St Patrick’s Day Gnome DIY with Soft Sculpted Nose

If you’re like me and want to make a St Patrick’s Day gnome the easy way, it doesn’t get much easier than this adorable guy. Learn how to make a stable, round body gnome with a Dollar Tree hat, wrap around beard, and the most adorable gnome nose!

A soft sculpted gnome nose is easier than you think and the personality comes out with each different shape. If you want to make an adorable holiday gnome without a sewing machine, keep reading.

Horizontal close up image of a leprechaun St Patrick's Day gnome with a Dollar Tree hat, wrap around beard in orange fur, and a round body in front of a white and green background with clover, coins, and a pot of gold.
Let’s make this personality-filled St Patrick’s Day gnome and use a fun way to make a soft sculpt nose.

Leprechaun Gnome for St Patrick’s Day

Here at Ruffles and Rain Boots, I don’t decorate a lot for St Patrick’s Day. I put together a tiered tray on the dining room table and well, that’s it for the green and gold around here. That said, I saw this little leprechaun hat headband at the Dollar Tree and plopped it in my cart. 

The best thing about this free gnome pattern – if you can even call it that – is that it can be easily customized. I made this tiny round body gnome and a larger witch gnome using this same technique (without the cool nose).

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collage of diy gnomes teaching how to make a gnome with or without legs and with or without sewing

RELATED READING: Dollar Tree Leprechaun Sock Gnome – Easy and Quick DIY

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If you need to gather up some supplies and check your stash for fabric, save this to a DIY pin board or share it on Facebook. It will be easy to find when you’re ready to make this adorable St Patrick’s Day gnome DIY.

Close up square image showing a DIY leprechaun gnome for St Patrick's Day with green and gold hat, orange fur beard, and round black body sitting on a white table in front of green clover and a pot of gold coins.
Make a unique and creative gnome for St Patrick’s Day using Dollar Tree supplies.

Tips for Making This Leprechaun Gnome in a Round Body Style

  • Be sure to watch the full video tutorial if you are new to the soft sculpting technique.
  • If using the Dollar Tree plush leprechaun hat, cut it off the headband. Do not pull it or it will likely rip (the material is very thin).
  • When making this guy, stuff the body more than you think necessary – squeeze it and ensure it bounces back before moving on.
  • If you want to change the shape of the body from a circle to an oval, work the fill around with your fingers and move the fabric folds. It will be formed in about a minute.
  • Use the same soft sculpt gnome nose technique for a wider, flatter nose but make a wide flat oval instead of a round nose when sewing the nylon.

How to Soft Sculpt a Gnome Nose and a Round Gnome Body

Below is the written and printable tutorial for this fun holiday craft. If you are a visual learner or are new to soft sculpting, please watch the full length, real-time St Patrick’s Day gnome with soft sculpted nose tutorial here.

Yield: 1 Gnome

St Patrick's Day Gnome with Soft Sculpt Nose

Close up square image showing a DIY leprechaun gnome for St Patrick's Day with green and gold hat, orange fur beard, and round black body sitting on a white table in front of green clover and a pot of gold coins.

This round leprechaun gnome features some Dollar Tree supplies and the cutest soft sculpted gnome nose.

Active Time 25 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost $5

Materials

  • Fabric for Body
  • Nylon for Nose or Other
  • Faux Fur for Beard
  • Top Hat (Dollar Tree) or Other
  • Poly Pellets
  • Poly Fill
  • Embroidery Thread
  • Cardboard (optional)

Tools

  • Embroidery Needle
  • Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks
  • Scissors and/or Rotary Cutter

Instructions

  1. Measure a 10-12 inch circle onto the wrong side of fabric. Trace and cut out.
  2. Using 26 inches of the embroidery thread and a needle, create a running stitch one half inch away from the outside edge. Remember to start and end on the outside. Pull strings slightly to form a very loose, open pouch.
  3. If using a base, cut a 2-3 inch circle from cardboard and hot glue to the inside center of the pouch. Add 1/2 cup of Poly Pellets and stuff with Poly Fill and pull tight. Use enough Poly Fill so that the body bounces back to its original form when squeezed. Tie off with one short and one long end (we will use for the nose).
  4. Using the embroidery thread and needle, form a circle or oval with the nylon (I doubled mine over), add Poly Fill, close, and secure. Again, take care to leave a long end of thread.
  5. Remove the top hat from the headband, if using. Cut a 4 x 2 inch (fabric-backing measurement) beard from the faux fur, notching out a portion of the nose about 1 inch wide.Six image horizontal collage showing the primary steps to make a St Patrick's Day gnome using a Dollar Tree headband.
  6. Using the thread on the nose, secure attach the nose to the body. Once attached, go in through the middle opening in the body and out through the nose in the first vertical third of the nose at the bottom. Thread the needle back into the nose just under where you came out. Secure that stitch to the body and repeat. Note: please see the video.
  7. Pull on the notched gnome beard, tucking it up under the nose and pull it around the circular body. Secure with hot glue.
  8. Secure the hat to the top of the nose and the body with hot glue.

Notes

Tips:

1. Be sure to watch the full video tutorial if you are new to the soft sculpting technique. https://youtu.be/SuAvuMS0cqQ

2. If using the Dollar Tree plush leprechaun hat, cut it off the headband - do not pull or it will likely rip.

3. Stuff the body more than you think necessary - squeeze it and ensure it bounces back before moving on.

Did you make this?

Please leave a comment or share a photo and tag me @rufflesandrain

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Close up image of a DIY St Patrick's Day gnome with bright orange beard in front of clover and gold coins with text which reads Leprechaun gnome with a dollar tree headband and soft sculpt nose from ruffles and rain boots.
I hope you have as much fun as I did making this cute Leprechaun Gnome.

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