Gnomes of the Gnorth ~ a Free Crochet Pattern

Ever heard of Gnomevember, or a Gnome-a-Long? I hadn't, until a few weeks ago. But as soon as I saw those words, I gnew I had to make a gnome of my own. The first one was so much fun, I made another, then another, and before I gnew it I had a quartet.

~ ~ ~ 

Introducing the Gnomes of the Gnorth:

The Gnomes of the Gnorth, you may be interested to know, are a gnoteworthy gnome folk group. Their given gnames are actually Krossby, Nils, Gnash, and Young - but to avoid being confused with a similarly-titled human ensemble, they prefer to use their stage gname in public.

One of their many album covers

Like many musicians from gnorthern climes, these Gnomes love to tramp through the snow and sing. Last week I heard them crooning one of their greatest hits ("Just a Song Before I Gnome") as they crossed the chill expanse of the back yard:

There's gnothing like a gnome (especially a singing one) to bring a smile to your face on a dreary Gnovember day!

If you'd like to turn Gnovember into Gnomevember, here's a pattern for you. But be forewarned: these little guys are addictive.

~ ~ ~

Gnomes of the Gnorth Pattern (Videotutorial available here!)

Size: Approximately 3 1/2" tall

Yarn Requirements: Worsted weight yarn, 5-6 yards each for body and hat; 12" for nose; 1 yard for beard. Yarn scraps for stuffing.

Yarns I Used: Bodies and hats - Cascade 220, Knit Picks Wool of the Andes, Zealana Heron. Noses were made with Manos del Uruguay Gloria, and beards with varying scraps from my stash.

Hook Size: US H/5mm

Recommended stitch tension: Moderate to firm for sc or dc; relaxed for sl st.

Gnotions: Embroidery gneedle

All crochet terminology is American.

~ ~ ~

Gnotes
- Gnomes of the Gnorth are worked in spiral rounds, with RS facing at all times.
- For best appearance, stuff with matching or similar color yarn scraps (or a dark neutral).
- Do not stuff gnome until you've completed at least one hat round.

Special Terms
BB: Back bar (also called the 3rd loop; in this pattern, it's the strand of yarn that runs across the back of the YoSS, just behind and below the back lp).When combined with stitch name (eg BB sc), work the specified stitch into the BB of the stitch below.
BL, BLO: Back loop, Back loop only. When combined with stitch name (eg BLO sl st), work the specified stitch into the BL of the stitch below.

FL, FLO: Front loop, front loop only. When combined with stitch name (eg FLO sc), work the specified stitch into the FL of the stitch below.
Forward Lp: Twist yarn to form a shape like a letter "p", with yarn tail in the back; insert hook from back to front through lp, pull tail to tighten lp on hook.

Decr in FL overlap of 2 sts: Insert hook into FL of next st, then into FL of 2nd st from hook, make indicated st. (Be careful to skip the 2nd st used when making the next st after a decrease.)
SLJ: Slip Loop Join. Remove hook from lp, insert hook from WS to RS through indicated st, replace lp on hook, draw lp through st, tighten yarn to make join "disappear".
YoSS: Yarnover Slip Stitch. Yo, insert hook into indicated st, yo and pull through all lps on hook.

Body
With body color yarn, make a magic ring (magic loop/magic circle/adjustable loop), ch 1 to exit ring.

Round 1 (RS): Ch 2 (does gnot count as stitch), 12 dc in ring. Do gnot turn. If desired, place marker in first dc of round to help identify it later.

Round 2: Sl st in each dc around, SLJ (see Special Terms) to first sl st of round, ch 1 tightly.
Round 3: Working into the dcs from Round 1, beginning in dc behind first sl st, sc in each dc around. 12 sc
Rounds 4-6: Continuing in spiral rounds, FLO sc in each st around.
Round 7: FLO sc in next 10 sc, loosely sl st in next 2 sc. If you plan to use yarn scraps for stuffing, fasten off now. If using Optional Self-Stuffing below, do gnot fasten off.

Optional Self-Stuffing: SLJ to next st, ch 1 tightly, loosely ch 75, fasten off.

