The Advent Gnomes

I love, love, love Christmas, Advent, and all of the associated glitter. So when I started knitting gnomes, I knew that they would become a part of our Christmas decorations, and I was right. Right away in 2020 I made these two lovelies, Gnick and Gnoelle (GN7 & GN8)

Gnick has the red hat, Gnoelle has the green hat. Gnoelle is a little bit of a rabble rouser, always up for a mad adventure. Gnick is more staid and does his best to keep her in some kind of control.

.In December of 2020, Sarah Schira announced an Advent Gnome Mystery Knit Along. And you know that, in addition to loving gnomes, I also love a good knit-along. Every day brought a new piece of the Advent Gnome: some days a knitting clue, some days a bit of a story introducing the gnome, some days a recipe or other goodie. It was too much fun and I was hooked. That first Advent Gnome ended up being the January Gome (Gnova, GN10), but I started thinking about Gnomes and Christmas…

In the Year of Gnomes 2022, I made the Dumplings; 40 little tree-trim gnomes. I did a few every month. Each Dumpling took only about 45 minutes to make.

All the Dumplings (they do not have individual names) in a circle.

Sixteen dumplings were donated to our holiday church bazaar. 24 dumplings stayed with me to be a gnome advent calendar. I keep them in little bags so I can’t see who is who and hang one on a small tree each day in December.

They live on the piano, next to all the Advent Gnomes.

Gnogge (GN109) is in charge of tasting all the beverages and making sure that they are up to is exacting standards. He is the first Advent Gnome pattern, knit some years later when I realized I wanted the full set in Christmas Colors.

Gnordman and Gnutt (GN107 & GN108) are responsible for the greenery and other gathering in the woods. Like Gnogge, they were an earlier knit-along that I gave away as gifts and remade in Christmas colors to join the group.

Gnatalie comes with a scarf, a stachel, and three different hats. In this KAL we also learned that gnomes wear an underhat. It's a private thing, much like our underwear.

Gnatalie (GN91) takes care of everyone’s holiday attire. She’s quite the fashionista.

Mr. Gnightly (GN98) and his SnowGnome companion take care that the weather is perfectly wintery for all the Gnomish celebrations.

Gnanna (GN110) is last year’s gnome. She bakes all the cookies and other goodies for the group. She wears her traveling cloak to take her baked goods around the neighborhood.

Finally, we have this year’s Advent Gnome. He was finished on the 21st, which Gnomes celebrate as Longest Gnight. If you are knitting him and haven’t seen the finished gnome, stop reading here. Click away!

Because here he comes…

Gnandad (GN124) is a story teller and a keeper of the Gnomish Holiday Myths. He was picky - requesting extra colors in his suspenders and a fancy beard instead of the garter stitch beard in the pattern.

He’s also sweethearts with Gnanna and they are so happy to be together.

So there they all are. A collection of Advent Gnomes, adding so much joy and whimsy to our home each and every year.

In Other News

An updated progress report. I am speeding along. All the knitting on a gift-giving deadline is done! Hooray! I can relax and focus on whatever I am inspired to work on.

• 4 shawls

• Done! 5 sweaters/tops

• 3 pairs of socks

• Done! 3 hats

• Done! 2 gnomes

• Done! 1 Christmas stocking

• Done! 2Christmas gifts (Okay…I added one at the last minute here, and it’s almost done, so that’s fine and very on brand for me.)

• Done! 1 hood

• Done! 1 cowl done, 1 cowl frogged. 2 cowls

Will I end 2025 with lots of projects on my needles? Yes. Absolutely. That’s okay. And who knows…I might do a Christmas Eve Cast On. Just for fun. We will see where inspiration leads.

Finally, a Little Gift

I wrote a small knitting pattern to teach Brioche Knitting. I have released it for free on my Ravelry and PayHip. If you were thinking about learning a new skill in 2026 and Brioche is on the list, you might start with this small headband and see where your inspiration leads.

Simple two color brioche with nothing fancy. Also, I am so grateful for this daughter of mine who is always willing to be a knitwear model. She’s really something.

This pattern is in the lines of a thank you gift to everyone who reads my work, knits my designs, and loves adventuring in knitting with me. Thank you to each and every one of you.

Here they all are, as we see them every day. I wonder who will be added next year?

From our family to you and yours, Happy Christmas, Merry Celebrating, and a Blessed Longest Gnight.

Warmly

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