Purple Gnome - 31 January 2025

I temporarily stopped the V-neck sweater knitting process because I was commissioned to make a gnome that will be given as a present. I jumped at the opportunity to knit another gnome with such a lovely purpose. I used the same Gnoodles pattern from the book I wrote about here. I feel that if I practise a pattern a couple of times, I’ll learn it enough to avoid making mistakes.

I took the opportunity as well to change the beard design as it was an option offered in the book. I knitted the nose in the style I used for my gnome here. By making these small variations I actually finished more quickly partly because I didn’t have to sew those bits into place. They were incorporated into the knitting. The photo above shows the lilac hat beard and nose all in one. I was pleased that worked fine.

I then continued the process following the instructions for the body in a contrasting dark purple colour I already had as well.

The knitting process needed to be quick as the present will be posted; there was a slight time pressure to finish it as quickly as possible.

_{Stuffing just before casting off.}

I was stuffing the body of the gnome in no time and thinking of knitting the arms.

_{Positioning the arm just before sewing.}

I did consider knitting the arms first and adding them to the same area as the nose and I may well do that next time. This would save sewing which would make the gnome seam-free and less likely to have issues should an arm got pulled off by accident.

I was happy with the final result. I actually added 3 more rows to the hat to make it slightly pointier. If I had more time, I’d add some props : a flower to hold or even a little branch. Anyway the gnome does stand but that’s because I stuffed it slightly less than last time. I didn’t think the hat needed any stuffing so that’s only got the yarn ends from the knitting process.

I must resume my other knitting shortly. Thanks for reading !