Two wizard-hat gnomes in teal and orange, with braided hat cords and long fluffy beards, bring a little wrapped gift. 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.
Gnomes come from old European folklore, where these small bearded house and garden spirits were said to bring good luck to the home that looks after them. Amigurumi, from the Japanese words for crocheted (ami) and stuffed doll (nuigurumi), is the craft of crocheting small stuffed figures in the round.
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: teal, orange, yellow, cream and brown yarn, white beard wool, 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 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: gnomes about 5.1 x 3.54 in (13 x 9 cm), gift about 1.77 in (4.5 cm). It is a natural fit for a shelf, a tiered tray or a garden-themed corner, and makes a thoughtful gift for a gnome collector or a friend who loves cozy decor.
