Crochet gnomes patterns free: cute gnomes to make

If you have been searching for crochet gnomes patterns that are free and quick, this trio is the one to start with. Each gnome stands about 6 inches tall and is worked in soft worsted yarn: a red Christmas gnome, a sage green garden gnome, and a mustard yellow autumn gnome. One gnome takes about an hour and a half, so you can finish the whole set in a weekend, which makes them perfect for shelf decor, mantel displays, holiday gifts, or a cosy evening when you want a finished make that looks far fancier than it was to crochet.

Why you'll love these crochet gnomes patterns

Most crochet gnome patterns fall into one of two traps: a beard that takes an hour to make, or a gnome that looks like a traffic cone with a hat. These patterns dodge both. Each gnome is built from the same simple cone body and tall pointy hat, so once you learn the Christmas gnome you already know the garden gnome and the autumn gnome, and the personality comes from the colours and a fluffy brushed beard that takes minutes.

The construction is simple and forgiving. You work the body and hat in joined rounds, so there is no seaming and no fiddly join to hide. The shaping comes from simple decreases, not from fancy stitches, so the pattern is mostly single crochet with a little double crochet for the hat. And because each gnome uses only a few yards of yarn, you can make the whole set from the leftovers of bigger projects: the red from a blanket, the green from a scarf, the yellow from a hat.

They are also the perfect gift and market make. A trio of gnomes in matching colours sells beautifully at craft fairs, and a single gnome tucked into a gift bag turns a small gift into a thoughtful one. If you like quick holiday makes, our free crochet Santa pattern is the natural next project: same cone body, same one-weekend speed, with a beard instead of a hat brim. And the crochet gnome toilet paper holder pattern is another gnome lover's favourite.

Materials you'll need

A soft worsted-weight acrylic yarn is the best pick here: it holds the cone shape well, comes in beautiful festive colours, and washes well if the gnome gets dusty. Wool blends work too and give a lovely handmade look, but they need hand washing. Avoid fluffy or eyelash yarn for the body and hat: it hides the shaping completely and the gnome will look like a blob.

Yarn amounts by size (approximate): Small (4 in) — 60 yds total per gnome. Medium (6 in) — 120 yds total per gnome. Large (8 in) — 180 yds total per gnome. One 100 g ball of each colour makes one medium gnome with yarn to spare.

A note on the beard: the beard is made from strands of white yarn brushed out with a slicker brush or pet brush, which turns ordinary yarn into a fluffy beard. Use a smooth acrylic yarn for the beard, not a textured one: smooth yarn brushes out beautifully, while textured yarn just tangles.

Size, gauge and skill level

Each gnome is worked in joined rounds from the base up. Use a stitch marker in the first stitch of every round.

• Finished size (medium): about 6 in (15 cm) tall and 3 in (8 cm) wide at the base, sitting. The hat flops gently to one side, and the beard covers the front of the body from the nose down.
• Gauge: 16 sc and 18 rows = 4 in (10 cm) with a 4.5 mm hook. Gauge matters here, because loose stitches let the stuffing show through the body. Your stitches should be tight and even: if you can see stuffing through the fabric, go down half a hook size.
• Skill level: advanced beginner. You should know how to chain, single crochet, double crochet, increase, and decrease. Everything else is just counting.

If you have never made a gnome before, this is the perfect first project: the pieces are simple cones, the rounds are short, and your first gnome will be finished in about ninety minutes.

Abbreviations — US terms

A note on the hat: the hat is worked in joined rounds with a decrease every few rounds, which makes a tall pointy cone. The tip should flop to one side when the hat is finished: if it stands straight up, work the last two rounds without decreases so the tip softens.

The pattern (US terms)

Work each gnome in joined rounds from the base up. Join each round with a slip stitch to the top of the starting chain. Stuff firmly as you go, a little at a time, so the shape stays smooth. Instructions below are for the medium size, with small and large in brackets: small (medium, large).

Red Christmas gnome — the classic

With body yarn (grey) and a 4.5 mm hook, start with the body.

