I love filling our home with handmade pieces that tell a story or make someone smile. It’s my shy, introverted way of sharing a bit of myself and maybe, just maybe, getting someone to use what they have instead of buying new stuff. And these long-legged Scandinavian gnomes are proof that scraps can be quirky, magical, and eco-friendly.
Plus, they’re ridiculously fun to make.
With their gangly limbs and soft woolly beards, they’re a nod to Scandinavian folk art and a celebration of homely, DIY, upcycled goodness.
But before we get to the quick tutorial, do me a favor and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram. And don’t forget to subscribe so you’ll never miss a post!
What you need
These gnomes, called Tomte in Scandinavian folklore, are all about using odds, bobs, and leftovers. Their no-sew hats are made from old, well-worn socks, and their beards are leftover yarn; the chunky one. Those lanky legs used to be a wire hanger which I dressed up in one lonely paper napkin that’s been floating around forever. I also used:
- Dental floss
- Small cardboard tubes
- Air-dry clay (for the feet and nose)
- Glue and scissors
- Mod Podge
- Wire cutters
See what you have in your craft cupboard. You can use scrap fabric if you don’t have any holey socks or replace the napkin with ribbon. If you’ve thrown out your wire hangers, then take a walk in the garden and find a few twigs.
How to make long-legged Scandinavian gnomes
Let’s start with those looong legs. For each gnome, cut two equal lengths of wire.
Remove the white unprinted layer from the paper napkin and tear it into thin strips. Put a small dollop of glue on one end of the cut wire and wrap the napkin around the wire.
Secure the other end with another dollop of glue. Seal the napkin-wrapped legs with mod podge and put them to one side while you make the hat. If you’re using twigs, ignore everything I just said, except the bit about cutting two equal lengths.
Making a gnome hat
Besides the legs, the gnome hats must be one of my favorite things about these little guys. Not only do they look warm and cosy, but I finally found a use for my well-worn socks. Well, a piece of them, anyway. Traditional Scandinavian gnomes have red hats, but my sock drawer clearly didn’t get the memo, so neutral it is.
Cut out a square shape and fold it in half.
Make a round cut at one end and a pointy cut at the other.
You should end up with a heart shape like the piccy below.
Add some fabric glue (or super glue) to one edge and fold the edges together. Once the glue dries, flip the hat inside out.
Easy, right!! Now all that’s left to do is give the Scandinavian gnome a body and add those lanky legs.
Making the gnome body
To make the nose, I made an air-dry clay ball and glued it under the hat. You could also use a bead or small polystyrene ball.
For the body you can either make a pompom or glue on some scrap fur. I had a short piece of fluffy wool left over from arm knitting a blanket, so I used that.
Wrap the fluffy wool or yarn around a thin cardboard tube or piece of pipe. Tie the wool off just under the pipe. I like using dental floss for something like this. It’s really strong, and it’s almost as if the waxy coating makes it easier to tie. I’m not sure; maybe I’m imagining things. Anyhoos, just tie the wool really tightly before sliding it off the tube.
Squish and glue the top of the wool inside the gnome’s hat and trim the beard. Put a dollop of glue on the tip of the legs and slip them inside the beard. Make sure the legs stick out an equal amount.
Roll two clay balls to make feet and glue them to the legs. Beads will also work, or you can have a look at this leprechaun tutorial if you want to make some fancy shoes.
Pop them on a shelf and you’re done.
They’re delightfully quirky and prove that every offcut has potential, even if it’s just leftover wool and old, grungy socks – I did wash them first. Now I’m off to make a bowl of rice pudding so I can keep my long-legged Scandinavian gnomes happy.
Tips for Customizing Your Long-Legged Scandinavian Gnomes
Play with height and posture. Bend the legs, tilt the hats, or make a few shorter and a few extra-long. Grouped together on a shelf, they’ll look like a happy, offbeat family, each with their own story to tell.
Give them seasonal outfits. Add tiny felt hearts for Valentine’s, little wooden stars for Christmas, or soft greenery for a woodland look. A quick swap of accessories means they can stay out all year long.
Experiment with beards. Try chunky yarn, faux fur scraps, or even unravelled wool from an old scarf. A big mossy beard would look awesome too. Mixing different beard textures and colors is an easy way to make each lanky Nordic gnome look completely unique.
Use meaningful scraps. Old sweaters, well-loved T‑shirts, or even a piece of an outgrown baby blanket will turn your Scandi gnomes into adorable memory keepers.
As long as you have fun, that’s all that counts.
If you like the idea of using scraps to make some long-legged gnomes, don’t forget to pin the tutorial for later.
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And as always, wishing you a wonderful, crafty week filled with lots of love and laughter. Thank you for coming to visit us.
