DIY Felt Tomte (Scandinavian Felt Gnomes)

I’m so excited to share this DIY felt tomte tutorial (or DIY felt gnome) with you today, because you can make these as decor or turn them into DIY gnome ornaments!  There are so many possibilities and they’re just so incredible adorable.

The Story Behind These Tomte:

My pair of red felted tomte (a mythical creature from Scandinavian folklore – called a tontuu in Finland and a nisse in Denmark and Norway) have been a holiday staple in my home for the last decade.  Every year I’m asked for the DIY felt tomte tutorial, but they were actually a gift from my Mom.  (I originally, mistakenly, referred to them as Joulupukki.)  She said the one with the dark grey hair is me, and the one with the light grey hair is Hubby, lol.  They’re made in Sweden and something about their small stature and hidden faces makes them irresistibly cute.  For the first few years we had them, Hubby would always move them to a different spot when I wasn’t looking.  Even he loved decorating with them…

(I may or may not have a matching tomte table runner).

My DIY Gnome Ornament Version:

This year I decided to try making my own DIY felt tomte to start a colorful collection.  I definitely don’t think mine are as cute as the originals, but they are pretty darn adorable!

Quarter for scale (real tomte are never more than three feet tall):

Where to Find the Tomte Supplies:

Making these little felt gnomes was pretty straightforward and, with a few simple and inexpensive supplies, you can easily whip up a batch of these for gift toppers, as DIY gnome ornaments, or just cute DIY woodland Christmas decor.  I found supplies at Windsor Plywood (where they had tons of small wood hearts for the feet and little wood button “noses”), Lowe’s (they have a huge dowel selection) and Michael’s (where they also had wood bits and bobs, plus a great assortment of inexpensive sheets of felt made from recycled plastic bottles).

Below you’ll find a full list of what you’ll need to make DIY felt tomte – or DIY felt gnomes.

Supplies for DIY Felt Tomte:

• Small wood hearts (for the feet)
• Small wood balls (for the nose)
• Wood dowel (I used 1 1/4″)
• Felt (not too thin, something with a little more substance works best)
• Wool rovings
• Wood glue
• Craft glue
• Sewing needle and thread
• Chop saw or hand saw

How to Make DIY Gnome Ornaments:

1. Cut the wood dowel to length, between 2″ and 3″.
2. Sand the cut edges smooth with fine grit sandpaper.
3. Glue one end of a dowel piece to a heart (the feet), using wood glue.
4. Then attach the wood ball (the nose) somewhere between one third and one half of the way from the opposite end of the dowel.
5. Let dry and set aside.
6. Measure the circumference of the dowel and the height between the top of the feet and the bottom of the nose.
7. Use those measurements to cut a piece of felt and affix with craft glue, placing the seam at the back.
8. Let dry and set aside.
9. Cut the wool rovings to the same length and line up with the cut ends lined up.
10. Apply a bead of craft glue along the top of the wood dowel, and under the nose, and affix the rovings (the hair and beard).
11. Let dry.
12. Cut out out roughly one quarter of a circle from paper and test it on the tomte for fit (this will be the hat).
13. Trace the template you just made onto the felt and cut out.
14. Hold right sides facing together and quickly stitch a blanket stitch along the edge.
15. Turn the hat right side out and apply with craft glue.
16. Let dry.

Detailed DIY Felt Tomte Instructions:

First, cut the wood dowel to length.  I cut mine anywhere between 2″ and 3″.  Gently sand the cut edges with fine grit sandpaper, to avoid splinters while working with the wood.  Glue one end of a dowel piece to the heart using wood glue – the wood heart will act as feet.  Then attach the wood ball somewhere between one third and one half of the way from the opposite end of the dowel – this will be the nose.  Set aside while the glue dries (follow manufacturer’s instructions for dry time).

While the wood glue dries, measure the circumference of the dowel and the height between the top of the feet and the bottom of the nose.  Use those measurements to cut a piece of felt and affix with craft glue, placing the seam at the back.  Let this glue dry as well.

Cut the wool rovings to the same length and line up with the cut ends lined up, these will be hidden under the cap.

Apply a bead of craft glue along the top of the wood dowel and affix the rovings to act as a hair and beard.  Place a small dab of glue under the nose as well, and glue rovings there too.  Really press down on the rovings to ensure they are glued securely and as snug to the dowel as possible.  Let dry.

To make the hat, I didn’t employ my hard earned high school math – I just cut out roughly one quarter of a circle from paper, tested it on the tomte for fit, trimmed a little and kept that as my template.  A little looser is better, because it will fit over the hair more comfortably.  With my template in hand, I traced it onto my felt and cut out the pieces for all of their hats.

For each hat, I held the right sides facing together and quickly stitched a blanket stitch along the edge, turned it right side out, and applied it with craft glue.

Here’s what the back looked like when I was done:

And that’s it!

Customization Ideas for Your DIY Gnomes!

My original tomtes are made with what looks like a leather band with “hair” already attached, making the original much tidier than my wilder gnomes.  But I do love the wacky hair and colorful garb, and I had the rovings in my craft supply stash already.  If you’re making these, feel free to paint the feet, choose smaller or larger hearts, change the dowel size, chose different felt (wool would be sturdier and easier to work with), or look into doll making supplies for the hair.

There’s only one stipulation: you have to let me see if you make some of your own DIY felt tomte!  Tag me on Instagram or share a link in the comments.

P.S. Don’t Forget to Pin for Later!

 Happy holidays to all my gnomies 😉