Crochet Gnome Towel Topper: Pattern Overview

Project introduction

This is a pattern overview, not a complete crochet tutorial. Nana’s Crafty Home created the gnome towel topper, which pairs a pointed hat and small nose with a kitchen towel that can be removed for washing. The towel hangs from a ring incorporated into the hat, rather than being permanently attached. Follow the designer’s pattern and instructions for the complete construction details.

The designer offers the instructions online for free and also has an ad-free printable PDF available for purchase. The topper can suit a Christmas kitchen or be used at other times of year by changing the colors. Nana’s Crafty Home also lists related gnome towel toppers, including mushroom, Christmas tree, leprechaun, patriotic, Viking, pilgrim, and spring girl designs. For a different kitchen towel project, see our Turkey Crochet Kitchen Towel: Pattern Overview.

Yarn choice affects the finished look and may influence colorfastness. The designer used cotton for stitch definition and notes that acrylic may be more colorfast. This topper is not intended as a potholder, so it is not designed to protect hands from heat. The source suggests a white flour sack towel and describes that towel type as less prone to pilling and shedding than standard kitchen towels.

The removable towel is a defining feature: the ring is worked into the hat and supports the towel. A 3-inch plastic craft ring is suggested. The designer also mentions plastic shower rings and elastic hair ties as alternatives. Check the linked instructions for details on how the ring is incorporated.

The topper is presented as a possible handmade gift or kitchen decoration. The designer also offers a separate girl gnome pattern and tutorial for adding braids to make a matching character. These related options can help you plan a coordinated pair, while color changes alone offer a simpler way to adapt the main design for different seasons.

Gnome Towel Topper crochet Pattern Overview

The pattern uses US crochet terminology. Its components include a hat worked in seamless rounds, a separate stuffed nose, a button on the front, and a small loop sewn to the top. The ring is integrated while working the hat. A contrasting edging includes bobble stitches. The designer provides a video tutorial for the project and a separate tutorial for the bobble-stitch edge on the source site.

Use this materials checklist to prepare before consulting the complete instructions. The listed yarn colors are from I Love This Cotton! A stitch marker is included because it helps track the first stitch of each round.

• I Love This Cotton! Red (Color A), White (Color B), and Warm Blush (Color C)
• Size H (5.0 mm) crochet hook
• One white flour sack towel, 27 inches by 27 inches
• A small amount of polyfill stuffing
• One 3-inch plastic ring
• One 3/4-inch round white button
• Red embroidery thread for sewing on the button
• A tapestry needle and a stitch marker

The approximate finished size is 8 inches tall, excluding the towel, by 5 inches wide. The stated gauge is 20 rows to 4 inches and 17 single crochet stitches to 4 inches. These measurements provide reference points for checking your yarn and hook choices; the linked instructions are needed for the full shaping and assembly.

The hat and nose are both worked in seamless rounds. At a high level, the hat begins at its tip and gradually widens. The plastic ring is worked into the hat, and the contrasting edging is added at the end. A separate chain loop is sewn securely to the hat’s top. The button is positioned at the middle front, approximately 4 1/2 inches down from the tip, according to the source.

The nose is made separately in Warm Blush, stuffed, and closed before it is sewn to the inside bottom edge of the hat, in the middle of the towel. The instructions recommend adding the stuffing shortly before the final decrease and closure. This placement and the hat’s ring are useful construction details to keep in mind when reviewing the source photos and directions.

Abbreviations include MC for magic circle, ch for chain, sc for single crochet, st for stitch, sk for skip, WS for wrong side, and sc2tog for single crochet two together. The pattern also defines SP-2, a spike stitch worked into a lower round, and a bobble stitch used in the edging. If these specialty stitches are unfamiliar, consult the stitch explanations and supporting tutorial provided by the designer before continuing.

For a neat finish, pay attention to the stitch marker as rounds progress and refer to the source photos when checking the ring, color transition, and overall shape. Keep the towel removable so it can be taken off for washing. This overview summarizes the materials and construction, but does not replace the designer’s detailed instructions.