A Christmas gnome dressed as a reindeer, with antlers, holly and a red pom on his brown hat, carries a little present under his fluffy beard. It is a complete amigurumi crochet kit for beginners: you crochet the pieces, stuff them and stitch them together into a little keepsake you made yourself.
In Scandinavian folklore the tomte and the nisse are little bearded gnomes who watch over the farm, and families still leave them a bowl of porridge on Christmas Eve. Amigurumi took off in Japan and spread around the world through craft blogs and video tutorials, and today it is one of the most popular ways to learn to crochet.
Why this kit: a classic long-beard gnome shape that looks right on a shelf or a tiered tray; simple rounds of basic stitches, so it is a confident first or second amigurumi; and everything in one box, from practice yarn to video tutorials.
Kit includes: brown, cream, green and red yarn, white beard wool, red fur balls, practice yarn, a crochet hook, a yarn needle, stitch markers, fiberfill, safety eyes with backs, a hot-melt glue stick, a basic brochure and crocheting instructions, in a Christmas gift box. Video tutorials are available to follow along. Not included: scissors.
Start with the video tutorials and practice the basic stitches on the practice yarn, then follow the pattern one piece at a time: crochet each part in rounds, mark the start of every round with a stitch marker, stuff it with fiberfill and sew the parts together with the yarn needle. The finished pieces are decorations for adults and teens, not toys for young children, as safety eyes and small parts can be a choking hazard.
Finished size: gnome about 5.9 x 3.54 in (15 x 9 cm), gift about 1.57 in (4 cm). It is a natural fit for a mantel, a tiered tray or a holiday table, and makes a thoughtful gift for a Christmas lover, a teacher or a gnome collector.
