On Change the Shed on December 7 and 14, 2022, I wove a gnome. If you’d like to make your own version, grab a pencil, decide what size you want to weave it, and join me!
You can watch the Change the Shed episodes HERE and HERE. I talked some about why I designed it the way I did in that first video broadcast on December 7th.
A gnome is a mythical creature (they aren’t real, right?). As such, you can be as creative as you’d like in designing yours. Most gnomes I’ve seen have pointy hats and round, squatty bodies. It is easy to suggest a gnome while leaving out many physiological details such as hands, eyes, and other appendages. It is a great holiday project for tapestry weaving because you can make it pretty simple.
Parts of a gnome (feel free to add your own):
My gnomes, whether knitted our woven, tend to have pointy-shaped hats. Your hat could be a simple triangle or you could make a folded hat that is more complicated.
A big nose, often roundish.
Some sort of hair whether that is a beard or mustache or perhaps a braid or other hairstyle.
A body suggested by a generally roundy-rectangular shape.
Other appendages are completely up to you! You don’t even have to include eyes if you’re weaving a hat.
Here is a sketch with a few very simple ideas. Feel free to Google gnomes and make up your own!
Below are some further tips for your gnome.
Rebecca Mezoff’s 2022 holiday tapestry gnome
Don’t make it too small OR make it very simple.
Keep the color scheme simple. It is fine if the gnome is floating on a solid-colored background! As you choose colors, make the background color a different value from the colors in the gnome if at all possible. That will make him stand out. So if the gnome colors are darker and perhaps brightly saturated, consider using a light neutral color for your background.
Decide which direction to weave your gnome. Does it have a mustache that is very horizontal like mine does? Maybe weave it standing up. Maybe your gnome is a lady gnome and has an apron or another feature that would look great woven sideways.
I wove my gnomes on a Fringeless, four-selvedge warp that was about 4 inches square. This was a good size to allow me some detail at 8 epi. If you’re going to weave something smaller than that, consider a closer sett.
I used Gist’s Array yarn for my gnome (except for the ground which was Harrisville Shetland hand-dyed by me). You can use any materials you want for yours. Have some shiny metallic floss or yarns you want to add as trim to your hat? Or what about a bell on the hat? Experiment!
I hope you have a wonderful time weaving your gnome. If you make one, please share! Tag me on Instagram @rebeccamezofftapestry or use the hashtag #changetheshed.