Crochet Santa Gnome

The Crochet Santa Gnome is the perfect amigurumi design to help bring extra holiday cheer into your home or workspace. Whether using him as a holiday decoration, as a special gift, or for play, he’s sure to add that extra touch of joy to the occasion.

Read on to learn more about my inspiration and yarn choice for the Crochet Santa Gnome or scroll down to the bottom to find the free pattern.

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The Inspiration

I am an absolute fan of the Scandinavian-style gnomes. They are just so fun for me. I totally smile every time I see them. You can already find the Crochet Gnome, Norbin Nibbleweed on the blog, but I knew that for Christmas I needed to create at least a couple of the other gnome ideas that are floating in my head.

Yep, you read that right, I said a couple, so I hope that as you’re enjoying making the Crochet Santa Gnome that you’re also looking forward to another gnome friend!

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Update: You can now find the Christmas Elf Gnome on the blog as well!

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Getting the designs all worked out, the patterns written, the pictures taken, and the blog posts written up has actually, in a way, been an extra fun holiday experience this year with everything else that is happening. And to be honest, it even has me feeling a bit like Santa’s helper.

My girls are just waiting in anticipation as they’ve watched these guys come to life, all the time sharing the plans they have for them once I’ve finished. It makes me smile every time. I hope that you too are feeling some holiday cheer. Hugs to you and take care.

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The Yarn

Caron Simply Soft is a well-known and widely available yarn both online and in many craft stores. It’s a worsted weight, size 4, acrylic yarn that comes in a wide range of colors and styles including the regular simply soft solids, collection, heathers, tweeds, ombres, brites, stripes, paints, speckles, camos, party, and several more! Truly a wide variety to choose from for any project!

The Simply Soft has a soft feel to it and also has a bit of a sheen. It is a yarn that has been long loved by many crafters because of its softness, ease of care, and wide selection of colors.

Along with the Caron Simply Soft yarn, the Crochet Santa Gnome pattern also uses Bernat Pipsqueak yarn. This yarn is a snuggly, fuzzy yarn that is a bulky size 5 and comes in several solid and print options.

It’s 100% polyester and is both washable and dryable making it useable for a variety of applications from amigurumi to blankets, to accessories. On that note, I don’t recommend machine washing amigurumi. If washing is needed it’s best to spot clean and air dry.

I will say, that in my personal opinion, the Pipsqueak yarn is one of the easier novelty yarn to work with. It’s still difficult to see the stitches, but tends to lend kindly to having to undo stitches without get wrapped around itself like so many other novelty yarns.

If you are new to working with Furry yarns the blog post 20 Tips for Crocheting With Furry Yarn may be helpful.

Substitutions. Any brand of worsted weight yarn should work well for making the Crochet Santa Gnome but make sure that all the yarns being used are of equal thickness. Sometimes the same yarn weight, even within the same brand varies.

Other fur yarns may be substituted as well, but outcomes may vary. I personally feel that the fur yarn adds a lot to the design but it could also be omitted in places and/or substituted with regular worsted weight yarn, but this would change the overall appearance, so personal design discretion is advised. As always, reach out if you have any questions. I’m excited to see your creations!

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The Pattern

Difficulty

Intermediate

Materials

• Crochet Hook, Size E/4 (3.5 mm) 
• Stitch Marker(s)
• Scissors
• Stuffing
• Tapestry needle
• Pins
• Chopstick, dowel, or something similar to help with stuffing small parts
• Yarnspirations Caron Simply Soft (worsted 4-Medium, 100% acrylic, 315 yds/288 m, 6 oz/170 g), Color (A) Bone OR Taupe, used approx. 15 yds/14 m, Color (B) Autumn Red, used approx. 95 yds/87 m
• Yarnspirations Caron Simply Soft Heathers (worsted 4-Medium, 100% acrylic, 250 yds/228 m, 5 oz/141 g), Color (C) Charcoal Heather, used approx. 32 yds/29 m, Color (F) Grey Heather, used approx. 12 yds/11 m
• Yarnspirations Caron Simply Soft Tweeds (worsted 4-Medium, 97% acrylic, 3% viscose, 250 yds/228 m, 5 oz/141 g), Color (E) Off White Tweed OR Taupe Tweed, used approx. 35 yds/32 m
• Yarnspirations Bernat Pipsqueak (5-Bulky 100% polyester, 101 yds/92 m, 3.5 oz/100 g), Color (D) Vanilla, used approx. 38 yds/35 m

Gauge

Using hook size E/4 (3.5 mm) the first 6 rounds of the body measure approximately 2 inches/5 cm in diameter.

