Project introduction
These charming crochet figures serve as delightful additions to holiday decor. They function beautifully as table ornaments, tree decorations, or components of an Advent calendar. Each gnome or elf consists of two simple pieces that conceal a sweet treat inside. This makes them ideal for stocking stuffers or unique gift toppers that bring joy to recipients during the festive season. The free crochet pattern is available on Moogly, where designer Tamara Kelly shares the instructions.
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Christmas in July Make Along with Underground Crafter
This project was part of a collaborative event involving thirty-one bloggers who shared free patterns throughout July. The initiative covered various crafts including crochet, knitting, and sewing. The gnomes were featured during Home week because they fit well into household decor. Participants could also enter giveaways for prizes through the partnership with favorite companies mentioned in the original post.
A Multi-Purpose Holiday Crochet Pattern Overview
Inspired by Waldorf aesthetics, these ornaments are suitable for making ahead or completing last minute. Since each figure requires only a few yards of yarn, crafters can produce enough for an entire month-long Advent calendar. This efficiency makes them a practical choice for busy holiday seasons while still offering a handmade touch to your home decorations.
Lily Sugar’n Cream - or Red Heart Scrubby Smoothie!
The pattern works well with leftover odds and ends of Lily Sugar’n Cream or Red Heart Scrubby Smoothie yarns. Mix and match both if you like. These high quality 100 percent cotton yarns are great to crochet with year-round and come in a wide variety of colors.
Gnome Candy Ornaments
To begin this project, gather specific supplies listed in the source materials. You will need a US G hook, which measures 4.0 mm. The yarn requirement is approximately 30 to 35 yards of Lily Sugar’n Cream, categorized as weight 4 Medium. Small amounts of chosen colors suffice for the body and hat. Additionally, stitch markers are essential for tracking rounds. The gauge is specified as 4.5 cm across after Round 5 of the Base section.
- Hook: US G (4.0 mm)
- Yarn: 30-35 yds Lily Sugar’n Cream (100% cotton)
- Notions: Stitch Markers
- Gauge: 4.5 cm across after Rnd 5 of Base
Helpful Links and Tutorials
For those new to these techniques, the source provides links to tutorials covering the Magic Circle, Seamless Join, and joining with single crochet. A dedicated tutorial for the Gnome Candy Ornaments is also available to guide you through the process step by step.
Note
Crochet both sections continuously in a spiral. Avoid using joins or turning chains. Place a marker in the initial stitch of every round to maintain accurate tracking.
Construction Overview
This article serves as a pattern overview rather than a full tutorial. For complete row-by-row instructions, please visit the Original designer’s pattern and instructions. The construction involves working two separate parts: the base and the top. The base forms the head, while the top creates the hat and beard. These pieces are then assembled to enclose the candy surprise.
Base (Head)
The base begins with a magic circle and six single crochet stitches. Subsequent rounds increase the stitch count gradually to form a flat circle before building height through even rounds. The final round uses a slip stitch and seamless join to close the piece. This structure ensures the gnome has a rounded head shape capable of holding small candies securely within its cavity.
Top (Hat and Beard)
The top starts with a smaller magic circle of four single crochet stitches. It increases over several rounds to create the hat shape. A chin strap is formed by chaining twelve stitches and sewing it to the opposite side of the hat. The beard is added by working stitches over the chin strap using half double and double crochet combinations. An optional hanging loop can be attached to the top for easy display on trees or garlands.
Looking for more?
If you enjoy this style, consider exploring other holiday projects. Related reads include the Crochet Gnome Towel Topper: Pattern Overview and the Frankenstein’s Monster Crochet Candy Bowl: Pattern Overview. These projects offer similar whimsical charm for different occasions and functional uses around the home.
The fine print
The written pattern is copyright Tamara Kelly 2020. Readers may link to the page to share the pattern but should not reprint or repost it. To print or download, use the Print Friendly button or copy the text into a document. Note that selling items made from this pattern or translating it requires visiting the About page for details. Yarnspirations provided the materials shown in the original post.