Stretch the body all the way around to create a smooth, even tube. Don't worry if the base bulges outwards - you can flatten it later.

Hat
Gnomes of the Gnorth hats come in three different stitch patterns: front loop only single crochet, front loop only slip stitch, or a combination of the two.

Whichever version you choose will yield a tall pointy hat that you can style any way you like. You can leave it plain, or add a bobble or chain curlicue to the tip; stitch it down to one side, or let it stand up.

Round 1, All Hat Styles:
To join new yarn, insert hook into final sl st of Body Round 7, pull up a loop of hat color yarn, leaving a 4" tail. With tail, make a forward lp (see Special Terms) on hook above working lp (2 lps now on hook). Bring tail over working yarn, yo with working yarn and pull through both lps on hook (counts as YoSS). YoSS in each remaining st around, SLJ to first st. 12 YoSS

Lightly stuff gnome with yarn scraps or optional self-stuffing chain, keeping base flat. If base starts to round outwards, push upwards on it with your thumbs to flatten it and move the stuffing farther up into the body.

After stuffing, continue with your chosen hat style below.

Sc Hat
Round 2: Continuing in spiral rounds, BB sc in each st around (see Special Terms). Working into the BB will make the top lps of Round 1 tip outwards, forming a chain-like brim for the hat. 12 sc
Round 3: FLO sc in each st around.
Round 4: Sc decr in FL overlap of next 2 sts (see Special Terms), skip 2nd sc used, FLO sc in each remaining st around. 11 sc
Rounds 5-11: Repeat Round 4, decreasing 1 sc each round until you have 4 sc left. As hat grows taller, add a little more stuffing if desired to support lower hat rounds.
Round 12: (Sc decr in FL overlap of next 2 sts) 2 times.
For plain or bobble-trimmed hat, fasten off, leaving a 6" tail.
For curlicue, do gnot fasten off.

Slip Stitch Hat
Round 2: Continuing in spiral rounds, with relaxed tension (here and throughout), BB sl st in each st around (see Special Terms). Working into the BB will make the top lps of Round 1 tip outwards, forming a chain-like brim for the hat. 12 sl st
Round 3: Sl st decr in FL overlap of next 2 sts (see Special Terms), skip 2nd st used, FLO sl st in each remaining st around. 11 sl st
Round 4: FLO sl st in each st around.
Round 5: Sl st decr in FL overlap of next 2 sts, skip 2nd st used, FLO sl st in each remaining st around. 10 sl st
Round 6: FLO sl st in each st around.
Rounds 7-13: Repeat Round 5, decreasing 1 sl st each round until you have 3 sl st left. As hat grows taller, add a little more stuffing if desired to support lower hat rounds.
Round 14 (may be worked with a smaller hook if desired): FLO sl st in next 3 sts.
For plain or bobble-trimmed hat, fasten off as follows: cut yarn, leaving a 6" tail, pull yarn up and out of stitch. Insert hook from RS to WS of previous stitch, pull yarn tail through and tighten.
For curlicue, do gnot fasten off.

Combination Hat
Round 2: Continuing in spiral rounds, with relaxed tension (here and on all sl st rounds), BB sl st in each st around. Working into the BB will make the top lps of Round 1 tip outwards, forming a chain-like brim for the hat. 12 sts
Round 3: FLO sc in each st around.
Round 4: Sl st decr in FL overlap of next 2 sts, skip 2nd st used, FLO sl st in each st around. 11 sl st
Round 5: Sc decr in FL overlap of next 2 sts (see Special Terms), skip 2nd st used, FLO sc in each st around. 10 sc
Rounds 6-12: Repeat Rounds 4-5, alternating sc and sl st rounds, decreasing 1 st each round until you have 3 sts left.  As hat grows taller, add a little more stuffing if desired to support lower hat rounds.
Round 13: (Sl st decr in FL overlap of next 2 sts) 2 times.

For plain or bobble-trimmed hat, fasten off, leaving a 6" tail.
For curlicue, do gnot fasten off.

