Description
These cute superduo Christmas gnomes can be filled with little goodies and hung on your Christmas tree. This is just a PDF tutorial for you to follow. I also sell this project as a full online class that includes almost an hour’s worth of individual video demonstrations of all the techniques you will be using. So, if you are a less confident beader, you may do better with the online class. You can find it at this link.
For anyone who does just want the PDF tutorial, let me tell you more…
Materials
You will need the following materials to make your Superduo Christmas gnomes:
- Superduos (or superduo duets)
- Size 8 seed beads
- Size 11 seed beads
- Mini mushroom bead or 6mm pearl or round bead
- Beading thread
I have explained my recommended beading threads in detail in the pattern. The PDF tutorial also gives you details of the bead colours I’ve used and suggestions for creating your own colour schemes.
Experience and Techniques
If you are just following this beading pattern, then it is best suited to intermediate level. But if you are less experienced, this is definitely a project you can make – you would be best to use the online class, though. Again, you can find the class at this link.
These little gnomes are very quick to make. You will be working mostly in Peyote stitch, but also using some simple fringe techniques. Everything is explained with photos and diagrams in the tutorial. It is also demonstrated on video in the online class.
About the Superduo Christmas gnomes
Each little gnome is about 3″ (7.5cm) tall and just under 2″ (5cm) across the base. So, you can fit several little sweets or candies inside the gnome’s body. You could also add some money in there.
As you see from the photos, the head lifts up to reveal the storage space inside your gnome. It also includes a hanging loop so you can hang your gnome (with gift) on your Christmas tree.
If you don’t want to hang the gnomes, you can easily leave the hanging loop off and they will just sit happily on display.
Very cute project. Friend loved it as a gift. Easy to follow instructions, especially with photos. Diagrams can be a little confusing because the arrows are so tiny and they don’t exactly show where you’re starting or how the beads should sit, but the progress photos pull it together and show you the orientation.
Made a few very minor adjustments to the pattern (i.e. more fluid step-up, increased number of bead strands from nose, closing hole at top of hat a bit more to hold ribbon more securely).
Used 6lb Fireline thread in crystal to complete. Took about 5-6 feet for body, 8 feet for hat and beard (I like long thread so I don’t have to continually add-in). Also made a miniature beaded gnome out of 11/0 and 15/0 seed-beads to go inside this one as a sort of nesting doll for a fun little surprise.
Nice little tutorial. Easy to follow instructions with lots of photographs and diagrams.
Just love this pattern very easy to use. Katie has a eye for detail
As a beading teacher and designer myself I rarely use any patterns but my own. So I found it very different to do someone else’s pattern, and had three goes at it before I got it right. The effort was well worth it and I have now completed two delightful gnomes for resents and am about to embark on another. Once the pattern is in your head it is not difficult and the instructions are clear and the photos help enormously. And I feel a great sense of achievement, thank you!