Finished Measurements

Using hook size E/4 (3.5 mm) in the sitting position without the hat, the Santa Gnome measures approximately 4.5 inches/11.4 cm. Sitting with the hat measures approximately 7 inches/18 cm with a bent hat and 10 inches/25 cm with a straight hat (not including the legs).

Design Notes

• The pattern is written using US crochet terminology.
• The pattern is written in rounds, it will be helpful to place a stitch marker at the beginning stitch of the round and move it up at the start of each additional round. 
• At the end of each round, the number of stitches for completion is noted in parentheses.
• Further design notes will be provided throughout the pattern to help aid in construction.

Abbreviations/Stitches Used

• back bar of the ch – horizontal bar on the backside of a ch
• bo – Bobble (described below under special stitches)
• ch – Chain
• dc2tog – double crochet two together (described below under special stitches)
• hdc – half double crochet
• Rnd(s) – Round(s)
• sc – Single crochet
• sc2tog – Single crochet 2 stitches together (invisible decrease except where noted otherwise in the pattern)
• sl st – Slip stitch
• st(s) – Stitch(s)
• [ ] / ( ) – Work instructions between brackets as many times as directed
• magic circle/adjustable ring

Special Stitches

+ Bobble (bo): A 3dcbo (three double crochet bobble) is used in this pattern. Essentially it’s 3 half-finished double crochets worked all in the same stitch that are joined at the end as one stitch, creating a puffy stitch.

To create a 3dcbo

With the working loop on the hook:

1. Yarn over, insert hook into the next stitch,
2. Yarn over and pull up a loop (three loops on the hook),
3. Yarn over and pull through two loops (one leg made, two loops on the hook),
4. Yarn over, insert hook into the same stitch,
5. Yarn over and pull up a loop (four loops on the hook)
6. Yarn over and pull through two loops (two legs made, three loops on the hook),
7. Yarn over, insert hook into the same stitch,
8. Yarn over and pull up a loop (five loops on the hook)
9. Yarn over and pull through two loops (three legs made, four loops on the hook),
10. Yarn over and pull through all four loops. (3dcbo completed)

+ Dc2tog – Double Crochet Two Together

With the working loop on the hook:

1. Yarn over, insert hook into the next stitch,
2. Yarn over and pull up a loop (three loops on the hook),
3. Yarn over and pull through two loops (two loops on the hook),
4. Yarn over, insert hook into the next stitch,
5. Yarn over and pull up a loop (four loops on the hook),
6. Yarn over and pull through two loops (three loops on the hook),
7. Yarn over and pull through all three loops. (dc2tog completed)

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Let’s Make Our Santa Gnome!

Nose

Make 1

Using Color (A) – Bone OR Taupe

• Rnd 1: 6sc in adjustable (magic) circle. (6sts)
• Rnd 2: 2sc in each st around. (12sts)
• Rnd 3: [Sc in the next st, 2sc in next st] 6 times. (18sts)
• Rnds 4-5: Sc in each st around. (18sts for 2 Rnds)
• Rnd 6: [Sc in the next st, sc2tog] 6 times. (12sts)
• Rnd 7: [Sc in the next st, sc2tog] 4 times. (8sts)
• Fasten off.
• Firmly stuff and shape the nose. Set aside for later.

Body

Make 1

Using Color (B) – Autumn  Red

• Rnd 1: 6sc in adjustable (magic) circle. (6sts)
• Rnd 1 alternative: If preferred, ch 2 and then 6sc in 2nd chain from hook. (6sts)
• Rnd 2: 2sc in each st around. (12sts)
• Rnd 3: [Sc in the next st, 2sc in next st] 6 times. (18sts)
• Rnd 4: [Sc in the next 2sts, 2sc in next st] 6 times. (24sts)
• Rnd 5: [Sc in the next 3sts, 2sc in next st] 6 times. (30sts)
• Rnd 6: [Sc in the next 4sts, 2sc in next st] 6 times. (36sts)
• Rnd 7: [Sc in the next 5sts, 2sc in next st] 6 times. (42sts)
• Rnd 8: [Sc in the next 6sts, 2sc in next st] 6 times. (48sts)
• Rnds 9-12: Sc in each st around. (48sts for 4 Rnds)

Switch to Color (C) – Charcoal Heather

• Rnd 13: Sl st in the first st (counts as a st), sc in the next 47sts. (48sts) 
• Rnds 14-16: Sc in each st around. (48sts for 3 Rnds)

Switch to Color (D) – Vanilla

• Rnd 17: In FLO: Sc in each st around. Mark the back loop of the first st to be worked later in Rnd 18. (48sts)

Switch to Color (E) – Off White Tweed OR Taupe Tweed

• Rnd 18: In the Back Loops of Rnd 16: Sc in each st around. (48sts)
• Rnds 19-23: Sc in each st around. (48sts for 5 Rnds)

In the next round the nose is added seamlessly to the body. 

