How to Make a Gnome
Follow our step-by-step instructions to make a DIY gnome. This adorable craft is fun, creative, and easier than you might think!
Yield: 1 sock gnome
Cost: $2
Equipment
- Sewing machine (or thread and needle)
Materials
- Grey sock (for gnome body)
- Coloured crew sock (or patterned; for gnome hat)
- 12 gauge Wire
- Polyester fiber fill
- Rice
- Rubber band
- Gnome beard (or faux fur)
- Wooden ball (1 inch)
Instructions
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Make the gnome's hat
- To make your gnome you'll need 2 socks: 1 for the body and 1 for the hat.You can use a pair of socks (2 the same colour) to make your gnome, but we like the look of a different coloured hat.This means you can make 2 gnomes with the 2 pairs of socks. Or make your lone socks useful!
- Fold the hat sock inside out and then add pins on a diagonal line. Start from the toe of the sock and widen out towards the cuff.
- Sew along the pin line with a sewing machine, or by hand.If you want to make a no-sew gnome you can cut the hat along the pin line and hot glue it together. You can also use fabric glue and use fabric clips to make sure the hat doesn't shift as the glue dries.
- Then cut off the excess sock, leaving a 1/2 inch seam.
- Turn the sock right side out.
Step 3: Add structure and stuffing to the hat
- Cut a piece of wire about two times the length of your sock (24 inches, for us).
- Fold the wire in half and use pliers to crease the fold a bit, giving it a point.
- Then make loops at the end of each wire. This ensures the sharp part of the wire won't damage the socks (or your fingers!).
- Pull the looped ends of the wire apart so you have a triangular shaped wire the same length and width as the sock hat.
- Insert the wire into the hat with the folded point at the top. Make sure this point reaches the top of the hat.
- Fill the hat with poly-fill stuffing. Continue until the hat is firmly stuffed, leaving a 1 inch space unstuffed near the cuff.
Step 4: Make the gnome's body
- Cut the toe portion off an adult sized grey sock, just above the heel.
- Add 1 cup of dried rice to the bottom of the sock. This will stop the gnome from falling over.
- Stuff the gnome body until you're happy with the size and firmness of it. Leave a space at the top, at least 1 inch tall.
- Gather the top of the sock together and use a rubber band to close off the gnome body.If you don't have an elastic you can also use a piece of string.
Step 5: Attach the beard and nose, and adjust the hat
- Add a line of hot glue to the top back of the beard. Then add more glue going down the middle.
- Attach the beard to the gnome body. Place it so that the bottom of the beard reaches the bottom of the gnome.
- Stretch the hat down onto the gnome so it just covers the top of the beard.
- Add hot glue to the wooden ball and place the nose at the top center of the beard. Lift the hat up so it just overlaps the top of the nose.
- As a finishing touch, bend the top of the hat down on a curve. Use the wire to adjust the tip of the hat into a swirl shape.
- Your DIY gnome is complete!
- Now have fun making a whole group of gnome friends with different coloured hats!Bend their hats in different directions to keep them unique.
Video
Notes
Looking for more gnome crafts? Here's a few of our favourites:
Fall Gnome Wreath
Gnome Ornaments
Gnome Hat Pattern