Crochet Graduation Gnome

Make this adorable crochet Graduation Gnome and add it to a handmade card, to a present, or use it as an embellishment, applique, or ornament!

This crochet Graduation Gnome design is based on two previously published patterns – Valentine’s Day gnome and graduation cap applique. The Graduation Gnome replaces its classic cap with a graduation cap or “mortarboard”.

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You can make your Graduation Gnome more fun by having it hold heart-shaped balloons or a diploma scroll in his hand.

On this website you can also find how to make a cute crochet graduation garland from a bunch of graduation caps. Such garland will make a great handmade decoration to hang on the window, door, mantel, etc.

Graduation Gnome Crochet Pattern

The pattern for this crochet Graduation Gnome is also available as a print-friendly, styled, and advertisement-free PDF file. You can get it from my Etsy shop. Free pattern is below.

You can add this pattern to your Ravelry library HERE.

You can PIN this pattern to your Pinterest boards for later HERE or PIN the image below.

Abbreviations:

Ch – chain

DC – double crochet

HDC – half double crochet

HDC2tog – half double crochet two stitches together (The video tutorial for the HDC2tog is available HERE)

Rnd – round

RS – right side

SC – single crochet

Sl St – slip stitch

St (Sts) – stitch (stitches)

TR – treble crochet

Skill Level:

Intermediate

Finished Size:

This gnome is about 4-1/2”

Yarn:

• Knit Picks Dishie medium weight #4 cotton yarn. Colors: Color A for the cap and body, Color B for the cap edge, Color C for the tassel, Color D for the beard, Color E for the feet
• Knit Picks Curio cotton thread #3 for the Nose, color – Conch
• Knit Picks Curio cotton thread #3 for the Diploma, color – White

Hooks and other materials:

• Crochet hook 7/4.5 mm
• Crochet hook 1/2.75 mm
• Yarn needle
• Sewing needle
• Matching sewing threads

Instructions:

This Graduation Gnome consists of a graduation cap, beard, body, and nose that are crocheted separately and then sewn together. 

Top Part

With medium weight #4 cotton yarn Color A and crochet hook 7/4.5 mm, Ch 9;

Row 1. (RS) HDC in 3^rd Ch from hook, 2 HDC in next, HDC in next 2, HDC2tog, HDC in next, turn. Total – 7 Sts.

Row 2. Ch 2, skip 1, HDC in next 4, 2 HDC in next, HDC in last, turn. Total – 7 Sts.

Row 3. Ch 2, HDC in 1^st, 2 HDC in next, HDC in next 2, HDC2tog, HDC in last, turn. Total – 7 Sts.

Row 4. Ch 2, skip 1, HDC in next 4, 2 HDC in next, HDC in last, turn. Total – 7 Sts. Fasten off.

Edging

We will make edging only along two sides of the cap.

With RS facing you, join Color B to last St of last row of the top part.

Row 1. Ch 1, Sl St in same St, *Ch 1, Sl St in next St, repeat from * along the row to last (corner) St, [Ch 1, Sl St in corner St] twice, *Ch 1, Sl St in next St, repeat from * along second side of the cap. Fasten off.

Bottom Part

With medium weight #4 cotton yarn Color A and crochet hook 7/4.5 mm, Ch 9;

Row 1. SC in 2^nd Ch from hook and in each next, turn. Total – 8 Sts.

Rows 2-3.   SC in each St across, turn. Total – 8 Sts.

Row 4. SC in 1^st St, 2 SC in next, SC in next 4, 2 SC in next St, SC in last St. Total – 10 Sts. Fasten off.  

Tassel

With medium weight #4 cotton yarn Color C, make a small tassel.

1. Wrap thread around ruler (about 1” wide) approx. 5-6 times.
2. Thread needle with yarn under wrapped threads in center and tie it tightly.
3. Flip ruler over, cut wrapped yarn through center.
4. Make tassel top: cut a small piece of yarn and wrap it tightly around tassel once, tie knot, hide ends inside tassel.
5. Do not cut off ends from top.
6. Trim tassel ends evenly.

Finishing the cap

Sew top part on the bottom part. Shape and block your applique. Attach tassel to the center of the cap and to the side.

Body

With medium weight #4 cotton yarn Color A and crochet hook 7/4.5 mm, make magic ring,

Rnd 1. Ch 3, make all of the next stitches into the ring – 3 DC, 3 HDC, Ch 1, DC (Heart point), Ch 1, 3 HDC, 3 DC; Ch 3, Sl St in ring.

Rnd 2. Ch 3, HDC in first St, 2 DC in each of next 3 Sts, DC in next St,

first arm -Ch 7, Sl St in 2^nd Ch and in each of next 5, DC in next St,  DC in Ch-1 space, Ch 1, DC in next St (Heart point), Ch 1, DC in Ch-1 space, DC in each of next 2 Sts,

second arm – Ch 7, Sl St in 2^nd Ch and in each of next 5, 2 DC in each of next 3 Sts, HDC in next St, Ch 3, Sl St in center. Fasten off.

Right foot

Use crochet hook 7/4.5 mm. Join Color E to 2^nd St of Rnd 2 of the Body, Ch 1, 2 HDC in same St, Ch 1, Sl St in same St. Fasten off.

Left Foot

Use crochet hook 7/4.5 mm. Join Color E to last St of Rnd 2 of the Body,

Ch 1, 2 HDC in same St, Ch 1, Sl St in same St. Fasten off.

Beard

With medium weight #4 cotton yarn Color D and crochet hook 7/4.5 mm, make magic ring,

Rnd 1. Ch 3, make all of the next stitches into the ring – 3 DC, 3 HDC, Ch 1, DC (Heart point), Ch 1, 3 HDC, 3 DC; Ch 3, Sl St in ring.

Rnd 2. Ch 3, SC in first St, 2 SC in each of next 2 Sts, SC in each of next 3 Sts, SC in Ch-1 space, Ch 1, DC in next St (Heart point), Ch 1, SC in Ch-1 space, SC in each of next 3 Sts, 2 SC in each of next 2 Sts, SC in next St, Ch 3, Sl St in center. Fasten off.

Nose

With crochet hook 1/2.75 mm and cotton thread size 3, make magic ring,

Rnd 1. Ch 2, 9 HDC in ring, join with Sl St to top of Ch 2. Fasten off.

Finishing

Using a sewing needle and matching thread, sew the graduation cap, body, beard, and nose together. Block applique as necessary.

For Gnome with a balloon, make a heart balloon. Instructions can be found here: crochet heart balloon applique.

I hope you enjoyed this Graduation Gnome free crochet pattern!

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