Hello friends! I am taking a slight diversion from my regularly scheduled sharing of other people’s patterns and here I am sharing my own. To celebrate this generous Christmas season, this pattern is FREE!!! It’s right here! No clicking away, no scrolling forever and ever. No wondering how you’ll ever find the pattern! It’s right here. No more clicks!

*Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links, meaning if you click on them and buy something, you don’t pay any extra, but I may get a small commission.*

I just wrote this pattern today, so it’s super fresh and it’s super-fast, just in time for last-minute gifts for friends, family and colleagues who you want to give something special to, but you have no idea what to get them? Got a nephew who is too old for $20 in a card, but you still want to give a little gift to? Perfect! Got a mom who has everything? She would be delighted by this little handy character! Got a co-worker you hardly know that gave you an unexpected gift and you want to reciprocate? I gotcha.

Meet Snaanbag, the Tea Towel Topper Gnome! Even better, Snaanbag isn’t just a tea towel topper, he’s a tea towel holder! That’s right! He’s got a wooden ring that holds your tea towel so you can easily wash it. You can make this adorable gnome in neutral or Christmassy colours, depending on your mood or decor. He’s a little grumpy, but if you dry your hands quickly on his beard, you’ll be ok.

Because I just wrote this pattern today, it has not been tested. I welcome your feedback, if you want to provide it! If you catch an error or provide me with helpful feedback for improving the pattern and include good pictures of your gnome topper, I will send you a free pdf of the pattern! Get in touch with me via the contact me page; I would love to hear from you!

Snaanbag the Tea Towel Topper Gnome

Supplies

Crochet Hook: H/8 or 5.00 mm hook
Yarn Weight: (4) Medium Weight/Worsted Weight (I used Red Heart Super Saver)
Yarn colours: Hat: Grey (or colour of your choice) Nose: Beige (or colour of your choice)
Stitch markers (1 of any kind, 2 locking), yarn needle, needle & thread for stitching button
Embellishments: 60 mm (2.5 in) wooden ring – measurement taken from the outer edges of ring. (You can also use a covered elastic hair tie), 15 mm (.6 in) button, small amount of polyfill for nose

Finished Size

Tip of the hat to bottom of nose unfolded, laid flat, length: 22 cm (8.625 in).
Folded & buttoned: 11 cm.
The hat only unfolded, laid flat: 20 cm (8 in).
At the widest point of hat, width: 11 cm (4.25 in)

US Terminology

Rnd = Round
MC = Magic Circle
SC = Single Crochet
St = Stitch
YO = Yarn Over
Inv Dec = Invisible Decrease

Special Techniques

Invisible Fasten off – Pull yarn tail through loop and thread onto a yarn needle. Skipping the stitch next to the last stitch of the Rnd, insert the needle under the top 2 loops of the next stitch (where you would insert your hook for a stitch) and pull yarn through. Insert the needle into the middle of the last stitch of the round and down through to the back of the work. Secure yarn by weaving the yarn under 2-4 stitches; do not cut excess tail yarn. (Crochet Arcade has a good tutorial if you need more visuals.)

Invisible Decrease – insert hook under front loop of the first stitch and leave the loop on the hook. Insert hook under front loop of next stitch, YO, pull through 2 (front) loops on hook, YO, pull through 2 loops on hook to complete SC. (All About Ami has a good tutorial!)

Hat

Rnd 1: 5 SC into a MC. (5 sts)

Rnd 2: 2 SC in 1^st st. Place marker in 1^st st of Rnd. SC to marker. (6 sts)

Always place the marker back in the 1st st of the new Rnd.

Rnd 3-21: Repeat Rnd 2 until you have 25 st in the Rnd. (7-25 sts)

Rnd 22 (add the ring): 2 SC in 1^st st, SC 4, SC 8 around the wooden ring: Place wooden ring under working yarn, behind the work (inside the hat). Insert hook in next stitch and YO under the ring, pull through 1 loop, YO above the ring and pull through 2 loops, completing the SC (8 times total). SC to marker. (26 sts)

Rnd 23-32: Repeat Rnd 2. (27-36 sts)

At this point, the wooden ring should be hidden when the hat is laid flat. If it is not, repeat Rnd 2 until it is. If you need more rows here, your st count total will differ from the pattern going forward.

Place nose positioning markers: Before continuing, place 2 locking markers 2 sts from start of Rnd and 10 sts from start of Rnd on the right side of the work. These will remain in place until the nose is positioned.

Rnd 33 (make the button hole): 2 SC in 1^st st. SC 12. Ch 1. Skip next st. SC around to marker. (37 sts)

Rnd 34: 2 SC in 1^st st, SC around, treating Ch 1 as a st. (38 st)

Ensure you can fit your button through the button hole you have created.

Cut yarn, leaving a 46 cm (18 in) tail.

Use the Invisible Fasten Off technique, weaving the yarn in the direction of where the nose will be placed and DO NOT CUT the excess yarn tail. We will use this yarn to secure the nose in place.

Attach the button

Lay the hat flat with the ring at the back. Secure the button in between Rnds 3 & 4, in the centre of the front of the hat, when laid flat.

Nose

Rnd 1: 5 SC in MC. (5 sts)

Place the marker in the 1^st st of Rnd 2. Always place marker back in 1st st of Rnd.

Rnd 2: 2 SC in each st around. (10 sts)

Rnd 3: *2 SC in st, SC. Repeat from * around to marker. (15 sts)

Rnds 4-6: SC around to marker. (15 sts)

Rnd: 7: *Inv Dec, SC. Repeat from * around to marker. (10 sts) Stuff firmly with polyfil.

Rnd 8: Inv Dec around to marker (5 sts)

Cut yarn leaving a 20 cm (8 in) tail and pull through. Thread a yarn needle and weave the needle through the front loops of the 5 stitches of the last Rnd. Pull to tighten and fasten off. Weave the tail inside the stuffing of the nose cut the excess yarn.

Attach the nose

Position the nose with Rnd 1 facing out and between the 2 markers on the underside of the hat along Rnd 5 of the nose. Using the excess tail yarn from the hat, attach the nose with by pushing the needle through one stitch of Rnd 5 of the nose and to the front of the hat. Backstitch along Rnd 32 of the hat onto Rnd 5 of the nose, using the previously placed markers to position the nose. Secure and weave tail through 5-10 stitches of the hat and ending in the nose. Pull slightly and snip tail yarn so the end disappears into the stuffing of the nose.

That’s it! Loop your new little friend to your stove handle or your dishwasher handle and add a tea towel (I like these ones!) to the wooden ring and you can dry your hands on his beard until it’s time for it to be washed!

I hope you enjoyed this free pattern! As soon as I get it formatted into a pdf, I’ll add a link to an ad-free printable pdf pattern that you can download from Etsy or Ravelry for a small fee. Until then (and afterwards!), enjoy it for free here on the blog! If you liked this pattern, please share it on Pinterest!