Little wooden people/gnomes - hints?

[isaberg]

So I got tons of little wooden bases - sort of like these:

http://dancingraindolls.com/wooden_doll_bases.html

though I got them in bulk from another supplier. If they were wool, I would know about how to deal with them, but somehow I'm having trouble getting started. Any suggestions/links/tutorials/pretty pictures that you could point me to? I'd like to be able to sit down with my daughter and do _something_ with them! :-)

Thanks...

[serenetabbie]

You got the little all wood ones or the bendy ones? I saw some Esty shop little gnomes that looked fairly easy made from the all wood ones. Looked like the person just wrapped the base with felt and stuck a little cap on!

Slightly OT; were they very $$ to order in bulk?

[isaberg]

The non-bendy kind. I don't remember the supplier off the top of my head, but they were quite reasonable. I'll go look it up.

I'll check etsy. They look simple, but for some reason I just am not sure how to proceed. Which is funny, because usually I just jump in with both feet...

[Miss Information]

Here is a gnome royal family

http://www.atoygarden.com/index.cfm?...Product_ID=659

some holiday gnomes
http://www.atoygarden.com/index.cfm?...roduct_ID=1696

elemental gnomes

http://www.atoygarden.com/index.cfm?...roduct_ID=1583


These are my versions of them (hatless though in these pictures).

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...xmasgnomes.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...ringgnomes.jpg

You can even get fancy and embroider designs on the cape and gnome hats
(I'll see if I can find the esty ones I saw earlier this month).

I can't find the original embroidered gnomes I saw, but these are just as good

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8397287

Here's some acorn gnomes

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8270243


I would rub some beeswax polish or something similar to warm up the wood before dressing them.

[beka1977]

If you wanted to involve glue - what type of glue would you use?

Those of you who have done these - did you use any glue?

[counterGOPI]

: i just bought a few of the non bendy ones too :

[Miss Information]

I just used a hot glue stick to attach the dresses and the capes to the body, then I followed up where they joined with the embroidery floss. My dd is 4 who will be getting them, so I'm not worried about her trying to mouth them.

[Miss Information]

Originally Posted by counterGOPI

: i just bought a few of the non bendy ones too :

Wait, I'm confused, did you buy the bendy or non-bendy kind? It sounds like you said you bought the non-bendy ones in your earlier post. The non-bendy kind are usually called peg people, btw.

[isaberg]

I knew y'all would be really helpful! Thanks for all the tips and the great pictures.

What did you do for patterns for the clothes, btw?

And I looked up the supplier- it was http://craftparts.com/mall/Little_People.asp

[Miss Information]

Originally Posted by isaberg

I knew y'all would be really helpful! Thanks for all the tips and the great pictures.

What did you do for patterns for the clothes, btw?

And I looked up the supplier- it was http://craftparts.com/mall/Little_People.asp

As far as the actual body, you just use a flat piece of felt in a rectangular shape. I haven't done the sloped girl body for my gnomes, but the man body and just made sure I was short enough on his body to miss the curvy part, otherwise it won't lay flat. For the cape believe it or not I kind of eyeballed that and did something like this

http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/...e&rsc=header_1

I usually don't like to eyeball things, but in this case I did. And when I found a shape I liked I used that for a template. My cape I'm not 100% happy with, because there is too much of a flare on it, so it's a little harder to hold onto by the back. For that reason, I'm not sure I want to use a hat with it (because this way the kids can hold onto the head). I may have to change the design of the cape a little. But for now, this is what it's going to be.

The ones you see on the other pics I posted don't have that much of a flare to it and I'm thinking it's because I cut the sides differently (they edge of the front doesn't sweep to the bottom, but starts sweeping back sooner - therefore mine has more flare on them), but I'm pretty sure they have the neck cut out a little to sit nicer along the body.

HTH.

I'd try to make some paper patterns first before you cut the felt if you don't have a lot of time. Then when you have what you like, blanket stitch two pieces together.

And the hats, even though I didn't make them yet, I will eventually and I will probably not make one quite as tall as the ones on atoygarden.

[Miss Information]

don't forget to post pics !

[mercy589]

subbing... I found the peg people at Hobby Lobby for not much $. I didnt make them yet though.

[3boobykins]

I glued the felt on the gnomes I made with Aileen's Tacky glue, then stitched the ends also. These were so fun to make! Don't have a camera right now, or I'd show them off. I made a lady gnome with braided yarn hair and a triangular shawl. My kids love to build little houses for the gnomes with tree blocks!

[amhancock]

Originally Posted by mercy589

subbing... I found the peg people at Hobby Lobby for not much $. I didnt make them yet though.

What section of Hobby Lobby did you find them in ? I might have to make a stop tonight! Thanks!

[Miss Information]

Originally Posted by amhancock

What section of Hobby Lobby did you find them in ? I might have to make a stop tonight! Thanks!

There are the wood crafts section. There are all kinds of unfinished wood for crafts (plates, boxes, etc). There is a whole section of small wood findings - wheels, peg people, a small selection of miniature wood bowls, pickle barrels, maybe milk containers too. I got the men and boys from Hobby Lobby, but Joann's had the girl peg people.

[bandtmum]

just bumping this thread! Anyone else got any pictures to share....

[tinasquirrel]

Here is a link to my blog where I show the pictures of the ones that I made, along with a tutorial, including a pattern for the cape and hat. I've also made them without the hat, and just an acorn cap as the hat instead. (Which is a nice thing to do this time of year with the abundance of acorns!)

Gnome Peg People Tutorial

(This old thread was my original inspiration to make these last winter!)