Patriotic Stars and Stripes Gnome Crochet Kit by Wizardi F07N8-M195

A tall gnome in a stars-and-stripes hat and a long beard, made for the Fourth of July, Memorial Day or any summer cookout. 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.

Stars and stripes have dressed up Fourth of July parades and picnics since the first Independence Day celebrations in 1777. 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, plus video tutorials.

Kit includes: red, white, blue and beige yarn, a crochet hook, a yarn needle, stitch markers, fiberfill, a basic brochure and crocheting instructions. Video tutorials are available to follow along. Not included: scissors.

Start with the video tutorials and practice the basic stitches on a few rounds, 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 small parts can be a choking hazard.

Finished size: about 9 in (23 cm) tall and 3.9 in (10 cm) wide. It is a natural fit for a summer tiered tray, a mantel or a front-porch shelf, and makes a thoughtful gift for a patriotic friend, a veteran or a summer host.