The garden gnomes

This is a little tutorial how to felt various gnomes.

Even children with a little help are able to felt these little guys.

These here watch over the flowers, the vegetables, scrubs and the farm animals

I am sure you have many other gnome ideas

so here is how to start:

First you have to roll and twist the carded dry wool to a big sized chicken egg.

Make it as firm as possible.

Dip it into soapy water, hold it firmly together but NEVER squeeze the water out.

Next lay little flocks of your desired color of wool over it until everything is covered.

Wet it again and start gently to felt.

The more durable it gets the stronger you can handle it.

Dip it in hot soapy water from time to time.

These are different bodies notice the dent in the middle of the bottom.

This is for a better standing.

The heads start out the same way as the bodies just as big as a table tennis ball, the noses much smaller

These are various hat shapes the one on top is for the pig and carrot hat 

The one on the bottom left the cap for the scrub gnome the one on the right is going to be the flower hat.

For the pig hat you have to cover your template with a layer of wool turn it around.

fold in the overlap and put some wool down on this side.

Then add the ears: lay out the wool on both sides of the hat wet it and fold in shape.

Put bubble wrap over it when starting the felting process. Bubbles always facing toward the wool!

The carrot hat is even easier it doesn't have ears!

For the flower hat you have to lay out a green layer of wool.

Place your template with the whole over it.

Then cover it with another layer of your desired flower color.

Cover with bubble wrap when starting the felting process!

Rub the center where the both colors join a long time so they won't come apart.

After a while you can take away the template.

To become a flower hat you have to cut in the center a tiny whole widen it with your fingers.

(It goes easily when it is still wet)

Place it on top of your head, cut the pedals in shape or leave it like that.

When the felting is done rinse all parts in clear water!!! 

You can either sew or glue everything together with a hot glue gun.

It even glues when the objects are wet.

Eyes and hair is dry felted with the felting needle.