Macrame Gnomes
Make your “gnome” a little more festive this year with these macrame gnomes! These adorable macrame gnome ornaments are SO EASY to make, perfect for macrame beginners.
We were inspired by our winter hat ornaments and our love of gnomes when making these macrame Christmas ornaments. The natural colour cord gives these DIY ornaments a classy boho look. And you only need a few simple craft supplies to make one!
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DIY Macrame Gnomes
Check Out The Video Tutorial:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Cut the macrame cord strands
- Cut 13 pieces of 3mm macrame cord to 8 inches long.
- Cut 20 more strands to be 15 inches each.
- Finally, cut 1 strand to be 20 inches long.
Step 3: Make the macrame gnome’s beard
- Gather 12 of the 8 inch cords in a bundle (leaving the 13th one separate).Tie the center of the 20 inch cord around the middle of the bundle in a double knot.
- Arrange the cord bundle so that the 20 inch cord ends point upwards and the 8 inch cords point downwards on either side of the knot.Then thread the remaining loose 8 inch cord through the wooden bead.
- Separate 2 of the middle strands from the bundle and place the bead between them.
- Flip those middle strands upwards and over the cord with the bead on it.
- Then tie the cord going through the bead around the center cords in a double knot.
- Flip the strands back down and adjust them so the nose sits nicely in the center of the “beard”. Make sure the 20 inch cord still points upwards and don’t comb it in the next step.
- Use a fine toothed comb (or a wire pet brush) to comb out the beard strands, separating them.
Step 4: Make the macrame gnome’s hat
- Cut a piece of paper roll that’s about 1/2 inch wide.
- Fold one of the 15 inch cords in half and hold the cord, loop side up, on the outside of the paper roll circle.
- Pull the loop down inside the paper roll.
- Bring the end strands down through the loop.
- Pull the end cords tight and adjust the cord so the strands are close together.This is called a lark’s head knot, one of the most important (and simple) knots in macrame.
- Repeat, adding cords until the roll is full. Push the cords close together as you work, so that none of the paper roll shows through.
- Push the end strands up through the inside of the paper roll to the other side.
Step 5: Connect the hat and the beard
- Tie a knot at the top of the 20 inch cord attached to the beard to make an ornament hanger.
- Pull the knotted hanger up through the inside of the paper roll until the wooden bead is snug against the brim of the hat.
- Trim the top of the hat cords to a length you’re happy with. Ours are about 2 inches taller than the brim.Be careful not to accidentally cut the ornament hanger.
- Cut a piece of twine and set it underneath the hat pieces, about 1 inch away from the hat brim. Tie it into a double knot, making sure that the ornament hanger is included.
- Tie the twine into a bow. Trim off any extra twine, if necessary.
- Trim the gnome’s beard to an even length. Comb and trim until you’re happy with how it looks.
- Your macrame gnome is complete!
Helpful Tips:
- Give the gnomes different looks by cutting their beards to different lengths or trimming them on a curve, so that the center is longer than the sides.
- Use colourful macrame cord to give the gnomes different colours of hats!
Is it easy to make macrame gnomes?
Yes, these macrame gnomes are really easy to make. It’s actually the perfect first craft for macrame beginners, since you only need to learn one simple knot!
The lark’s head knot (that we use for the gnome’s hat) is mostly used to attach cords to a frame, or to one another. If you’re looking for another easy macrame project, try making a macrame heart.
What type of macrame cord is used to make these gnomes?
We used a 3mm natural macrame cord to make our macrame gnomes. You could also use 2mm, or even a thicker cord, like 5 mm.
If you use a thinner cord you’ll need more 15 inch long strands to fill the hat, whereas if you use a thicker cord you’ll need fewer.
What size wooden bead do I need to make macrame gnomes?
We used a 3/4 inch wooden bead for our macrame gnome’s nose. We think this size fits the gnome ornament well, but you can use a different size if that’s all you have, or if you can’t find that specific size.
What else can I make with macrame cord?
For an easy beginner project we suggest you start with a macrame rainbow or a macrame feather. We also love our macrame keychain with a fishtail design and our macrame bracelet with a helix pattern.
Be sure to check out all our fun and beginner friendly macrame projects!
These macrame gnomes are so cute and cheerful, bringing the spirit of Christmas into your home. These macrame gnome ornaments make a great homemade gift for gnome lovers, and they’re also a fun way to use up scrap cord!
Here’s even more DIY ornament ideas:
Our book Low-Mess Crafts for Kids is loaded with 72 fun and simple craft ideas for kids! The projects are fun, easy and most importantly low-mess, so the clean up is simple!
