The Swedish gnomes are conquering the hearts and living rooms of many people and considering how cute they are, it's no wonder. We have already shown you how you can make elves for outside. Today we'll show you a few ways you can make cute Scandinavian Christmas elves indoors and, more specifically, how you can make large elves.
Making large gnomes – instructions for various materials
Typical characteristics of gnomes are:pointed pointed hat, under which only the nose and the beard stick out. You can make these gnomes yourself using a variety of materials. This means you don't necessarily need to get new materials for the project. Some instructions are also suitable for recycling projects - just use things that you no longer use and would otherwise throw away. And if you don't have any outdoor decorations yet, you can also make large gnomes for outside.
Gnomes made from felt and fabric scraps
DieDIY-Wichtelare particularly suitable if you still have a few scraps of fabric lying around that are too small to sew clothes but too good to throw away. Since the Christmas elves don't require a lot of material, it may well be that they are enough. If you want to make large gnomes with a particularly pointed hat like this one, you will need:
- Foam cones of any size (in the example 23 cm and 43 cm high)
- substances
- Felt in gray (or any other color)
- white faux fur
- black felt
- The stick needle
- Wooden ball
- thick wire
- Rotary cutter and suitable mat or fabric scissors
- Hot glue and gun
- The stick needle
- optional: Christmas decorations to decorate the pointed hat
Instructions
Cut a triangular piece of fabric slightly larger than the cone so that the two sides can overlap. Spread hot glue along the edge of the fabric and place the cone on top to secure the fabric. Then roll the cone over the fabric to wrap it, apply glue to the other end of the fabric as well and continue rolling so that that end is also secured to the cone. Make sure the fabric is pulled nice and taut. Simply cut off the excess fabric at the bottom of the cone.
Now take the faux fur and place it in front of you with the fur facing down. Roughly outline the beard with a pencil (the shape can be seen in the picture above) and cut it out with the rotary cutter. Do not press too hard, otherwise you will cut the fur. Alternatively, fabric scissors can also be used. Then use the hot glue to glue the beard onto the cone (if you want, you can first pin it with pins and try out where you like it best.
Cut a piece of wire about 7 inches long and insert it into the top of the cone. Now you have to make the gnome hat, for which you use the gray oneUse felt. The example used a piece 50cm long and 15cm wide (at the widest point), but you can use your own measurements. Wrap the felt around the top of the cone and the wire and glue the ends together. You can trim the tip of the hat a little if you like.
Now cut out the eyes from the black felt (a hole punch is also suitable for this purpose). You can pin or glue these to the cone with pins. Then glue the wooden ball for the nose and, if you want, decorate the hat with Christmas decorations.
Swedish gnomes make doorstops
Don't forget to also replace the doorstop with a Christmas-themed model during the Christmas season. For this we would like to give you the followingDIY Thrust Stopperrecommend that you can easily copy it. You can also make your own Secret Santa as a gift. You need:
- material for the body
- Felt for the gnome hat
- Kunstfell
- Scissors
- Rice grains or beans
- fiberfill
- Needle and thread
- Wooden ball or pompom for the nose
- Styrofoam ball for the head
- Hot glue
If you want to make large gnomes to use as doorstops, you can choose any size to meet your needs. You also have free choice when it comes to the fabric and felt color. Cut out a round piece of fabric (in the example a diameter of 25 cm was chosen). It doesn't have to be perfectly shaped. Thread a thread into the needle and tie a knot at the end of the thread. Now sew along the edge of the circle to create a bag that you can close.
To do this, gradually make folds by sticking the needle through them. The example clearly shows what is meant. If you did everything correctly, the bag should close when you pull on the thread. But before you close the hole completely, fill it with rice or beans and the stuffing to add more weight. Now pull the thread to close the opening and tie a knot.
