Creating a gnome amigurumi through crochet is a delightful and rewarding crafting project that allows you to craft a charming decorative figure. Amigurumi refers to the Japanese art of creating small, stuffed yarn creatures using crochet techniques. In this tutorial, you’ll find step-by-step instructions, along with a free pattern, to create your own adorable gnome amigurumi.

Materials Needed:

  1. Worsted weight yarn in desired gnome colors (usually red, white, and gray/brown for the body, hat, and beard)
  2. Crochet hook appropriate for your chosen yarn (typically around 3.5mm to 4mm)
  3. Fiberfill stuffing
  4. Yarn needle for weaving in ends
  5. Scissors
  6. Safety eyes or embroidery floss for eyes (optional)
  7. Stitch markers (optional, but helpful)

Abbreviations Used:

  • ch: chain
  • sc: single crochet
  • inc: increase (work two single crochets in the same stitch)
  • dec: decrease (single crochet two stitches together)
  • sl st: slip stitch

Body:

  1. Start with a magic ring (or ch 2 and work into the second chain from the hook).
  2. Rnd 1: 6 sc into the ring. (6)
  3. Rnd 2: Inc in each stitch around. (12)
  4. Rnd 3: [sc, inc] repeat around. (18)
  5. Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] repeat around. (24)
  6. Rnd 5-10: Sc in each stitch around. (24)
  7. Rnd 11: [2 sc, dec] repeat around. (18)
  8. Stuff the body firmly.
  9. Rnd 12: [sc, dec] repeat around. (12)
  10. Rnd 13: Dec around. (6)
  11. Fasten off and weave in the end.

Hat:

  1. Start with red yarn.
  2. Start with a magic ring (or ch 2 and work into the second chain from the hook).
  3. Rnd 1: 6 sc into the ring. (6)
  4. Rnd 2: Inc in each stitch around. (12)
  5. Rnd 3: [sc, inc] repeat around. (18)
  6. Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] repeat around. (24)
  7. Rnd 5-7: Sc in each stitch around. (24)
  8. Rnd 8: [2 sc, dec] repeat around. (18)
  9. Rnd 9: [sc, dec] repeat around. (12)
  10. Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.

Beard:

  1. Cut numerous strands of white yarn, each about 6-8 inches long.
  2. Attach these strands to the bottom edge of the hat, covering most of the circumference.
  3. Trim and shape the beard as desired.

Assembly:

  1. Attach the hat to the body using the long tail left from the hat. Position the hat slightly tilted.
  2. Add safety eyes or embroider eyes using black yarn or embroidery floss.
  3. Embroider a small triangle in orange or brown for the nose.
  4. Weave in any remaining ends and trim excess yarn.
  5. Your gnome amigurumi is now complete and ready for display!

Remember, you can always customize your gnome by using different colors, adding accessories like a belt or tiny felt shoes, or adjusting the size by using thicker or thinner yarn and a corresponding hook size. Have fun creating your own adorable gnome amigurumi using this free crochet pattern and tutorial!