Thank you for all the positive comments and support. Enjoy your family and friends.

It's beginning to look a lot like ........

Christmas!

Using the same shape as my Christmas Tree pattern, I made up a Santa ornament. Kind of folksy, I'm still playing with the design. Look for more to come.......

Today was my last day of school before the Thanksgiving break. Woot! Woot! I will be baking bread and getting ready to feast. Dinner will be here at 1:00 pm on Thursday.

Santa gnome-free pattern

Materials:
G hook
WW yarn in red, white, peach, and black
9mm safety eyes
Polyester stuffing
Needle
Embroidery thread

Special stitches:
Loop stitch: I used this great tutorial:
http://www.planetjune.com/blog/how-to-crochet-loop-stitch/
Step 1: Grasp the yarn with your left hand and, with your right hand, wrap the yarn clockwise around your left index finger to make a loop. Insert the hook into the stitch so there are two loops on the hook. Rotate the hook clockwise -- in the opposite direction from the way you usually would -- so it goes over the yarn.
Step 2: Pass the hook behind the yarn held by your left index finger. Catch both strands with the hook, and pull them both through the stitch. You should now have 3 loops on your hook
Step 3: You and pull the strand through all loops on the hook.

Front:
Worked in rows.
Chain 4 , turn
Row 1-Sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc in next 2 chains (3sc) turn, ch. 1
Row 2-sc in first sc, then sc in next sc, then 2 sc in last sc, turn, ch. 1
Row 3-sc in first sc, then sc in next 2 stitches, 2sc in last stitch, turn, ch. 1
Row 4-sc in first sc, then sc in next 3 stitches, 2sc in last stitch, turn, ch. 1
Continue this stitch pattern until you have a triangle 21 stitches wide at the base.
Approximately 19 rows.
Attach peach color for face, turn, ch.1
Row 20- sc in every stitch (20 sc) turn, ch. 1
Row 21-28 repeat Row 20.
Attach white for beard, turn, ch. 1
Row 29-Loop stitch in first sc, repeat across (20 lp. st.), turn, ch.1
Row 30-sc in each stitch across, (20sc) turn, ch. 1
Row 31-Loop stitch in first sc, repeat across (20 lp. st.), turn, ch.1
Row 32-sc in each stitch across, (20sc) turn, ch. 1
Row 33-Loop stitch in first sc, repeat across(20 lp. st.), turn, ch. 1
Row 34- sc in each sc across, (20sc)
Attach black, for belt, turn, ch.1
Row 35-39 sc in each sc across(20sc)
Attach red turn, ch.1
Row 40- sc in each sc across(20sc), turn, ch. 1
Dividing the legs:
Row 41- sc in first 9 stitches, turn, ch. 1
Row 42-45 repeat row 41
Fasten off.

Leg #2
Attach red yarn at last sc opposite other leg to start row 41.
Row 41a-sc in first 9 sc,(9sc) turn, ch.1
Rows 42a-45a-repeat row 41a
Fasten off

Work on face:
Attach 9mm safety eyes between rows 5 & 6.
Embroider mouth in center of row 9.

Nose:
With peach, chain 2.
Work 6sc in second chain from hook,

Rnd. 1-work 2sc in each stitch around(12sc)

Fasten off.
Leave long tail for attaching to face.
With a yarn needle, weave the tail in and out every other stitch around the just finished round of the nose, pull gently, so it coaxes the stitches into a round ball. Attach to center of face between the eyes and mouth.

Back:
Worked in rows:
With red, ch 4.,turn
Row 1-Sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc in next 2 chains (3sc) turn, ch. 1
Row 2-sc in first sc, then sc in next sc, then 2 sc in last sc, turn, ch. 1
Row 3-sc in first sc, then sc in next 2 stitches, 2sc in last stitch, turn, ch. 1
Row 4-sc in first sc, then sc in next 3 stitches, 2sc in last stitch, turn, ch. 1
Continue this stitch pattern until you have a triangle 21 stitches wide at the base.
Row 20 (stop all increases) sc in each stitch across(20sc) turn, ch.1
Row 21-40 repeat row 20
Dividing legs: hold front and back pieces together at this time and make sure they match up evenly. The division for the legs needs to match up for when you stitch the front and back together later
Row 41- sc in first 9 stitches, turn, ch. 1
Row 42-45 repeat row 41
Fasten off.

Leg #2
Attach red yarn at last sc opposite other leg to start row 41.
Row 41a-sc in first 9 sc,(9sc) turn, ch.1
Rows 42a-45a-repeat row 41a
Fasten off.

Arms: (make 2)
Worked in continuous spiral, do not join.
With white, magic ring and single crochet 6 into center.
Row 1- 2sc in each sc around(12sc)
Row2- 2sc in next stitch, then sc, repeat around (18sc)
Row3-5 single crochet in each stitch around
Row 6- sc dec, then sc in next stitch, repeat around (12sc)
Row 7-sc-dec in each stitch around(6sc)
Attach red yarn,
Row 8-12 single crochet in each around
Fasten off.

Assembly:
With right sides facing out, line up the front and backs.
Whip stitch together.
I usually start at the top of the triangle, then proceed down one entire side, over and around both legs and come up around the next side leaving about a 2 inch wide opening so I can insert stuffing. I use the eraser end of a pencil to make sure this leg have stuffing in the corners. Next, I continue my whip-stitching until the opening is almost closed, then I finish stuffing. Close up final stitches.

Attach arms to both sides of gnome.

Making a pom-pom for top of hat:

Using 3 inch square piece of cardboard , wrap white yarn around at least 50 times, more if you want a fuller pom-pom. Cut yarn. Thread needle with a 6 inch piece of yarn, draw underneath one side of the yarn on the cardboard, remove needle, tie ends of this yarn in a really tight knot. Before sliding loops off cardboard, snip the ends of all the loops on both ends of cardboard. Remove cardboard. Shake the pom-pom by holding the yarn that secures the pom-pom in the middle. Trim up, until you achieve the fullness you want. Attach to top of hat.

Sneak peek of what's coming.....

Flower Box Afghan-complete!!!

Christmas gift for my niece!!!

me & taylor