DIY Bee Gnome Pattern – Perfect for Beginners
Because readers asked for it, I came up with another fun bee gnome pattern. This is one fo the most popular gnome body styles and it’s honestly quite a lot of fun to put it together.
This easy gnome sewing pattern is perfect for beginners and is only a few pieces. You can opt to make it with or without arms, but those shimmering bee wings are a must!
Bee Gnome Pattern
Here at Ruffles and Rain Boots, I am bee-obsessed this year and I’m not the only one. A friend asked me to make them a farmhouse bee gnome and I couldn’t resist breaking out my favorite gnome sewing pattern.
You need some bee-themed fabric (everywhere in the craft stores), a few minutes, and this fun tutorial for bee wings.
RELATED READING: Adorable Bee Gnome (No Sew Pattern)
This bee gnome can be on your shelf or headed to a friend in about 30 minutes. So, if you’re ready to make a spring gnome that will create all the right buzz, let’s get started.
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Tips to Make this DIY Bee Gnome Sewing Pattern
- First off, you’ve got grab the super easy gnome pattern here for our Cozy Gnome that I used to make this elegant farmhouse bee gnomes. The pattern itself is simple and easy to understand, even for beginner sewists – although it’s fun for experts too. And, as a bonus, if you’d like to make gnomes without using scissors for all the heavy-lifting, or if you’re the type to make multiple gnomes at once, you can snag the Cozy Gnome pattern with cut files for Cricut or Silhouette here!
- If you don’t feel comfortable making a clay ball for your nose, like I did for this pattern, I have a little tip: wood beads like these. They make great gnome noses because they’re very consistent in shape and color – and make a perfect painting base if you want to change the shade at all.
- One of my favorite parts about making gnomes is the flowy, wonderfully squishy beard. In the case of an elegant gnome like this one, the beard is everything. But I know that for even a beginner, making that beautiful, lush beard can seen daunting – but it doesn’t have to be. All it takes is laying the fur face-down on a nice cutting surface and, with a razor blade or craft knife, cut your beard shape ONLY through the fabric backing. Then you just gently pull the cut piece away from the remainder piece. Then comb it out and glue it on!
Get the Pattern Here
Click below to add the gnome pattern to your cart. You’re going to have so much fun!
RELATED READING: DIY Dollar Tree Beehives – A Fun Bee Craft Idea
How to Make a Bee Gnome DIY
Below is the written tutorial for this sewn gnome and the bee wings. Leave this page open and craft along with the step by step instructions.
If you are a visual learner like I am, watch the bee gnome with wings video tutorial here on YouTube. While you’re there, be sure to subscribe – we have a lot of fun in the community.
Bee Gnome Pattern
You are going to love this quick and fun sewn bee gnome pattern. Easy enough for any beginner sewist, but a fun gnome for more experienced crafters, too!
Materials
Gnome
- 1/4 yd Printed Cotton Fabric
- 1/4 yd Solid Yellow Cotton Fabric
- Mongolian Faux Fur
- Small Amount of Short Faux Fur for Trim (I used some scraps I had)
- Small Amount of Polymer Clay in light brown and white
- 1 - 2 cups Poly-Beads
- Small Amount of Poly-Fill
- 1 Piece of Floral Wire (optional)
- Small Yellow Faux Flower with Long Stem for Accent
- Sewn Gnome Pattern
Bee Wings
- 2 Floral Wires
- 1/8 yd Sheer Shimmery Fabric
Tools
- Sewing Machine (optional)
- Needle and Thread
- Razor Blade or Craft Knife
- Hot Glue Gun and Glue
- Oven
Instructions
- Make your gnome nose and hands by combining a portion of light brown and white polymer clay until you have the color you want. Roll a quarter-sized portion of this clay into a neat ball. This is the nose. Set aside. Roll two nickel-sized portions of this clay into two neat balls. These are the hands. Bake the nose and hands per the clay package's directions. Allow them to cool fully.