• Round 1: magic ring, ch 1, 6 sc in ring, join. [6]
• Round 2: ch 1, inc in each st around, join. [12]
• Round 3: ch 1, *sc, inc; rep from * around, join. [18]
• Round 4: ch 1, *2 sc, inc; rep from * around, join. [24]
• Rounds 5-12: ch 1, sc in each st around, join. [24]
• Round 13: ch 1, *2 sc, dec; rep from * around, join. [18]
• Round 14: ch 1, *sc, dec; rep from * around, join. [12]

Stuff the body firmly before Round 13, shaping it into a soft cone with a flat base. Fasten off, leaving a 6 in tail, and close the opening by weaving the tail through the front loops of the last round and pulling tight.

Hat: with color A (red) and a 4.5 mm hook, start at the brim.

• Round 1: magic ring, ch 1, 6 sc in ring, join. [6]
• Round 2: ch 1, inc in each st around, join. [12]
• Round 3: ch 1, *sc, inc; rep from * around, join. [18]
• Round 4: ch 1, *2 sc, inc; rep from * around, join. [24]
• Rounds 5-8: ch 1, sc in each st around, join. [24]
• Round 9: ch 1, *2 sc, dec; rep from * around, join. [18]
• Rounds 10-12: ch 1, sc in each st around, join. [18]
• Round 13: ch 1, *sc, dec; rep from * around, join. [12]
• Round 14: ch 1, sc in each st around, join, then dec around. [6]

Fasten off, leaving a long tail. The hat should be a tall pointy cone: if the tip stands straight up, fold it gently to one side and it will stay flopped.

Nose: with a small amount of peach or cream yarn, magic ring, 6 sc in ring, inc in each st around [12], sc in each st for 1 round, then dec around [6]. Stuff lightly and sew to the front of the body, just under the hat brim. A small wooden bead works too: sew it firmly in the same spot.

Beard: cut about 30 strands of white yarn, each about 5 in (13 cm) long. Fold the strands in half and attach them to the front of the body in rows, starting just under the nose and working down: pull the folded loop through a stitch with your hook, then pull the ends through the loop and tighten. Work 4 rows of beard strands, then brush the beard out with a slicker brush until it is fluffy, and trim the bottom edge straight.

Sage green garden gnome — the woodland one

With body yarn (grey) and a 4.5 mm hook, work the body exactly as for the Christmas gnome, Rounds 1 to 14, stuffing firmly before Round 13.

Hat: with color B (sage green) and a 4.5 mm hook, work the hat exactly as for the Christmas gnome, Rounds 1 to 14. For the garden gnome, add a small brim: work one extra round of single crochet in the front loop only at the base of the hat, which makes a soft turned-up edge.

Nose and beard: make the nose and beard exactly as for the Christmas gnome. For the garden gnome, keep the beard a little shorter, about 4 in (10 cm) before brushing, so it looks tidier and less festive. Sew a tiny bell to the tip of the hat if you like: it jingles softly when the gnome is moved.

Mustard yellow autumn gnome — the harvest one

With body yarn (grey) and a 4.5 mm hook, work the body exactly as for the Christmas gnome, Rounds 1 to 14, stuffing firmly before Round 13.

Hat: with color C (mustard yellow) and a 4.5 mm hook, work the hat exactly as for the Christmas gnome, Rounds 1 to 14. For the autumn gnome, work the last 4 rounds in a rust orange or brown yarn, so the hat tip has a two-tone look like a falling leaf.

Nose and beard: make the nose and beard exactly as for the Christmas gnome. For the autumn gnome, sew a tiny crocheted leaf to the hat brim: chain 6, single crochet back along the chain, and fasten off. It is a small detail, but it is what makes the autumn gnome feel like autumn.

Finishing each gnome

Fasten off, leaving a 6 in tail. Weave the tail into the body for at least 2 in, working it through the base of the stitches so it cannot wriggle out. Trim the tail flush and the end will disappear inside the stuffing. Then place the hat on the body: the brim should sit low over the nose, with the tip flopping to one side. Sew the hat to the body with a few stitches at the back, so it stays put but can still be lifted off if you want to change the gnome's look.

Check the beard: it should cover the front of the body from the nose down, with no grey showing through. If you can see the body through the beard, add another row of strands.

Finishing touches

Take five unhurried minutes here: it is the difference between homemade and handmade.

