf Inspired Peg Gnomes, they still could pose a choke hazzard, so I decided to make bigger gnomes.

 

 

 

I am working on a set of rainbow gnomes for the Little Lady. Remember last year I made a set of rainbow gnomes for Pixie’s birthday basket? Well, those gnomes are teeny tiny next to these! Basically, I took my standard pattern for the Waldorf Inspired Gnomes and enlarged the pattern 125%. Worked great! But I decided since these were so much larger, I wanted to embellish them with applique and embroidery. Today I am sharing the first two: Heart Gnome and Rain Gnome. Over the next couple weeks I will finish the other 4 and share the patterns as I complete them. 

The directions are very similar to the original directions with a few changes, which, BTW, could be used on the previous gnomes directions. Changes are typed in red. 

Materials:
Large People Body (wooden peg) 3 9/16″ x 1 1/8″
Wool/wool blend felt – 2 main colors plus various colors for appliques
embroidery floss
crafting glue
favorite stuffing material
copy of 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.

Note: If you are making 6 rainbow gnomes, decide on the colors you will be using before you begin. Then, use only those 12 colors, plus white, when adding appliques.

Directions are the same for both gnomes:

Cut hat and cloak out of color A and body wrap out of color B. For the Heart Gnome, cut the hearts out of pink and the leaves out of green. For the Rain Gnome, cut the raindrops and cloud out of white. 

Glue body wrap to people turning. Match bottom edge of wrapping with bottom edge of turning.

Add appliques to the cloaks and hats using the pattern as a guide. Blanket stitch the outer edge of the cloaks using 6 strands of embroidery floss that matches the body wraps.

Using 2 strands of floss that match the cloak, sew a running stitch close to the neck edge on the cloak.

Gather the running stitch slightly to make it fit around the peg’s neck. The back of the cloak should be centered with the back (the seamed edge) of the body wrap. Stitch closed at neck.
Using 6 strands of contrasting floss, satin stitch a closure at the neckline.

 

 

 

 

Using 2 strands of matching floss, sew the hat together using a running stitch or blanket stitch. (I used a running stitch.)

Blanket stitch the lower edge of the hat using 6 strands of embroidery floss.

Using your favorite stuffing, stuff the inside of the head stopping about 1/2″ from the edge.

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.

Give your gnome a name and introduce him or her to your household!