This Crochet Gnome Towel Topper is a free crochet pattern at Nana’s Crafty Home!
If you love Gnomes as much as I do you are going to love how simple, easy and fun this Gnome Towel Topper is to make!
Perfect for gift giving or to decorate your own kitchen, this pattern could be made for Christmas or any time of the year – just change up your colors.
This little item would be perfect for craft shows – quick and easy!
Complete video tutorial is now available and you can find that HERE.
If you would like to see the tutorial for the bobble stitch edge you can find that HERE. Subscribe to my YouTube Channel so you never miss a video!
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I made my towel topper with cotton yarn for stitch definition but you may be happier with acrylic as it tends to be much more color fast than cotton. And since this isn’t going to be used for a pot holder you won’t need to worry about melting it.
The best part of this towel topper – the towel is removable for easy washing. You will work a ring into the hat which is what the towel hangs on. So awesome – and a complete towel topper game changer!
I get LOTS of questions about where I get my 3″ plastic rings. I purchase my 3″ craft rings from Amazon* and they are just perfect. However, they do sell out frequently and I have heard from many people that substitute with inexpensive plastic shower rings or with elastic hair ties.
I also get asked about the white flour sack towels which I also purchase on Amazon. I love flour sack towels and use them frequently as they don’t pill and shed like standard kitchen towels. Great for bread baking!
*Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself. This post may contain affiliate links that if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.
If you would like to add braids to your Gnome Towel Topper to make a matching Girl Gnome you can find that free pattern and tutorial on the blog as well!
You may also like the following free crochet patterns at Nana’s Crafty Home:
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Gnome Towel Topper free crochet pattern
Pattern written in US crochet terminology
Supplies:
I Love This Cotton! Red (Color A)
I Love This Cotton! White (B)
I Love This Cotton! Warm Blush (C)
Size H (5.0 mm) crochet hook
1 White Flour Sack Towel 27” x 27”
Small amount of polyfill stuffing
1 – 3” Plastic Ring
3/4” round white button
Red embroidery thread for sewing on button
Tapestry Needle
Approximate finished size: approx 8” tall (not including towel) x 5” wide
Gauge: 20 rows = 4” / 17 sc st = 4”
Abbreviations:
MC = magic circle
ch = chain
sc = single crochet
st = stitch
sk = skip
SP-2 = spike stitch two rows below (see special stitch section below)
sc2tog = single crochet 2 st together (see special stitches section below)
WS = wrong side
Bobble = Bobble Stitch (see special stitches section below)
Special Stitches:
SP-2: Insert hook below sc from 2 rows below your hook (current row counts as row 1), yo, draw up a loop even with the loop on your hook (2 loops on hook), yo, pull through all 2 loops on hook.
sc2tog = (insert hook into next st, yo and pull up a loop) twice, yo and pull through all 3 loops on hook.
Bobble = yo, insert hook into indicated st, yo, pull up a loop, (3 loops on hook), yo, pull through 2 loops on hook (2 loops left on hook), yo, insert hook into same st, yo, pull up a loop, (4 loops on hook), yo and pull through all 4 loops.
Notes about pattern:
- Hat and nose are worked in seamless rounds
Hat (worked in seamless rounds)
Round 1: With Color A, 6 sc st in MC, place a stitch marker in the 1st sc made. Do not join with sl st to 1st st after last sc st. (6)
Note: Continue moving up your stitch marker to the 1st st of each round.
Round 2: 1 sc in each st around. (6)
Round 3: 2 sc in 1st st, sc in remaining st. (7)
Round 4 – 22: repeat round 3. (st count = 26 at the end of round 22)
Round 23: 2 sc in 1st st, sc in next 20 st, sc next 5 st over plastic ring. (27)
Round 24: 2 sc in 1st st, sc in next 21 st, SP-2 over next 5 st. (28)
Round 25 – 38: repeat round 3. (42)
Round 39: With Color B, TURN, (now working on the WS of hat), ch 3, dc in same st, sl st in next st, *bobble in next st, sl st in next st* repeat between * * to end, sl st to base of 1st st from beginning of round.
Fasten off. Weave in ends.
Hat Loop
With Color A, ch 10, sl st to 1st ch to form a loop. Fasten off. Leave a long tail for sewing. Sew loop securely to top of hat.
Sew button to middle front of hat approximately 4 1/2” down from top tip of hat.
Nose (worked in seamless rounds)
Round 1: With Color C, 6 sc st in MC, place a stitch marker in the 1st sc made. Do not join with sl st to 1st st after last sc st. (6)
Note: Continue moving up your stitch marker to the 1st st of each round.
Round 2: 2 sc in each st. (12)
Round 3: *1 sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in next st* repeat between * * to end. (15)
Round 4: 1 sc in each st. (15)
Round 5: *1 sc in next 3 st, 1 sc2tog* repeat between * * to end. (12)
Stuff nose
Round 6: sc2tog 6 times. Join with sl st to first st. (6). Fasten off. Pull yarn through last st, sew yarn end through front loop of each of the 6 st, pull tight to close the circle. Note: I recommend stuffing the nose right before the last sc2tog.