Now glue it onto the resulting bodyStyrofoam ballfor the head. Cut a triangular piece out of the faux fur, being careful not to cut the fur itself, and glue the resulting beard to the ball. Now you have to make the felt hat for the Secret Santa. Shape the felt into a cone and cut off any excess felt. Glue the hat onto the ball, making sure it partially overlaps the beard. Now add the nose, decorate the hat as you like and you're done!
Make gnomes out of wood
Would you like asWooden Christmas decorationsIf you are making large gnomes with children, these versions made from branches are very suitable as they are quick and easy to make. You need branches of any length and thickness, the upper end of which you cut diagonally with a saw. Afterwards, the children can join you in crafting. In addition to the branches, you will also need the following:
- Felt or other fabric for the hat
- Pom pom for the nose (or wooden ball)
- Cotton wool or faux fur for the beard
- Hot glue
- optional bell for the hat
Use the felt to make a hat of any length. The lowest circumference should be a few millimeters larger than that of the branch. Pin the hat on the slanted side of the branch. Then glue the pompoms in place. Cut out the beard from the faux fur (if you use cotton, make a piece of any size) and glue it onto the branch. If you want, you can add a bell to the pointed hat.
Tipp:If you want the gnome to be extra large, you can also use a tree trunk instead of a branch. When you make the tree trunk gnomes, you can then use them to decoratePorch or covered patioas they may be a bit too large for indoor use.
How to make gnomes out of socks – instructions
If you would rather have a more casual cap that hangs downwards instead of the straight pointed cap that sticks up, you can also make gnomes out of socks. The gnomes look particularly charming with knitted socks, but normal or the popular cuddly socks are also ideal. But socks are not just used for hats. This is how the cute gnome with a sock is made:
- 1 sock for the body
- 1 sock for the hat
- 1 women's fine socks for the nose (a normal sock is also suitable)
- Hot glue
- Reis
- Cotton balls or stuffing
- String or rubber bands
- Kunstfell
- optional wire and bobble
This gnome consists only of socks, so you don't need any other materials (apart from the faux fur). This is a great way to recycle old socks. Take the sock for the body and cut off the long part above the heel. Fill the rest of the sock with rice. But don't make them too full so that you can tie them up afterwards.
Now make the nose out of any sock. To do this, fill the sock with two or three cotton balls (depending on how big you would like the nose to be), a little stuffing or rice, pull the sock tightly so that the nose is also taut and tie it closed. Then simply cut off the excess. Then tie or glue the finished nose to the body and more precisely to where the knot is.
Cut out a triangular beard from the fur. But be careful and don't cut off the hair, otherwise the beard will become straight and no longer look as real. Stick the beard directly under your nose.
Finally, all you need is the hat. To do this, take the sock and this time cut it off below the heel. Then fold the sock in half lengthwise and apply a little glue to the toe area. In this way you form a pointed corner. Then put the hat on the gnome and adjust it. Once you are happy with the location, glue the hat in place. If you want, you can add a pom-pom.
Tipp:If you want the hat to fall in a certain way, you can insert a piece of wire into the gnome before putting the hat on his head. The hat can then be bent and shaped as desired.
Tips for the elves
As you can see, there are no strict rules for manufacturing it. You can make gnomes however you like, using and combining any materials you like. That doesn't necessarily have to be the caseFaux fur used for the beardbecome. The fringes of a pug are also suitable for this purpose or simple wool threads. The beard doesn't necessarily have to be white either. Dark gray, black, brown and even red are also ideal. And even though the classic Scandinavian gnome doesn't have arms and legs, that doesn't mean you can't still add them.
Long legs can hang down when you use the gnome as aDecoration on a window sill, the mantel or a specially crafted swing for hanging. The gnomes are also very popular to place on a wooden disc. But Christmas elves are also nice to look at on the floor next to the fireplace or on the sofa, especially in groups. That's why we recommend that you make several gnomes while you're at it.
Green gnomes with legs
Arrange Christmas elves in groups
Cute elves can be used as Christmas decorations inside
Beards of different colors
Scandinavian gnomes with hands and feet
Template for the hat
