Crochet Gnome Pattern: A Bearded Christmas Gnome That Stands Up
A round little gnome with a tall hat, a big nose and a fluffy brushed beard. The most-pinned Christmas crochet project — and easier than it looks.
Pattern at a glance
US terms- Skill level
- Easy
- Yarn
- Worsted (#4) yarn: grey (60 yd), red (60 yd), skin tone (5 yd), white (30 yd)
- Hook
- 4 mm (G-6)
- Time
- About 3½ hours
- Finished size
- About 7 in (18 cm) tall
You'll need
- Worsted weight (#4) yarn in grey, red, a skin tone and white (or white faux-fur yarn for the beard)
- 4 mm (G-6) hook
- Fiberfill, a 3-in cardboard circle, optional poly pellets for weight
- A pet slicker brush or stiff hairbrush (for the beard)
- Stitch marker, tapestry needle
In this post
Scandinavian gnomes (tomte or nisse) have no visible eyes — just a hat pulled low over a big round nose and a beard. That makes them one of the most forgiving amigurumi there is: no eye placement to get wrong, and the hat hides the join.
The gnome is four pieces: a domed body, a tall hat, a nose and a beard that you brush out until it's fluffy.
The rest of this post is just below — free, as always.
The pattern
Body (grey)
- Rnd 1: 6 sc in a magic ring. (6)
- Rnd 2: Inc in each st. (12)
- Rnd 3: (Sc, inc) 6 times. (18)
- Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) 6 times. (24)
- Rnd 5: (3 sc, inc) 6 times. (30)
- Rnd 6: (4 sc, inc) 6 times. (36)
- Rnd 7: In back loops only: sc around. This is the base edge. (36)
- Rnds 8–16: Sc around. (36)
- Rnd 17: (4 sc, dec) 6 times. Place the cardboard circle in the base; add pellets for weight if you like. (30)
- Rnd 18: (3 sc, dec) 6 times. Stuff firmly. (24)
- Rnd 19: (2 sc, dec) 6 times. (18)
- Rnd 20: (Sc, dec) 6 times. (12)
- Rnd 21: Dec 6 times and close. (6)
Hat (red)
- Rnd 1: 4 sc in a magic ring. (4)
- Rnd 2: Sc around. (4)
- Rnd 3: (Sc, inc) twice. (6)
- Rnd 4: Sc around. (6)
- Rnd 5: (Sc, inc) 3 times. (9)
- Rnd 6: Sc around. (9)
- Rnd 7: (2 sc, inc) 3 times. (12)
- Rnd 8: Sc around. (12)
- Rnd 9: (3 sc, inc) 3 times. (15)
- Rnd 10: Sc around. (15)
- Rnd 11: (4 sc, inc) 3 times. (18)
- Rnd 12: Sc around. (18)
- Rnd 13: (2 sc, inc) 6 times. (24)
- Rnd 14: Sc around. (24)
- Rnd 15: (3 sc, inc) 6 times. (30)
- Rnd 16: Sc around. (30)
- Rnd 17: (4 sc, inc) 6 times. (36)
- Rnd 18: Sc around. (36)
- Rnd 19: (5 sc, inc) 6 times. (42)
- Rnds 20–22: Sc around. Fasten off with a long tail. (42)
Nose (skin tone)
- Rnd 1: 6 sc in a magic ring. (6)
- Rnd 2: Inc in each st. (12)
- Rnds 3–4: Sc around. (12)
- Rnd 5: Dec 6 times. Stuff and close. (6)
Beard (white) — worked flat
- Row 1: Ch 13. Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and across. Ch 1, turn. (12)
- Row 2: Sc across. Ch 1, turn. (12)
- Row 3: Dec, sc 8, dec. Ch 1, turn. (10)
- Row 4: Sc across. Ch 1, turn. (10)
- Row 5: Dec, sc 6, dec. Ch 1, turn. (8)
- Row 6: Sc across. Ch 1, turn. (8)
- Row 7: Dec, sc 4, dec. Ch 1, turn. (6)
- Row 8: Dec, sc 2, dec. Ch 1, turn. (4)
- Row 9: Dec twice. Fasten off. (2)
- Fringe: Cut 4-inch strands of white yarn. Knot one through every stitch (fold in half, pull the loop through, pull the ends through the loop). Brush the strands with a slicker brush until they bloom into fluff.
Assembly
- Sew the beard to the front of the body, wide edge about two-thirds of the way up.
- Sew the nose just above the top of the beard.
- Stuff the top of the hat lightly, pull it down over the body until it sits on the nose, and sew around the hat edge.
- Bend the hat tip over and tack it with one stitch, if you like.
Common questions
How do you make a fluffy gnome beard?
Knot strands of acrylic or wool yarn through a crocheted base, then brush them with a pet slicker brush. The brush separates the plies into fluff. Faux-fur yarn worked in single crochet is a shortcut.
Why won't my gnome stand up?
Use the cardboard circle and a few spoonfuls of poly pellets in a small bag at the bottom. Stuff the body firmly so it doesn't sag.
Can I make a smaller gnome ornament?
Use sport (#2) yarn and a 3 mm hook — the same pattern makes a gnome about 4½ inches tall. Add a hanging loop to the hat tip.
Gnomes are better in groups — how many are joining yours? 🎅
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