Cork and Crochet: Gnomes

You will need:
Small amounts of yarn: for example red for hat, white for hair, blue for top, brown for trousers.
Black yarn for mouth.
A cork, approx 1.75" (4.5cm) long.
Black permanent marker pen (Sharpie).
4 mm (F) hook.


Abbreviations:
ch = chain
st = stitch or stitches
ss = slip stitch
sc = single crochet (US), double crochet (UK)
BLO = back loop only
FLO = front loop only
FO = fasten off

General instructions:

Work in rounds unless otherwise stated and do not join rounds unless told to. Use a stitch marker to mark the start of a round - a small piece of different coloured yarn placed under the stitch at the start of the round will do. To start a round, you can use the magic ring method, but I prefer (ch2, work 6 sc into 1st ch). If you work the 6 sc over the tail of yarn as well you can use that to pull the hole tight.

Work through both loops of stitches unless otherwise indicated.

Start with hat colour yarn.
Round 1: Ch2, work 6 sc into 1st ch - 6 sc.
Round 2: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc] 2 times - 8 sc.
Round 3: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc] 2 times - 10 sc.
Round 4: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc] 2 times - 12 sc.
Round 5: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc] 3 times – 15 sc.
Round 6 - 7: (2 rounds) Sc in each sc around - 15 sc.
Sc in next 8 sc, change to hair colour yarn, sc in next sc, then mark as start of round.
Round 8: Sc in each sc around - 15 sc.
Ch1, turn.
Row 1: Sc in next 10 sc, ch1, turn - 10 sc.
Row 2: Sc in next 10 sc, ch5.
Round 9: Sc into 1st sc of row 2, sc in next 9 sc, 5 sc over ch5 - 15 sc.
Round 10: Sc in next 2 sc, change to top colour yarn but carry the hair colour yarn under. Sc in next 8 sc, change to hair colour yarn.
Beard:
 Row 1: FLO Sc in next 5 sc, ch1, turn.
 Row 2: Miss 1st sc, sc in next 3 sc, ch1, turn.
 Row 3: Miss 1st sc, sc in next sc, ss in next sc. FO, leaving short length of yarn.

Pick up top colour yarn and continue Round 10 working in the back loops behind beard. Pull yarn through 1st back loop, yarn over hook and pull through. Sc in same back loop and each of next 4.
Round 11 - 12: (2 rounds) Sc in each sc around - 15 sc
Change to trouser colour yarn.
Round 13 - 14: (2 rounds) Sc in each sc around - 15 sc.
Ss in next sc, FO and weave in end.

Use yarn from beard to secure it to the body with a couple of stitches

Fit over cork and carefully draw face in the gap.