Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Simple Little Gnomes


Joining in again today with Ginny's Knit Along to share these simple knit gnomes.
They are actually open on the bottom so can also be used as finger puppets.
Here is the pattern:
Using size 2 or 3  needles and worsted weight yarn, cast on 16 stitches.  Knit back and forth for 18 rows.  (I used size 2 needles to make a nice tight knit so that the gnome will stand up on its own.)
Next switch to the skin color yarn and knit in stockinette stitch, knit 1 row, purl 1 row for the next for 10 rows.  Bind off.
Sew up back of gnome, and then gather around "neck" pull and knot.  Then sew up back of head, stuff and sew around top of head to gather, pull shut and knot.
Knit hat - cast on 16 stitches.  Stockinette stitch for 5 rows (knit, purl, knit, purl, etc) and then starting the 6th row and every knit row, knit the first two stitches together, knit across and then knit the last two stitches together.  Purl the next row. Repeat the knit decrease row until one stitch is left on the needle, leaving a long tail, break the yarn and thread through loop, pull and then use tail to stitch up back of hat and then sew on to gnome's head.

I am still reading the same book as last week, This Life is in Your Hands, by Melissa Coleman and really enjoying it.   It has brought up some things for me to think about - in particular how our family's life has changed from being more conventional/American to working towards escaping the consumeristic lifestyle to now finding somewhere in between as we strive to meet the needs of our growing children while not being hypocritical to our ideals.

I would love it if you would share some pictures of your little gnomes if you knit some.

Warm wishes,
Tonya

21 comments:

  1. Tonya, these little gnomes are wonderful, you are so kind to share the pattern, thank you.

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  2. These are so sweet! Thank you for sharing the pattern. I love how they can be finger puppets!

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  3. Tonya, these are just adorable. First the doll and now these, you are too kind. I will have to try the pattern this weekend. Thank you so much.
    Happy yaran along.

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  4. I can't believe this is your post today...I just started making one last night. Mine is a little bigger, but I had plans to make tiny ones like yours out of crochet cotton and I wasn't too sure about the hat...I was thinking I might sew the hat. I was also planning to try a sewn version of the gnome itself...

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  5. They are so lovely Tonya. How is your doll coming along?
    m.

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  6. What sweet little gnomes! I loved This Life is in your Hands. Inspiring and heart-wrenching, both. And certainly thought-provoking, about my own upbringing, and the kind of life my husband and I hope to provide for our family.

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  7. Thanks for the pattern Tonya! I just may knit a few up.

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  8. So, so cute! :) I may have to try this sometime! Thank you for sharing it!

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  9. They are so sweet! Thank you for sharing your pattern.

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  10. These are adorable!! Thank you for sharing your pattern!

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  11. You're always so kind in sharing your patterns.thanks

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  12. adorable! perfect for easter baskets?? man, i like the little things. ~ K

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  13. Thanks for the pattern! Easter basket treats, for sure! The books sounds interesting and I appreciate your commentary on how to walk the balance. Have a great day!

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  14. what adorable little gnomes...love the purplish one! Have a great day!

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  15. What a wonderful pattern, thank you for sharing Tonya :).

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  16. Thanks so very much for such a fun pattern! I knit several already, only I stuffed their bottoms and gathered them closed, making tiny dolls instead of puppets, and made their hats two stitches larger so I could pull them farther down onto their heads. On one of them, when I had two stitches left on my needles, I made a two-stitch i-cord, pulled the end thread back down through the cord, and pulled it too tight, causing the i-cord to curl, and fastened it off. Oh, the possibilities!

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  17. These are adorable. I don't knit but I so wanted to share this as an idea for filling Easter eggs (with something other than candy). I hope you don't mind that I linked back to you as a favorite idea on my blog. Thanks for the instructions!

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