In today’s post: Learn how to make sock gnomes with this easy to follow 5 step tutorial.
It’s gnome time again! I am closing out my year of sock gnomes with the granddaddy of them all: Christmas gnomes.
I’ll admit it, there was a time in my life when I thought gnomes were lame. Especially garden gnomes. Maybe I’m getting sentimental in my old age, but now I think gnomes are adorable.
Sock gnomes are easy to make and and they’re basically impossible to mess us. These would be perfect to make for a craft night with friends and are easy enough that kids could make them too. Read on for the lowdown on the supplies you’ll need to make a sock gnome, a video showing the process, and easy 5-step instructions.
The fun thing about these sock gnomes is that once you’ve made the body, you can switch out the hat for any holiday. It’s the craft that keeps on giving 😉 Check out the gnomes I’ve made for other holidays:
Valentine’s Day Gnomes
Easter Sock Gnomes
Halloween Gnomes
The most important supply for these cute sock gnomes is, obviously, socks. You will use one plain colored sock to cover the body of the gnome, and one patterned sock to make the gnome’s hat. The plain sock is easy – pretty much any adult size sock will work, including an orphaned sock from your laundry pile or one from the dollar store. I used a dark grey sock for my gnome’s body, and it has worked well for all the different holiday hats I’ve made.
For the gnome’s hat, you want a patterned sock. You can buy a holiday specific sock, but be aware that the sock will be turned upside down once it’s on the gnome, so make sure your sock looks ok upside down. Stripes, polka dots or other geometric patterns work really well. Find cute buffalo plaid socks here.
It’s easiest to make the gnome’s hat from an adult crew sock (like you see in the photo under the heading “Supplies”). You can even use a knee high sock if you’d like to make a very tall hat, which you can stuff or allow to flop to the side. You *can* use a no-show or ankle sock, but it will require an extra step. Please visit the Easter gnomes post to learn how to use a no-show or ankle sock.
For my Christmas gnomes, I used thick fuzzy socks, which turned out really cute!
To make sock gnomes, you will need the following supplies:
One patterned crew style sock in an adult size: For the gnome’s hat you will need a sock that comes up past the heel like a crew sock or a knee high sock. NOTE: A no show or ankle sock will also work, but using one will require an extra step. Please visit the Easter gnomes post to learn how to use a short sock.
One solid sock in an adult size: You can use any type of sock is fine for gnome’s body. I got mine from the dollar store.
A 4×4 inch piece of faux fur: You can find this at a craft/fabric store. I used this fur from Joann’s, and just asked them to cut me a 4 inch piece. Fur is pretty expensive per yard, but you’ll be able to buy 4 inches for about $3. That will give you a piece that’s 4 inches tall by 58 inches wide, so you’ll have enough fur to make LOTS of gnomes. Look for a fur that’s on the longer side.
One wood bead, 1.25 inches
One 9 inch tall foam cone: You can find these at a craft store or in the craft section at Walmart. I recommend using the white craft cones, not the green floral ones. They’ll be 9 inches tall and about 4 inches wide at the bottom.
Hot glue gun
Optional: Holiday buttons, felt cut outs, or other embellishments
Watch this short video to see exactly how to make a sock gnomes. Printable instructions follow:
Prep Time:
30
mins
Learn how to make adorable sock gnomes in five simple steps.
1
Patterned Crew Sock
adult size
1
Solid Color Crew Sock
adult size
1
9 inch
Foam Cone
1
4 x 4 inch
Piece of Faux Fur
1
1.25 inch
Wood Bead
Hot Glue Gun
Holiday Decorations (buttons, felt piece, etc.)
optional
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Cut off the bottom (toe part) of a solid colored sock, just past the heel (as shown below). Pull the sock over the bottom of the cone and pull it up so it covers the lower 5 inches of the cone. Use hot glue to secure the top of the sock to the cone.
Cut out a beard from fur. It’s easiest to draw the beard shape on the back of the fur. Cut the beard about 3.25 inches tall and 2.75 inches wide. When cutting fur, you DO NOT want to just use scissors and cut it out like you would any other fabric because then the fur along the edges of the beard will be very short. To make sure you get the long “beard” effect on the fur, you have two options. First, you can use a razor blade or exacto knife and cut from the back of the fur, cutting through the backing only. Second, you can use sharp scissors, but you’ll want to cut with the back of the fur facing you, and slide the bottom of your scissor through the fur very close to the backing. Your goal is to just cut the backing, not any of the fur itself.
Place the beard on the sock at the 4.5 inch mark, or halfway up the cone. Hot glue the beard to the sock.
Hot glue a bead onto the beard as shown below. Note that the bead is only touching beard, not sock.
Make the hat. Turn the patterned sock inside out. If sewing, pin a diagonal line as you see below, then sew along it and trim about 1/2 an inch away from the line you sewed. I used a serger here, but a regular sewing machine works just fine. Just set the stitch length a bit longer than normal and try not to stretch the sock as you sew.
Alternately, if you don’t want to sew, you can mark a diagonal line as you see in the photo. Cut about 1/2 an inch to the right of it. Glue the right sides of the sock together along the cut line.
Turn the sock right side out, then place it over top of the cone as a hat. The sock will stick to the cone as you place it on, so it will take a minute to pull it on. Watch the video to see the easiest way to do this. Decorate the hat with holiday shaped buttons, felt pieces, jingle bells, etc., if desired.
It's easiest to use a patterned Crew style sock for the gnome's hat. If you would like to use a no-show style sock, you will need to complete an extra step. Please visit the Easter Bunny Gnomes post to learn how to use a no-show sock: Easter Bunny Gnomes
When you are cutting the sock to make the hat, make the hat about 10 inches tall. That will make it tall enough to fold up a brim at the bottom and come to a point just above the end of the foam cone. If your sock is big enough, you can make a taller hat and either let it flop to the side, tie it in a knot, or stuff it so it stands up tall.