This cute Valentine Gnome Hat knitting pattern has a happy smile, a stocking cap and is holding a cute knit heart in his hands, ready to celebrate Valentine’s Day!
I had so much fun knitting my Santa hat over the holidays that I decided I should do a Valentine Gnome hat knitting pattern for Valentine’s Day. He’s kind of similar to Santa with a white ribbed beard, a happy smile and a cute stocking cap on top.
But this adorable Valentine’s Day gnome also has cute little arms holding a knit heart shape! How adorable is that. If I could have figured out a way to make the heart shape removable, I would have, wouldn’t that have been fun. But anyway, he looks like he’s ready to hand out Valentine’s Day cards to all of his little gnome friends. I have a feeling this one will be a hit on the playground this year!
By the way, I was wondering about the history of gnomes. I often google mythical creatures like this to make sure their origins are ok. And when I googled this the internet was full of hilarious “articles” about gnomes’ largely peaceful relationship throughout history with the human race. But like they were completely serious. I guess gnome enthusiasts take them very seriously! Fine by me!
Anyway, if you’re ready to knit your own Valentine Gnome hat, let’s get started. This cute hat is knit in the round and then the face, arms and heart are added later. It’s also handy to have a pom pom maker on hand to add to the top of the gnome’s hat. Are you ready? Let’s go!
Valentine Gnome Hat Knitting Pattern
(includes Sizes 0-3 months, 6 months, 12 months, 2T+)
Gauge: 20 stitches = 4 inches
- Worsted weight yarn
- US 7 (4.5 mm) 16″ circular knitting needles
- US 7 (4.5 mm) double pointed needles
- Yarn needle
(If you need help, my favorite knitting reference book for everyone from beginners to advanced knitters is THIS ONE!)
Looking for the pattern? Here’s how it works: This pattern is available for FREE in one size right here on my site (keep scrolling down). Or for just a few dollars, you can choose to purchase an upgraded PDF pattern that is nicely formatted and easy to print. Besides being easy to print, the PDF pattern also contains MORE SIZES with instructions for additional sizing including 0-3 months, 6 months, 12 months and 2T+! Thank you for supporting Little Red Window!
Valentine Gnome Hat Knitting Pattern Instructions (size 0-3 months)
Using long-tail cast on, cast on 56 stitches onto your circular needles with the white yarn. Join to knit in the round and k1, p1, in a rib stitch for
1 inch. Next, switch to the light pink color yarn of your choice and knit all stitches for 14 rounds.
Switch to medium pink yarn, and knit all stitches for 1 round, then purl all stitches for 6 more rounds to make the brim of the gnome’s hat. Finally, begin the stripe pattern, switching colors between medium pink andligh pink every two rounds while following the rest of the pattern below:
Continuing stripes, knit all stitches until the hat is 4inches (if it is not already). If it has already reached that measurement, continue on to the decrease.
Decrease, continuing stripes (divide your stitches between 3 double pointed needles or use magic loop):
Round 1: (k6, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round
Rounds 2-5: knit all stitches
Round 6: (k5, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round
Rounds 7-10: knit all stitches
Round 11: (k4, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round
Rounds 12-15: knit all stitches
Round 16: (k3, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round
Rounds 17-20: knit all stitches
Round 21: (k2, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round
Rounds 22-25: knit all stitches
Round 26: (k1, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round
Rounds 27-30: knit all stitches
Round 31: k2tog and repeat to the end of the round
Rounds 32-35: knit all stitches
Cut yarn, thread through loops and pull to close. Weave in ends.
Nose:
Using double pointed needles as straight needles, cast on 4 stitches with medium pink yarn. Leave a long cast on tail to stitch the nose to the hat.
Row 1 (WS): pfb, p2, pfb (6 stitches)
Row 2 (RS): kfb, k4, kfb (8 stitches)
Row 3: purl all stitches
Row 4: knit all stitches
Row 5: k2tog, p4, p2tog (6 stitches)
Row 6: ssk, k2, k2tog (4 stitches)
Bind off knitwise and weave in this end on the wrong side.
Thread the long cast on tail on your yarn needle and use it to sew the nose to the front of the gnome’s face just above his beard as shown.
Heart Shape:
Using double pointed needles as straight needles, cast on 7 stitches with hot pink yarn. Leave a long cast on tail to stitch the heart to the hat.
Sl1 = slip one stitch purlwise with yarn in back
Row 1: kfb, k2, sl1, k2, kfb, (9 stitches)
Row 2: kfb, k3, sl1, k3, kfb (11 stitches)
Rows 3-6: k5, sl1, k5
Row 7: ssk, k3, sl1, k3, k2tog (9 stitches)
Row 8: k4, sl1, k4
Row 9: ssk, k5, k2tog (7 stitches)
Row 10: knit all stitches
Row 11: ssk, k3, k2tog (5 stitches)
Row 12: knit all stitches
Row 13: ssk, k1, k2tog (3 stitches)
Row 14: k3tog
Cut yarn and pull through the remaining stitch to end. Weave in that end.
Right Arm:
Using double pointed neeldes as straight needles, cast on 2 stitches with light pink yarn. Leave a long cast on tail to stitche the arm to the hat.
Row 1: p1, pfb (3 stitches)
Row 2: kfb, k2 (4 stitches)
Row 3: p3, pfb (5 stitches)
Row 4: kfb, k4 (6 stitches
Rows 5-11: purl odd rows and knit even rows
Row 12: ssk, k2, k2tog (4 stitches)
Bind off knit wise and weave in that end.
Left Arm:
Using double pointed neeldes as straight needles, cast on 2 stitches with light pink yarn. Leave a long cast on tail to stitche the arm to the hat.
Row 1: pfb, p1 (3 stitches)
Row 2: k2, kfb (4 stitches)
Row 3: pfb, p3 (5 stitches)
Row 4: k4, kfb (6 stitches
Rows 5-11: purl odd rows and knit even rows
Row 12: ssk, k2, k2tog (4 stitches)
Bind off knit wise and weave in that end.
Finishing:
Thread some black yarn on a yarn needle and use it to stitch two angled stitches for the eyes and then use a backstitch to stitch a shy smile as shown.
The threading the long cast on tails onto a yarn needle, sew the arms and heart shape on the hat as shown in photo A.
Finally, make a light pink yarn pom pom with a pom pom maker or other method of your choice and sew it securely to the top of the gnome’s hat!
Happy Knitting!
If you liked this, you may also like some of my other posts…
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