Project introduction
Tamara Kelly of Moogly Blog has a long standing fondness for gnomes, and marrying into a Scandinavian family meant learning all about nisses. When Sonya of Blackstone Designs invited her to take part in the Crochet Mitten Drive Blog Hop, she drew her inspiration from the iconic nisse look.
Warm Enough for Any Garden
The nisse is the bearer of gifts, while the gnome is usually spotted outside in the garden, which made both a fitting starting point. The Blog Hop exists to provide free mitten patterns so that mittens can be made for people in need, and the Crochet Mitten Drive Blog Hop page holds more information.
Lion Brand Woolspun was the yarn chosen here, and the designer describes it as thick, warm, squishy and easy to care for. The hope is that these free crochet mittens carry a wave of greeting onto hands everywhere this winter.
Hello Gnome Mittens
This section gathers the practical details a maker needs before starting. The original designer’s pattern and instructions live at Original designer’s pattern and instructions. You can also add this pattern to your Ravelry Queue and Favorites. Note that the specified yarn has been discontinued, so substitutions may be necessary.
- Hook: US K (6.5 mm), with Clover Amour Jumbo Hook recommended.
- Yarn: 110-225 yards Lion Brand Lion’s Pride Woolspun (Bulky weight, 12 ply, “5”; 127 yds/116 m; 3.53 oz).
- Colors: A (Avocado), B (Cranberry), C (Aquamarine), D (Oxford Grey), E (Honey).
- Gauge: 14 rows x 12 sts = 4″ in single crochet.
- Sizes: Child measures 7.5 inches from cuff to fingertip with a palm width of 3.5 inches. Teen and Adult Small measures 9.5 inches from cuff to fingertip with a palm width of 4.25 inches. Adult Large measures 10.5 inches from cuff to fingertip with a palm width of 5 inches.
Helpful Links and Tutorials
Several supporting tutorials are referenced for the techniques this design relies on. They cover general crochet abbreviations, the back loop only stitch, tapestry crochet, and switching colors in the middle of a row. Working through them first will make the multi colored sections easier to follow.
Notes
This pattern uses both rows and rounds, and the rounds are often turned, so each row or round direction deserves a careful read. Placing a stitch marker in the first stitch of a turned round and counting stitches as you go will help you stay on track. The cuff is worked side to side first, and the rest of the mitten is then built upward from that cuff.
Child size
Left Hand
Construction begins with a cuff in Color A, worked flat with back loop stitches for texture. After joining in the round, Color B forms the section before the thumb, often called the pants. Colors C and D then build the rows where the thumb will attach while starting the shirt and beard, using tapestry style color changes where the unused color is carried or left hanging. The upper palm and fingers use Colors E and D to finish the beard and create the head and hat. Exact row by row guidance lives in the original pattern.
Decrease rounds shape the fingertip, which is seamed flat with a long tail. The thumb is worked separately around the opening and gathered closed. Exact row by row guidance lives in the original pattern.
Right Hand
The right hand repeats the cuff through pants instructions from the left hand, then changes how the colors sit in the shirt and beard rows so the gnome reads correctly on the opposite hand. The upper palm and fingers follow the same logic with mirrored color placement. Once those rounds are done, the maker returns to the left hand instructions from Round 4 onward and repeats the left hand thumb instructions. Exact row by row guidance lives in the original pattern.
Teen/adult small size
Left Hand
For the teen and adult small size, the cuff starts with more stitches (6 sc) and runs longer before joining. The pants section increases to 26 stitches. The shirt and beard area calls for careful carrying of the unused strand, and the upper palm continues at 26 stitches before decreasing gradually to close the top. The thumb widens to 14 stitches around the opening, keeping proportion with the larger hand. Exact row by row guidance lives in the original pattern.
Right Hand
In the teen and adult small right hand, the cuff and pants match the left. The difference sits in how the shirt and beard rows distribute the colors, with stitch counts set to mirror the design. The upper palm rounds adjust the color transitions to complete the gnome’s face. Following the left hand instructions for the remainder keeps shaping and finishing consistent. Exact row by row guidance lives in the original pattern.
Adult large size
Left Hand
The adult large size uses a wider cuff (6 sc) and a longer row count before joining. The pants section reaches 30 stitches. The shirt and beard rows involve managing three colors at once. The upper palm holds at 30 stitches, with decreases beginning later to accommodate the larger volume. The thumb opens with 14 stitches, giving adult hands room while keeping the character design intact. Exact row by row guidance lives in the original pattern.
Right Hand
For the adult large right hand, the structure parallels the left while the colorwork flips. The cuff and pants are identical. The shirt and beard rows place the colors differently to create a mirrored image, and the upper palm rounds continue that mirroring. Final decreases and thumb construction follow the left hand pattern, so both mittens look cohesive when worn together. One skein of each listed color should make two pairs in any size, which makes donating a pair to a charity a simple option. Exact row by row guidance lives in the original pattern.
The Fine Print
The written pattern is copyright Tamara Kelly 2015, all rights reserved. Reprinting or reposting the text is not permitted, though sharing a link to the page is encouraged. Anyone wishing to make items for sale from this pattern should check the About page for details. Thanks go to Lion Brand Yarn for providing the yarn for this pattern.
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