Gnomes are all the rage this Christmas. They seem to be everywhere and growing more popular by the day!
If you don’t know this already, my mother and I have a cute store just outside of the city of London and this year we thought it would be great to make porch gnomes to sell. They have been a huge hit! People LOVE them.
I thought it would be nice to show how they are made for all my blog followers, too!
Here is a quick video that will walk you through the steps and then directly below the video are some written instructions.
Materials:
- Tomato cage
- Evergreen
- Red mitts
- Red fabric
- Needle and thread or sewing machine
- Floral wire
- Nude pantyhose
- Cotton stuffing
- Elastic
- Place tomato cage on work surface with ring on the bottom. Using floral wire secure all prongs of the tomato cage together (like a teepee).
- Using cut piece of evergreen, begin attaching them to the tomato cage with floral wire. Star from the top and work your way down.
- Fill in any gaps of evergreen before moving onto next step.
- Make your hat by cutting a 20×20 piece of red fabric. I used heavy cotton fabric.
- Fold your fabric by bringing a corner to the opposite corner, thus creating a triangle.
- Along the edge of the triangle where the fabric pieces aren’t attached cut a slight curve.
- Sew together the straight lines of the triangle leaving the curved portion open.
- Place hat over tomato cage covered with evergreen.
- Taking a pair of pantyhose, cut off one leg and discard or save remaining pantyhose for another project.
- Using the cut off leg of the pantyhose, stuff it with cotton stuffing. Approx a handful.
- Push the stuffing to the middle of the leg and then bring the two pieces of pantyhose on either side together and then start twisting. Secure with an elastic.
- Using floral wire, secure nose to evergreen on the tomato cage so that it sits just under the hat.
- Stuff two red mittens with cotton stuffing. I used children’s mittens as they are nice and small.
- Push the floral wire through the mitten and secure to evergreen on the tomato cage. I go just under the nose on each side with each mitten.
- Put your gnome on display and enjoy your Christmas season!
I find the best way to learn how to do this DIY is by watching the video. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below!
If you like this project, make sure you pin it!
I really like these. They are so cute. I’m wondering where you found small mittens? Great awsome job.
Thank you Debbie! I found the mittens at the dollar store – Dollarama
Do you use real evergreen? If so, does it not turn quickly?
Yes, I use real evergreen. I am in Canada so because we are in a colder climate it actually holds up for quite sometime 😊 I made mine in November and they lasted through until after Christmas
How much evergreens did you use? And where did you get them?
Hello!! I cut down from an evergreen tree that we were trimming. This is a 3 foot tomato cage and I used about 8-10 big branches cut up.
Why did you start at the top?
Hi Cathy! There isn’t really a rhyme or reason as to why. You could totally start from bottom or top 🙂
Thank you Holly. Love these gnomes, so we are going to make two of them this weekend. You make the video and the step by step directions easy to follow.
You are most welcome!!! 🙂 Happy crafting!!
what size of tomato cage are you using?? So cute
Thank you, Pat! This is a 3ft tomato cage 🙂
Holly, What type of branches do you prefer to use?
I prefer blue spruce 🙂
I am having a problem with the fabric when you cut the curve. I have been using flannel, and it just doesn’t fit the gnome.
Hello Tana! What size of tomato cage are you using? You could also try cutting your fabric larger that 20×20 and see if that makes a difference
Wondering if its possible to make these with artificial evergreen instead of frest?
Hi Linda!! yes you most certainly could use artificial! 🙂
What size wire is used, and when cutting the curve in the hat do you start cutting right at the corner and all along I wished you would of showed where you start and where you stop cutting thank you
Hello Melissa! I used 22 gauge floral wire for my gnome. For the hat, I have since re-done this tutorial for Hometalk with more indepth instructions 🙂 you can find that video here – https://www.hometalk.com/tv/decorate/44236973/stop-everything-and-make-these-christmas-gnomes