With a long length of Color A, sew nose to inside bottom edge of hat in the middle of towel. Fasten off. Weave in end.
Hi! Thank you so much for being here! I am Tonya the designer behind Nana's Crafty Home. As a wife, mother, Nana of 9 & with 2 fur babies, my days are filled with love, laughter, hugs and yarn! Here you will find colorful and creative crochet designs for yourself or loved ones. My hope is that you will be inspired to learn and create along with me!
Hi!
on row 25 to 38 do you mean repeat row 24 instead of row 2? Awesome pattern…love them!!! Thank you so much!!
Thank you for catching this mistake Sandra! It should be repeat round 3 – not 2. I have updated the pattern! So glad you like it!
where does the 3” plastic ring come in. Unless I missed it when I was reading the pattern
thankss
That would be in round 23 – the last 5 stitches of the round are worked over the plastic ring. Hope that helps!
Love the pattern! Can’t wait to make some for coworkers for Christmas. Thank you.
You are so welcome – glad you like it! Enjoy! ?
I love this. Waiting for the video.
Video tutorial is now available have fun! https://nanascraftyhome.com/how-to-crochet-santa-gnome-towel-topper-video-tutorial-free-pattern/
Will a 2″ plastic ring work? Except for Amazon, I can’t locate 3″ rings anywhere.
It should work depending upon how thick your towel is. You could certainly try it before you use it and see how it goes. Several people are going to try the sturdy hair ties which should work as well. The elastic in the hair tie will hold the towel in place but you should still be able to get the towel in and out. I would recommend the thicker more sturdy ties or double up in case one breaks. I hope that helps!
If you live in the U.S. Walmart has a dozen 3in plastic rings for about $8 online. Free shipping.
That is wonderful news Marmie – thank you so much for sharing that information! ❤️?
I really enjoy the pattern you have a nice voice thanks
Thank you so much Diane – I am glad you enjoyed it and found it helpful! ❤️?
Hi, Tonya – I have become obsessed with Christmas Gnomes and love this pattern! Thank you. Just one question, though – where/when does the ring get attached? Is it behind the nose?
Thank you so much Deborah – so glad you like it! I am a tad obsessed with Christmas gnomes, too! You will crochet 5 sc st over the ring at the end of round 23. Let me know if you have any additional questions. ?
I love gnomes! These are just so adorable!!
Thank you so much – so glad you like them Crystal! ❤️?
Soooo … how do I download or print this darling free pattern? Thank you.
So glad you like my pattern! ?. I understand that this website works well in printing an ad-free page from a website: https://www.printfriendly.com Hope that helps!
I don’t have a ring, so I am going to sew a piece of elastic in after I have finished the hat. ( only cause I am to lazy to go up stairs to find the elastic ??) cross my fingers it works
That sounds like a great idea – let me know how it goes! ?
What dose the “sp” stitch do? Is it a decorated stitch? Or is it to help Secure the ring?
The spike stitch really just gives extra support to the ring especially since you are placing weight on it with a towel. However, it would be optional. Hope that helps! ?
I would like to sell some of these, but don’t know what to charge. Any ideas?
That is a great question! ? I haven’t priced mine to sell but I have used this post to help me price my items: https://crochetpreneur.com/a-crochet-pricing-strategy/. I hope it helps!
So cute is anyone planning to sell them at shows? If so what price range. Thanks
So glad you like it Barbara! I am hearing that many are planning on selling these at shows. I haven’t calculated a price but I have found the following article to be very helpful for me. I hope it helps you, too! ❤️? https://crochetpreneur.com/a-crochet-pricing-strategy/
This is so cute!
Wondering if I could use round plastic shower curtain circles too?! I have to finish other projects before I try this one. ?
Thank you so much Nan – so glad you like it ?. Absolutely – I have heard from several people that they used the plastic shower rings as a substitute and it worked very well for them. A great option! Have fun! ❤️
Where I work, we use rolls of scotch tape. I have been saving the empty plastic rings that the tape comes on (not knowing what I was saving them for. Lol). Now I have something to use them for. And, i just measured one, and they are 3″. Yay!
What a great idea! Have fun! ?
Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after checking through
some of the post I realzed it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely delighted I
found it and I’ll be book-markingand chwcking back often!
So glad you are enjoying it! Thank you! ?
Love these… now gotta figure out where to get white towelling?
I ordered my tea towels from Amazon and they came in a large pack so I was able to make several: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018YSLRK6/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=nanascraftyho-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B018YSLRK6&linkId=4cda89a702c7da252468033b2abaf6ee
This is so cute!! Thank you for the pattern???
Absolutely – so glad you like it! ?
Absolutely – so glad you like it! ?
Absolutely – so glad you like it! ?
Absolutely – so glad you like it! ?
Absolutely – so glad you like it! ?
Absolutely – so glad you like it! ?