- 17th December 2022
Gnomes and Fairies
During lock down to make Nicola laugh I sent her a gnome in the post. Who doesn’t raise a titter at a surprise gnome? In return she sent me a fairy, more Mavis Cruet than Cinderella. Here is the pattern if you’d like to make your own (watching Willo the Wisp is purely optional but highly recommended).
Materials
Scraps of 4 ply yarn in assorted colours
Mohair for fairy’s dress if needed
Very small amount of stuffing or chop up some of the yarn
Needles and Notions
1 set 2.25mm / US1 double-pointed needles
1 set 2.5mm / US1.5 double-pointed needles
Embroidery needle
Coloured pencil for cheeks
If you don’t have the correct size needles then a size up will be fine.
Abbreviations
dec: decrease
DPNs: double pointed needles
k: knit
k2tog: knit the next two stitches together
kfbf: knit into the front, the back and then the front again of the next stitch (3 stitches)
kfbfbf: knit into the front, the back, the front , the back and then the front again of the next stitch (5 stitches)
p: purl
p2tog: purl the next two stitches together
psso: pass the slipped stitch over
r: round/row
sl: slip the next stitch purl wise
ssp: slip the next 2 stitches to your right hand needle knit wise, return them to your left hand needle without changing how they lay. Purl the two stitches together.
sl1 k2 tog psso: slip the next stitch as if to knit, knit the next two stitches together, pass the slipped stitch over the k2tog.
yo: yarn over
Work i-cord Legs (make 2)
There’s a splendid step by step for i-cord here
With 2mm DPNs and toe colour cast on 5 sts using the long tail method. *Slide the sts to the other end of the needle
Bringing the working yarn from behind and knit the first stitch, pulling the yarn snug, k to end of row.
Repeat from * for 4 more rows.
Change to leg colour
K 13 more rows of i-cord, break yarn leaving a length approx. 30cm.
Repeat with the second leg but don’t break off yarn.
Knit across 5 sts of leg, turn work and cast on 5 sts, turn work and knit across 5 sts of second leg, using tail from previous leg and working yarn cast on 15 sts using long tail cast on.
Join to form a round being careful to not twist the stitches. (30sts)
Work the body
Knit 5-8 rounds for the top of the legs.
Work 16 rounds of stripes for the body. If you’d like to try helical stripes there is a video here
Change to head colour and work a further 7-9 rounds.
Work Nose
Next R: K7, kfbf, turn work p3, turn work k3, turn work sl 1, ssp, turn work, transfer resulting st to right hand needle, k to end.
Next R: k
Work Ears
Next R: *kfbfbf, turn work p5, turn work k5, turn work p5, turn work k5, turn work p2tog, p1, p2tog, turn work sl1, k2tog, psso, k14 repeat from *, K to end of round.
K 3 rounds.
Gnome Hat
Change to hat colour.
K 5 rounds.
Next R: *K4, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round.
K 4 rounds.
Next R: *K3, k2tog, repeat from end of round.
K3 rounds.
Next R: *K1, k2tog, Repeat from * to end of round.
K 3 rounds.
Next R: * K2tog, repeat from * to end of round.
Slip 5 sts on to one needle and then work i-cord for desired length.
K2tog, k1, k2tog, turn work sl1, k2tog, psso.
Fairy Head
K 4 rounds.
Next R: *K2 tog, rep from * to end of round. (15sts)
Next R: K2 tog 5 times, k1, k2tog twice. (8sts)
Next R: K2tog to end, break yarn leaving 15cm end, thread a needle with this yarn and pass through the stitches. Pull tight and fasten off.
Arms (make 2)
With 2mm DPNs and hand colour cast on 5 sts using the long tail method. *Slide the sts to the other end of the needle
Bringing the working yarn from behind and knit the first stitch, pulling the yarn snug, k to end of row.
Repeat from * for 4 more rows.
Change to arm colour
K 13 more rows of i-cord.
Sl2, k1, psso, k2tog, pass right stitch over left and pull yarn through.
To finish Gnome
Hat brim
Pick up the right hand leg of the first round of hat stitches, 10 sts per DPNs. You’ll have the point of the hat in the middle of your three needles.
R1: K1 round using rim colour
R2: P1 round
Repeat R1 and R2 twice more
Cast off loosely.
Jumper
Using 2.5mm DPNs cast on 38 sts, join in the round making sure not to twist.
K2, p2, repeat to end.
Work the desired length, approx. 7cm.
Cast off.
Sew in ends, except for tip of hat. Wash and block pieces.
Stuff the head
Starting at the back, weave a thread the colour of the body or head through the top row of body stitches leaving a length at each end. Pull the ends and tie a knot.
Sew in ends
Stuff body and sew up bottom seam.
Pull on jumper pulling it up far enough to allow for a polo neck. Sew arms to side of neck through the jumper. Roll down jumper neck to hide the top of the arms.
Sew eyes using duplicate stitch.
Make a tassel for top of hat and fasten the cast off end by running the thread vertically down to the middle of the hat. Pull it slightly to make the tip curve down and fasten off.
Use a red pencil to colour in the cheeks.
To Finish Fairy
Hair
With 2.5mm needles and hair colour cast on between 12-20 sts.
Knit a garter st square.
Cast off.
Crown
With 2mm needles and crown colour cast on 16 sts.
K 5 rows in garter stitch.
next row: *cast on 2sts, cast off 4 sts, sl last cast off st back on to left needle, rep from * six more times, cast off last two sts.
Join to make a circle.
Wings (make 2)
With 2mm needles and wing colour cast on 3sts.
R1: K
R2: k1, yo, k1, yo, k1.
R3: and all alternate rows: K
R4: K2, yo, k1, yo, k2.
R6: K3, yo, k1, yo, k3.
R8: K4, yo, k1, yo, k4
R10: K5, yo, k1, yo, k5.
R12: (dec row): ssk, k to last 2st, k2tog
repeat dec row, alternating with k row until 3 sts rem
Next R: sl1 k2tog psso
Dress
With 2.5mm needles and hem colour cast on 38 sts. Join to make a round being careful not to twist the stitches.
R1: P
R2: K
R3: P
R4: change to mohair if using k 13 rounds.
Next R: * k2tog, k1, rep from * (20sts).
Change back to hem colour.
Next R: P
Next R: K
Next R: P
Next R: *cast on 2sts, cast off 4 sts, sl last cast off st back on to left needle, rep from * nine more times.
Sew in ends, except for base of wings and crown. Wash and block pieces except crown.
Stuff the head
Starting at the side, weave a thread the colour of the body through the top row of body stitches leaving a length at each end. Pull the ends and tie a knot.
Sew in ends
Stuff body and sew up bottom seam.
Run a three the same colour as the hair through the centre of the square, pull end to lightly gather. Using these ends sew to top of head with the gather running back to front. Cut the edges of the knitted off and unpick the stitches to give fizzy hair. Trim if needed.
Sew crown on middle of hair.
Put on dress and sew on arms.
Sew wings to back through the dress.
Sew eyes using duplicate stitch.
Use red pencil to colour in cheeks.
Not sure what to do with your gnome/fairy now you’ve made it? They make splendid tree decorations, string together to make gnomish bunting or embroider the recipient’s initial on the front and use it as a gift tag.
Or send to someone in the post for no reason what so ever.