• Rnd 24: Sc in the next 22sts, now join the nose to the body: With the working loop still on the hook, insert hook into any st on the nose from the wrong side to the right side of the piece, then insert the hook into the next st of the body from the right side to the wrong side of the piece, yo, pull loop through the body and the nose, yo, pull through both loops, continue to join the nose and body sts together for the next 3sts, sc in the next 22sts. (48sts)

• Rnd 25: Sc in the next 22sts, now join the nose to the body: [With the working loop still on the hook, insert hook into the next st on the nose from the right side to the wrong side of the piece, then insert the hook into the next st of the body from the right side to the wrong side of the piece, yo, pull loop through the body and the nose, yo, pull through both loops] 4 times, sc in the next 22sts. (48sts)

• Rnds 26-33: Sc in each st around. (48sts for 8 Rnds) 

Firmly stuff and shape the body and continue to do so as the pattern progresses.

• Rnd 34: [Sc in the next 4sts, sc2tog] 8 times. (40sts)
• Rnd 35: [Sc in the next 3sts, sc2tog] 8 times. (32sts)
• Rnd 36: [Sc in the next 2sts, sc2tog] 8 times. (24sts)
• Rnd 37: [Sc in the next st, sc2tog] 8 times. (16sts)
• Rnd 38: [Sc in the next 2sts, sc2tog] 4 times. (12sts)
• Rnd 39: [Sc in the next st, sc2tog] 4 times. (8sts)
• Sl st to the first st and fasten off leaving a long tail to close up the hole. Close the hole with a tapestry needle stitching only through the front loops until the hole pulls nicely closed, secure and weave in the end.

Hand and Arm (One Piece)

Make 2

Using Color (A) – Bone OR Taupe

• Rnd 1: 6sc in adjustable (magic) circle. (6sts)
• Rnd 1 alternative: If preferred, ch 2 and then 6sc in 2nd chain from hook. (6sts)
• Rnd 2: 2sc in each st around. (12sts)
• Rnd 3: [Sc in the next 5sts, 2sc in next st] 2 times. (14sts)
• Rnds 4-5: Sc in each st around. (14sts for 2 Rnds)
• Rnd 6: Bo in the next st, sc in the next 13sts. (14sts)
• Rnd 7: Sc in each st around. (14sts)
• Rnd 8: [Sc2tog, sc in the next 5sts] 2 times. (12sts)
• Rnd 9: [Sc in the next 4sts, sc2tog] 2 times. (10sts)

Stuff and shape the hand. Leave the remaining part of the arm unstuffed as the pattern progresses.

Switch to Color (B) – Autumn Red

• Rnd 10: In BLO: [Sc in the next 4sts, 2 sc in the next st] 2 times. (12sts)
• Rnds 11-18: Sc in each st around. (12sts for 8 Rnds)

>Design Tip: In the next section of instructions for the Arm and Hand a furry cuff will be added in Color (D) – Vanilla. It may be helpful to add this cuff and weave the ends into the center of the arm before proceeding with closing the top of the arm as noted in the immediate instructions below.

• Press the tube flat so the top edges line up perpendicular to the side of the hand where the bo thumb was made, ch1, sc the two edges together across the top. (6sts)
• Fasten off leaving a long tail for attaching the arm to the body.

Making the Cuff

Switch to Color (D) – Vanilla

• Working in the Front Loops of Rnd 9: Leaving a starting tail long enough to weave in, sc in each st around. (10sts)
• Sl st to the first st and fasten off leaving a tail long enough to weave in.
• Weave in the tails.

Boot and Leg (One Piece)

Starting with the boots.

