Welcome Home a Gnome

Create a whimsical woodland friend using evergreen branches and a repurposed sweater.

1. Start with an 18" floral foam cone. Before assembling the gnome's body, use the cone to create a paper hat pattern.

2. Pin the pattern onto striped sweater fabric with a solidcolor band on the bottom, which will become the cuff of the hat. Cut out, leaving excess on the bottom and sides for seam allowances. Sew or glue the hat together.

3. Cover the surface of the foam cone with pieces of sheet moss cut to fit. Secure with hot glue.

4. Working from the bottom of the cone upward, attach equal lengths of faux or fresh evergreen branches around the circumference with floral pins.

5. Continue layering branches evenly around the cone, moving upward until the surface is covered.

6. Cut a sturdy wire 3"–4" longer than the hat. Insert the wire into the top of the cone. Fill the hat lightly with batting and place it over the wire. Bend into a slight curve.

7. For the nose, cut a piece of dowel rod to fit into the opening of a large wood knob, leaving part of the rod protruding so you can insert it into the cone. Add the nose just below the hat and secure with hot glue.

8. Cut two sets of mitten shapes from the sweater fabric, using the solid-color band as the bottom of the cuffs, if possible. Add extra length for a seam allowance. With right sides facing, sew around the outside edges, leaving the bottom open. Turn the mittens right side out.

9. Cut two sturdy wires for the arms and bend one end of each into a loop. Place a mitten over each wire loop and then stuff lightly with batting. Insert a wire arm on each side of the cone.