Trim Options

Curlicue: With a smaller hook, very tightly chain 12-15 (chain should curl naturally). Fasten off tightly. You can either weave in the tail (gnote: this may relax the curl); trim and felt the end to the tip; or trim and leave a short tail.

One-Round Sc Bobble: Make a magic ring, leaving a 4" tail. Sc 7 in ring. Tighten starting tail to close center of ring. Cut working yarn, leaving a 6" tail, and pull this tail up and out of final sc. Starting in first sc, weave the 6" yarn tail from WS to RS of each stitch around, pulling it all the way through on each stitch, ending with the final sc. Slowly tighten this tail to roll the stitches upward and gather them into a ball, keeping the RS of stitches on the outside of the ball and the starting tail on the inside (with the end coming up out of the center). When the stitches are firmly gathered, roll the ball between your fingers to get the shape you like. Tighten both tails once more, then knot them together close to the ball. Thread one tail on an embroidery gneedle and sew back and forth through bobble to secure the end. Repeat with other tail. Trim both tails very close to ball. (You will use the hat yarn tail to attach the bobble.)

Other trim ideas: Small bell, felted ball, tiny acorn, tiny pompom.

Add a Gnose

With gnose color yarn threaded on embroidery gneedle, using satin stitch, embroider a gnose just below hat brim, on opposite side of body from round joins.

To embroider my gnome gnoses, I passed the gneedle up through the center of the dc base, leaving a short tail outside the body, and exiting with the gneedle just below the hat brim. I made 3 stitches close together to serve as a base layer. To secure the gnose yarn in place, I pierced it with the gneedle on the WS while making the first stitch or two (hope that makes sense). Then I added extra layers of satin stitch until I was happy with the size and shape of the gnose. I wove in the long yarn tail as described in Tips for Weaving in Ends (below), and trimmed the short tail very close to the dc stitches.

Make and Attach Beard

Here are just a few ideas for making your gnome's beard. Feel free to improvise and make up your own!

Gnote: Leave a 6-8" tail at each end of beard. To attach beard to gnome, thread one tail on an embroidery gneedle. Sew into body of gnome on one side of gnose, just under hat brim, then sew in and out around curve of beard to tack it down. Thread other tail on gneedle, sew into body on other side of gnose, and make one small stitch through beard to secure. Weave in both ends (see Tips for Weaving in Ends below).

Simple Chain Beard: Working loosely, Knotless Chain 6, fasten off loosely. Use yarn tails to tack beard to face as described above. Chain may be attached with either side facing outwards.

Embellished Chain Beard: Make a Simple Chain Beard and tack it down with spiky stitches that ray out from the beard.

Slip Stitch Beard: Knotless Chain 7, turn. Starting in 2nd ch from hook, BLO sl st in each ch across. Fasten off.

Longer Rounded Beard: Knotless Chain 6, turn. Working into the back bumps of chain, dc in 3rd ch from hook; insert hook into same back bump, then into next back bump, dc; ch 2, fasten off loosely.

Tips for Weaving in Ends

For best results, I used a sharp-tipped embroidery gneedle to weave in ends.

Hat tail: after adding trim, I took the yarn tail through the center of hat tip, out and around top strand of tip, then wove it down through hat and body as explained below.

Gnose and beard yarn tails: I wove these in by sewing them all the way through the body or hat, then turning around and sewing back in the other direction (without visibly catching any stitches on the outside), making 3 or 4 passes through hat or body at different angles. (If you use this method, do gnot tug too hard on the yarn tail while sewing back and forth, as doing so may distort the gnome.)

To finish, I trimmed the yarn close to the body (or hat), and gently pulled the surrounding stitches outward to make the cut end disappear inside the gnome.

~

You may do whatever you like with the items you make from this pattern, but you may not sell the pattern, or reproduce its text without permission. (Links to this post are welcome.) If you make any gnomes for sale, crediting the designer would be a kindness.

If you have any questions about this pattern, or find any mistakes (it happens all the time!), feel free to ask or tell in the comment box below.