Make 2

Using Color (F) – Grey Heather

• Ch 10
• Rnd 1: Working in the back bar of the ch: 2sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, sc in the next 7sts, 4sc in the next st (corner rounded), working down the other side of the ch: sc in the next 7sts, 2sc in the next st. (22sts)
• Rnd 2: Sc in the next st, 2sc in the next st, sc in the next 7sts, 2sc in the next 4sts, sc in the next 7sts, 2sc in the next st, sc in the next st. (28sts)
• Rnd 3: 2sc in the next st, sc in the next 9sts, [2sc in the next st, sc in the next st] 2 times, [sc in the next st, 2sc in the next st] 2 times, sc in the next 9sts, 2sc in the next st. (34sts)
• Rnd 4: Sc in the next st, 2sc in the next st, sc in the next 9sts, [2sc in the next st, sc in the next 2sts] 2 times, [sc in the next 2sts, 2sc in the next st] 2 times, sc in the next 9sts, 2sc in the next st, sc in the next st. (40sts)
• Rnd 5: In BLO: sc in each st around. (40sts)

Switch to Color (C) – Charcoal Heather

• Rnds 6-7: sc in each st around. (40sts for 2 Rnds)
• Rnd 8: Sc in the next 12sts, [sc2tog] 2 times, [dc2tog] 6 times, [sc2tog] 2 times, sc in the next 8sts. (30sts)
• Rnd 9: Sc in each st around. (30sts)
• Rnd 10: Sc in the next 10sts, [sc2tog] 2 times, sc in the next 5sts, [sc2tog] 2 times, sc in the next 7sts. (26sts)
• Rnd 11: Sc2tog, sc in the next 7sts, [sc2tog] 2 times, sc in the next 3sts, [sc2tog] 2 times, sc in the next 6sts. (21sts)
• Rnd 12: Sc in the next 7sts, [sc2tog] 5 times, sc in the next 4sts. (16sts)
• Firmly stuff and shape the boot. 

Making the Leg

Place a locking stitch marker in the working loop of Color (C) – Charcoal so it can’t unravel. This will be returned to momentarily.

Using Color (B) – Autumn Red 

>Design Note: Use a standing sc on the first stitch of Rnd 1 to add the new color.

• Rnd 1: Working in the BLO of Rnd 12 of the Boot: sc in the next 7sts, [sc2tog (regular decrease)] 2 times, sc in the next 5sts. (14sts)
• Rnd 2: [Sc in the next 5sts, sc2tog] 2times. (12sts)
• Add additional stuffing to the top of the boot but leave the remaining leg unstuffed as the pattern progresses.
• Rnds 3-20: Sc in each st around. (12sts for 18 Rnds) 
• Rnd 21: Sc in the next 2sts, leave the remaining 10sts unworked. (2sts) This should position the working loop on the side of the leg in preparation for the next step. Make or remove sts to obtain the needed position.
• Press the tube flat so the top edges line up horizontally with the boot facing forwards, ch1, and sc the two edges together across the top. (6sts)
• Fasten off leaving a long tail for attaching the leg to the body.

Return to the Working Loop for the Boot

>Design Note: Remember to mark the starting st.

• Rnd 13: Working in the Front Loop of Rnd 12: sc in each st around. (16sts)
• Rnds 14-16: Sc in each st around. (16sts for 3 Rnds)

Switch to Color (D) – Vanilla

• Rnd 17: Leaving a starting tail long enough to weave in, sc in each st around. (16sts)
• Sl st to the first st and fasten off leaving a tail long enough to weave in. Weave in the tails.

