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House Cross Stitch Patterns

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Sometimes I come across a pattern I want to share and it causes me to look for other, similar patterns so that I can have a theme instead of sharing a single pattern with you.

That was the case with this pattern of a row of colorful houses (which is a free pattern from JP Crochet). It is super cute and could be a post of its own, talking about how it reminds me of beach houses and it would be fun to change up the colors to match houses in your neighborhood or just your decor. As written it uses nine colors and is 111 stitches square, or 20 cm/7.8 inches square when stitched on 14 count fabric.

If you like the look of beach house cross stitch patterns, I have another set of summer beach houses for you to look at.

I like the idea of houses all jumbled together, but they don’t necessarily have to be beach houses. For example the village houses from TAM Stitch Designs on Etsy. These rows of houses surrounded by trees and flowers are definitely not near the ocean, but they’re still really pretty (and a great way to use a lot of colors!). The piece is full coverage, 200 by 200 stitches, and uses 15 colors. As shown on 14 count fabric it comes out to about 14.25 inches/36.3 cm square.

And while these are not shown as stitched in a single frame, I also love the four season houses from Cute Patterns by Maria. These traditional homes sit in the different seasons but they would be cute grouped together in individual frames, or just hang each one during its particular season if you’d rather. These vary a little in size and use a ton of colors (between 14 and 33, depending on the project) but I think it would be a lot of fun to stitch all four.

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Gonk Gnome Knitting Patterns

Sometimes I find interesting things in the terms that people are searching on the website. Most of the time them make sense, but other times I’m scratching my head. When “gonk gnomes” turned up, I had to search it to learn that gonks aren’t really gnomes. They’re from Nordic and Scandinavian mythology and are kind of a mix of a gnome and a hobgoblin.

So I don’t know if these gnome knitting patterns really all qualify as gonk gnomes, but I assume it’s the personality that you give them that will decide that.

First of course I have to share this knitting gnome from Sharon Mooney, which you can find on Ravelry. It uses DK weight yarn and while it’s a small project (5.5 inches or 14 cm tall without the hat) there are a lot of techniques packed in, including cables (on the scarf the gnome is knitting), increasing and decreasing, stranded colorwork, knitting flat and in the round, making bobbles (its nose) and I-cord (the legs).

Hélène Magnússon’s Kertasnikiris more specifically a Yule Lad in the Icelandic tradition, who traditionally comes to your house on Dec. 24 and tries to steal your candles (his name means “Candle beggar”). I love all the details on this one, too. His little colorwork boots are the best! A variety of yarns are used for all the different parts, and this one measures 16 inches/40 cm tall. You can find it on Ravelry.

Lots of gonk gnome knitting patterns are seasonal, whether Christmas or some other holiday. You’ll find autumn gonk gnomes from Tanya Oakley Designs on Etsy, and she also has more spring and summer versions decorated with flowers.

January Knits’ rainbow gnomes aren’t necessarily seasonal, but in their pastel colors as shown they’d be lovely for spring, or you could make a set in jewel tones for fall.

I also feel like if you knit gnomes you have to give them a story. Like what are the gnomies by Huggable Bears doing? They look like a bunch a friends headed to the park or something.

If you don’t want to come up with the story on your own, try knitting up Someone to Write Gnome About from Imagined Land Knits. This one’s name is Gnock, and her favorite thing is reading in her hammock.

Or how about Gnana by Sarah Schira? This gnome reminds me of Baba Yaga and looks like she’s cooking up something interesting. The pattern uses fingering weight yarn and includes colorwork on the body and a removable cloak (it’s not safe in the kitchen with a cloak on!). The pattern includes a recipe, coloring page, decorative envelope and storybook file so you can learn all about your new gnome. This one is available from Ravelry.