Happy Gnomevember!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

October Roads

Brrr! October was cold this year. It began with heavy rains, and ended with surprising snow - but there were sunny days, too, as you'll see in the photos below. Cycling gave way to walking this month, the garden was laid to rest, a birthday was celebrated, and there was more surgery for the Aged P.

~

First Half of October

Early in the month, when temperatures are dropping and frost is imminent, I find a beautiful visitor in the garden, soaking up the warmth of the sun:

Possibly a Question Mark butterfly? (see what I did there?)

Later that day I take a ride, on which I see some goats (and not much else):

A few days later, another small winged visitor is spied in the garden. Word must have gotten out that members of the lepidoptera community are welcome here....

By the second week of October, nighttime temperatures are plummeting. Time to gather in the last of the harvest:

Basil, thyme, chives, tomatoes, and serrano peppers

The herbs go into the freezer to flavor our winter meals; the tomatoes sit on the counter, being eaten as they ripen; the peppers go into the fridge, where they'll keep until Mr. M uses them up.

Thursday Evening Walk to the Park

A week later, on a still, cool evening, I walk to the park to see what I can see.

Asters going to seed, with satin-smooth lake behind:

More asters, still in bloom:

Sun setting fire to the maples:

Pine needles raked into orderly rows by the autumn winds:

Acorns on the ground:

A pink cloud admiring its own reflection:

An improbably scarlet maple leaf:

And milkweed fluff curled like an 18th-century wig:

Birthdayish Drive and Walk

Rain falls on my birthday, but the next day is sunny and clear, so we celebrate with an autumn drive and lunch at a favourite restaurant.

Our table is between two windows. Here is the view from one of them - an old building draped with Virginia creeper:



And here is the view from the other - the Wisconsin River:

After lunch, we take a short walk on the trail at the river's edge. There we see garden art:

A bike repair station, fully equipped with air pump, tools, and multi-use stand, for the needs of passing cyclists:

A sandbar covered with gulls:

Mysterious flowers along the trail - some kind of jewelweed, perhaps?

Back in the car, we take the scenic route home, through woods growing golden with autumn maple:

We round alluring bends in the road:

Pass meeting-places filled with memories:

We meet a friendly dog lying in the road, who very much wants to get in the car and go for a ride with us, but his owner won't let him:

I fall in love with a lonely bit of rail fence:

~

The day is so beautiful that when we get home, I head out for another walk.

The maple trees at the church-on-the-corner are all shades of red-gold and green:

Around another corner, down a little-used trail, treasures of the woods are waiting to be discovered.

I don't know what this strange growth is...

...but the beetle on top seems to be saying, "It's mine, all mine!"

A platter-like fungus sprouts from a fallen log:

Brilliantly-colored Large Milkweed Bugs swarm on a host seedpod:

The trail passes by a lake that shimmers softly under gauzy veils of cloud:

Back in the woods, an empty walnut shell:

Suddenly a deer steps onto the path ahead of me. We both freeze, staring at each other. I turn on my camera and take several photos, but the deer doesn't move. Finally I take a few steps forward, and only then does the deer jump away. I walk on smiling, feeling ridiculously privileged at the encounter.

The last bit of trail leads past a marsh full of dried wild grasses:

Last Week of the Month

Birds glimpsed in a tree near the parking lot at work:

~

Later in the week, I take what may well be the final ride of the season. It's 50 degrees out, which should feel balmy, but there's a bitter nip in the wind.

The road curves past fields of drying corn:

Around a corner or two, the trees close in. Fallen leaves and pine needles line the verge:

Oak trees are red in the sunshine:

And a canopy of maple delights this tree-lover's eye:

~

Two days later, we wake to this:

~

This morning, on the last day of the month, more snow is falling...

...and temps are well below normal for the time of year. Are we in for a Long Winter?

~

In other news, The Book is very near the end of the pattern-editing phase. Next will come project photography and technical illustrations. Slow but steady wins the race (I hope).

Here are some recent class projects I designed for work:

Still the best job ever. :)

~

Happy Halloween to those of you who celebrate it, and happy nearly-November to all!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~