Brush the beard. Lay the gnome on its back and brush the beard gently with a slicker brush, working from the nose downward. The yarn will separate into fluffy fibres: keep brushing until the beard looks soft and full. Do not brush too hard, or the strands will pull out of the body.

Shape the hat. Hold the hat tip and fold it gently to one side, then press the fold flat with your fingers. The hat should flop naturally, not stand straight up. If the tip springs back, work a tiny stitch through the fold to hold it in place.

Three cute variations to try next

Once you have made one set, the same cone body makes a whole village of gnomes. Same construction, three personalities:

1. Valentine gnome. Work the hat in soft pink yarn and the body in cream, and sew a tiny crocheted heart to the front of the beard. The Valentine gnome is the sweetest of the set and makes a lovely February gift. If you like heart makes, our free crochet heart pattern is the matching piece.
2. Halloween gnome. Work the hat in black yarn with an orange brim, and give the gnome a purple beard made from brushed purple yarn. The Halloween gnome is the spookiest of the set and looks wonderful on a mantel in October.
3. Easter gnome. Work the hat in pastel yellow yarn and add two small bunny ears to the top of the hat. The Easter gnome is the cheeriest of the set and makes an adorable spring gift. If you like Easter makes, the free snowman crochet pattern is another seasonal favourite, and the crochet elf hat pattern uses the same pointy hat shaping.

And if these gnomes gave you the holiday-make bug, the free crochet Santa pattern is the next cone-bodied make: same body, same ninety-minute speed, with a full beard instead of a hat. Or keep it gnome-themed with the crochet gnome toilet paper holder pattern, a practical gnome for the bathroom.

Troubleshooting tips

• The gnome will not sit up on its own. The base is too round or too lightly stuffed. Add more stuffing to the lower half and press the base flat on the table while you shape it.
• The hat stands straight up instead of flopping. You worked the decreases too fast at the tip. Work the last two rounds without decreases, or fold the tip over and stitch the fold in place.
• The beard looks thin and you can see the body through it. You attached too few strands, or you brushed them too hard. Add another row of strands and brush more gently, working from the nose downward.
• The beard strands keep falling out. You did not pull the loop tight enough when you attached them. Pull each folded loop firmly through the stitch and tug the ends through the loop until the knot sits tight against the body.
• The nose sits crooked. You sewed it on without pinning it first. Pin the nose in place, check it from the front and the side, then sew it on with small stitches all the way around.
• The stuffing shows through the body. Your stitches are too loose or your hook is too big. Go down half a hook size and pull each stitch snug after you make it.

Frequently asked questions

Are these crochet gnomes patterns really free?

Yes, the complete patterns above are free, no email signup, no PDF purchase required.

What skill level are these gnome patterns?

Advanced beginner. If you can chain, single crochet, double crochet, increase, and decrease, you have every skill these patterns need. The beard is just strands of yarn tied on and brushed out.

How long does it take to make one gnome?

About 90 minutes for the medium size: roughly 30 minutes for the body, 30 minutes for the hat, 20 minutes for the beard and nose, and 10 minutes for finishing. The whole set of three takes about four and a half hours.

How much yarn do I need?

About 120 yds total per medium gnome in worsted-weight yarn, including the body, hat, and beard. One 100 g ball of each colour makes one medium gnome with yarn to spare, so a set of three needs less than one ball of each colour.

How do I make the beard fluffy?

Cut strands of smooth white acrylic yarn, attach them folded in half with a lark's head knot, then brush them out with a slicker brush or pet brush. The brush separates the yarn plies into fluffy fibres. Trim the bottom edge straight when you are done.

Can I wash a crocheted gnome?

Yes, but gently. Spot clean with a damp cloth for dust, or hand wash in cool water with a little gentle soap and lay flat to dry. Do not machine wash a gnome with a brushed beard: the beard will tangle.

Can I sell the finished gnomes I make?

Yes! You may sell finished gnomes made from these patterns in small batches (craft fairs, markets, gifts). Please credit Little Loop Finds as the pattern designer with a link back to this page.

More free patterns to try

If these gnomes were fun, keep the hook moving. The free crochet Santa pattern is the next cone-bodied make, the crochet gnome toilet paper holder pattern is a practical gnome for the bathroom, the crochet elf hat pattern uses the same pointy hat shaping, and the free snowman crochet pattern is another seasonal favourite.