Hat

Using Color (B) – Autumn Red

• Rnd 1: 6sc in adjustable (magic) circle. (6sts)
• Rnd 1 alternative: If preferred, ch 2 and then 6sc in 2nd chain from hook. (6sts)
• Rnd 2: Sc in each st around. (6sts)
• Rnd 3: 2sc in each st around. (12sts)
• Rnds 4-6: Sc in each st around. (12sts for 3 Rnds)
• Rnd 7: Sc in the next 11sts, 2sc in the next st. (13sts)
• Rnds 8-9: Sc in each st around. (13sts for 2 Rnds)
• Rnd 10: Sc in the next 12sts, 2sc in the next st. (14sts)
• Rnd 11: Sc in the next 13sts, 2sc in the next st. (15sts)
• Rnd 12: [Sc in the next 2sts, 2sc in next st] 5 times. (20sts)
• Rnds 13-14: Sc in each st around. (20sts for 2 Rnds)
• Rnd 15: Sc in the next 19sts, 2sc in the next st. (21sts)
• Rnd 16: Sc in each st around. (21sts)
• Rnd 17: Sc in the next 20sts, 2sc in the next st. (22sts)
• Rnd 18: Sc in the next 21sts, 2sc in the next st. (23sts)
• Rnd 19: Sc in each st around. (23sts)
• Rnd 20: Sc in the next 22sts, 2sc in the next st. (24sts)
• Rnd 21: Sc in the next 23sts, 2sc in the next st. (25sts)
• Rnd 22: [Sc in the next 4sts, 2sc in next st] 5 times. (30sts)
• Rnds 23-25: Sc in each st around. (30sts for 3 Rnds)
• Rnd 26: [Sc in the next 5sts, 2sc in next st] 5 times. (35sts)
• Rnds 27-28: Sc in each st around. (35sts for 2 Rnds)
• Rnd 29: [Sc in the next 6sts, 2sc in next st] 5 times. (40sts)
• Rnds 30-31: Sc in each st around. (40sts for 2 Rnds)
• Rnd 32: [Sc in the next 7sts, 2sc in next st] 5 times. (45sts)
• Rnd 33: Sc in each st around. (45sts)
• Rnd 34: [Sc in the next 8sts, 2sc in next st] 5 times. (50sts)
• Rnd 35: Sc in each st around. (50sts)
• Rnd 36: [Sc in the next 9sts, 2sc in next st] 5 times. (55sts)
• Rnd 37: [Sc in the next 10sts, 2sc in next st] 5 times. (60sts)
• Rnd 38: [Sc in the next 11sts, 2sc in next st] 5 times. (65sts)
• Rnd 39: [Sc in the next 12sts, 2sc in next st] 5 times. (70sts)
• Rnds 40-41: Sc in each st around. (70sts for 2 Rnds)

Switch to Color (D) – Vanilla

• Rnds 42-43: Sc in each st around. (70sts for 2 Rnds)
• Sl st to the first st and fasten off leaving a tail long enough to weave in. Weave in the tails.

Pom-Pom for the Hat

Make 1

Using Color (D) – Vanilla

>Design Note: When working with furry yarn the wrong side of the work is often fuzzier than the right side of the work. In the pattern the wrong side of the pom-pom is on the outside.

• Rnd 1: Ch 2 and then 6sc in 2nd chain from hook. (6sts)
• Rnd 2: [Sc in the next st, 2sc in the next st] 3 times. (9sts)
• Rnds 3-4: Sc in each st around. (9sts for 2 Rnds)
• Lightly stuff and shape, if desired.
• Rnd 5: [Sc in the next st, sc2tog (regular decrease)] 3 times. (6sts)
• Sl st to the first st and fasten off leaving a long tail to close up the hole. Close the hole with a tapestry needle, secure and weave in the end.
• Use a length of Color (B) – Autumn Red to attach the pom-pom to the end of the hat.

Beard

Using Color (D) – Vanilla

• Cut 16, 6-inch lengths of yarn (more if a fuller beard is desired, longer if a longer beard is desired).

• Holding two strands together, loop yarn lengths around the stitches onto the body to form the beard. Suggested Placement: On Rnd 23, place 4 loops directly under the nose and 2 loops to each side of these loops for a total of 8 loops.
• Trim if desired.

Assembly

Pin all the pieces together to determine the desired placement for the entire Santa Gnome and then stitch securely into place. 

General placement and stitching suggestions:

• Pin the arms on either side of the body either straight to the side at Rnd 23 or diagonally over about Rnds 19-24 with the top of the arm being about 1.25 inch/ 3 cm away from the beard and the bottom of the arm about 1.75 inches/4.5 cm from the beard, the thumbs facing towards the body. Stitch along the top of the arms.

• Pin the legs side by side about two rows in front of the magic circle on the base of the body, making sure the feet are facing in the right direction. Using the tail on the leg attach the leg to the body along the top edge and then along each side of the leg for a couple of rows so the top bit of the leg remains flush against the bottom of the body.
• Invisibly tack the hat onto the body in several places using Color (B) – Autumn Red to make sure that it doesn’t fall off.

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Looking for more great patterns?

These may be of interest! 1. Crochet Puppy Dog 2. Crochet Gnome-Norbin Nibbleweed 3. Cottage Garden Crochet Bunny

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Copyright and Use Policy

This pattern and its photos are copyright of Jennifer Hayes (Jen Hayes Creations) and are for personal, non-commercial use only. You may not copy, sell, republish, distribute, or translate my patterns, photos, or tutorials in part or whole. Share this pattern on social media by using the social sharing buttons or a link to the pattern. You are welcome to sell any finished items produced from this pattern. Please credit Jen Hayes Creations as the designer and include a link to the pattern listing if selling the finished piece online. Thank you!