- Trace and cut out the gnome body shape and bottom circle shape from the yellow fabric, and the hat shape out of the patterned fabric, per the pattern.
- Fold the gnome body shape in half and run a hem along the open side with your sewing machine. Be sure to leave the small portion open on the side seam, as directed in the pattern. Attach the bottom circle shape by hemming it in place then turn the body of the gnome right side out.
- Fold the hat piece in half then run a hem along the seam. Turn the hat right side out. Take care if working with a pattern to match-up the sides neatly, if desired.
- Fill the gnome body with the Poly-Beads. Tuck a small portion of Poly-Fill into the top of the gnome body to fill out the cone shape of the head, tuck the floral wire inside, curving both ends to keep them from poking through, and sew the body closed.
- Cut out the beard shape from the faux fur by turning the fur over and cutting only the fabric with the craft knife. Hot glue the beard to the body.
- Hot glue the nose in place about 1-inch below the top of the beard. Place the hat on top of the gnome's head, tucking it down over the top of the nose.
- Cut out two arm shapes from the fabric. Fold the arm shapes in half and hem them in a long tube, then turn them right side out. I also stuffed a bit of Poly-Fill inside each arm to give it a little bulk since the cotton doesn't have much body. Slip each arm up into the hat on the side and hot glue it in place. Hot glue the hands in place on the ends of the arms, then follow by adding a 1/4 to 1/2-inch faux fur trim to the ends of each arm at the wrist, trimming the fur to be very short.
- To make the bee wings, fold a floral wire into a skinny, 3-inch long oval, twisting the wire onto itself to make the large wing on one side, then fold the excess wire into a second skinny, 2-inch long oval, twisting the remaining wire over 3-4 times. Trim excess wire off if necessary. Repeat to make a second wing set, but rather than trimming the excess wire, wrap this around the wrapped portion of wire on the first set of wings, aligning the two larger wings together and the two smaller wings together.
- On top of parchment paper, press the joined wire wing forms flat on top of a piece of the shimmer transparent fabric that is wide enough and long enough to cover the whole wing span. With the hot glue, fill in the wire wing form with hot glue, pressing the wire into the glue. Place a second piece of shimmer transparent fabric on top of the wings, lightly pressing it into the hot glue. Allow the glue to cool completely.
- Peel the parchment paper away from the wings, leaving the transparent shimmery fabric attached to the wire wing form with the hot glue. Trim away any excess fabric or hot glue outside the wire wing form.
- Bend the wings to form the shape desired, then hot glue the center of the wings, where the wires are wound together, to the back of the gnome just below where the hat is attached along the back seam.
- Attach the flower to the back sides of one of the hands. Then you have a gnome!
Notes
This gnome stands 14-15-inches (ish, depending on how twisty you make your hat, of course).
For more fun gnome patterns and tutorials, visit Ruffles and Rain Boots (we have lots...).
Recommended Products
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More Spring Gnome Patterns You Might Like
- Fun Standing Gnome Couple – They’re standing tall and have the cutest little curled hat – and they just want to be everything you need for farmhouse decor!
- Gnomes with Flower Pot Hats – SUPER easy gnome tutorial for a fun gnome with a flower pot on it’s head for a hat – perfect for Mother’s Day gifting.
- Mini Kissing Bee Gnome Pair – Smoochie smoochie buzz buzz buzz, these little mini-gnomes are the adorable pair you need in your farmhouse tiered tray!
Please Save or Share This Gnome Tutorial
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Meet the Creator
Hi there, I’m Sarah Nenni-Daher. I’m a crafty gal and always have at least 14 projects going at once. I am a crafter, designer, DIYer, and pattern maker. I share my creations here and in the Ruffles and Rain Boots® Shop.
Here at Ruffles and Rain Boots®, you’ll find DIY gnomes, crafts, gifts, cupcakes, laser crafts, and so much more. I love sharing video tutorials over on YouTube and chatting with other crafters in my Facebook groups. We’d love to have you!