How to Make a Sock Gnome – Your Questions Answered

There are so many sock gnome tutorial methods! To get started, you will need a sock or two (read below for suggestions), a beard material (yarn, fur, moss, etc.), stuffing or Poly-Fil, poly beads, rice, or dried beans, and a hot glue gun.

Next, you will need to decide if you want to give your sock gnome a set of shoes or even legs! If you want a gnome with shoes, you can make your own or buy boot ornaments to make it easy. Gnomes with legs will add one more supply to your list: dowels or paper tubes.

A full, step-by-step tutorial and sock gnome video can be found on our “How to Make a Sock Gnome Tutorial” here. Click here to learn how to make a sock gnome with legs.

Click here for all sock gnome tutorials on Ruffles and Rain Boots (but I recommend to keep reading)…

One of the most often asked questions is about the type of socks need to make a sock gnome. And it is also one of my favorite answers because it is so short: any! You can make a sock gnome body from any type of sock, though I do have my favorites. Additionally, most sock gnome hats and sock hat patterns can utilize any sock style – but again, read below for my favorite.

I like to make larger sock gnome bodies from a men’s ankle sock or from a large fuzzy sock. These can be purchased everywhere from dollar stores to big-box warehouse stores, so start looking for a few to try out. I also love the festive holiday socks most clothing stores have.

To make a gnome hat from a sock, I prefer a tighter-weave found in knee socks and leg warmers. These allow for so many styles (tall, short, floppy, curled, twisted, etc.) while being some of the easiest to work with.

This is one of my favorite questions about making your own DIY gnome because the possibilities are endless. To start, you will need a clean sock, filler to weigh down the gnome (options below), Polyfill stuffing, and something to secure the body closed (twine is preferred).

Then, you will need to choose the hat (design options below) and grab a hot glue gun or a sewing machine. Here on Ruffles and Rain Boots, I have so many free Christmas sock gnome tutorials, so be sure to browse for the style you would like to make.

You do not need a pattern to make a sock gnome body, but you might want one for the hat because there are so many different styles. If you need gnome hat patterns for your sock gnome, scroll down to see all of the options.

Yes, you can make sock gnomes with legs and feet. To do this, you will need a completed sock gnome (instructions above) and either a pair of handmade gnome boots or shoes OR a set of boot Christmas ornaments.

If you would like a step-by-step tutorial, visit our farmhouse gnome with boots tutorial here.

That depends. When you decide to make a gnome, you can determine what type of hat you want for it. Decide if you need a specialty hat (like a gnome chef hat or Viking helmet for a gnome), a slouchy hat, a gnome hat that stands, or even a gnome hat pattern that allows for twists and curls!

You then need to determine what material you want for your gnome hat – you can use a sock or any fabric, so the sky is the limit. Finally, you can decide whether you would like to machine sew, hand-sew, or use a hot glue gun to bypass sewing altogether. See all of the examples of different gnome hat patterns below.

The twisty or curly gnome hat is so much fun to make and it is actually very easy to make your own. You will need floral wire in a heavy gauge and a bit of Polyfill to get started. See all of the gnome hat patterns below for the one which matches your style.

This is my favorite question I am asked when people start making gnomes for themselves or as a business. Faux fur, yarn, Merino wool, dried moss – there are so many materials you can use to make a gnome beard!

The most popular way to make a sock beard gnome is with faux fur. But do not just attack it with scissors! Learn how to cut faux fur the best way – just watch the “how to cut faux fur” video here or read through any of my tutorials

In addition to sock gnomes, other ways to make no-sew gnomes are using wine bottles, mason jars, wood rounds, game pieces, corks, popsicle sticks, Styrofoam cones, and paper mache forms. Scroll down to find these step-by-step tutorials.

There are so many ways to make mini gnomes to be used as gnome magnets, gnome brooches or pins, or gnome ornaments. Below are ways to make miniature gnomes from socks and scraps of material, glove fingers, Jenga blocks, corks, and popsicle sticks.

The easiest way to make mini gnomes is to use a glove as I do here in this no-sew mini gnome tutorial. Cut off the fingers and you can make a sock gnome body and a sock gnome hat! In this gnome tutorial, I demonstrate how to make three different mini gnomes.

Surprisingly, you can even make this tutorial for mini sock gnomes! They are an easy way to use up scraps from your larger no-sew gnomes and are adorable as Christmas gnome ornaments, package tags, and magnets for the refrigerator.

Another way I have made miniature gnomes is by using wine corks. Champagne and wine cork gnomes are easy and fun to make and require no sewing! For full, step-by-step instructions, visit our DIY wine cork gnome tutorial here.

This is a fun question because I have so many gnome tutorials that show you how to use felt for the body, the hat, over a cone, or in any number of ways. You can make felt gnomes using any of my free gnome patterns or gnome ornament patterns, or even by a paper mache cone as a starter, like these Valentine’s Day felt gnomes or these felt Christmas gnomes.

To provide stability, fill your sock gnomes with one of the following: Poly beads (my preferred method when selling), clean small rocks (aquarium rocks), clean sand or gravel, dry, uncooked rice or beans (preferably secured in an air-tight bag), or un-used kitty litter (again, secured in an air-tight bag).

If you are selling your gnomes, it is my opinion that you should not use food products such as dried rice or beans. Poly beads (found in the doll-making section of craft stores or online here in my list of gnome-making supplies) are approved for toys, decor, and other uses.

Yes, you can make reusable jar gnomes for treats, gifts, or even to hide a little love note inside and you can even cover the jars with socks.

When making gnomes from jars, be sure the jar is clean and dry and then build on it as shown in this mason jar gnome tutorial. We want to decorate the jar and lid separately so that we can access the contents.