Enchanted Forest Gnome Wall Hanging Free Pattern – Knit a Whimsical Woodland Tapestry

Bring the Magic of the Woods Indoors: Knit Your Own Enchanted Forest Gnome Wall Hanging

Have you ever wanted to capture the quiet, whimsical beauty of a hidden forest glade and hang it on your wall? This Enchanted Forest Gnome Wall Hanging pattern does exactly that. Using soft, worsted-weight yarn and a mix of simple knitting techniques, you’ll create a textured, dimensional tapestry that feels both rustic and magical. This isn’t just a craft project; it’s a way to bring a cozy, handcrafted piece of nature into your home. Best of all, this free pattern is designed to be approachable for beginners while still offering a rewarding challenge for more experienced knitters. Let’s get started on creating your very own woodland masterpiece!

Materials Needed: Gathering Your Woodland Palette

Before you cast on, let’s gather your supplies. This project uses basic materials and a beautiful palette of earthy, forest-inspired colors. Here’s exactly what you’ll need:

• Yarn: Worsted weight yarn in the following colors (approximately 400 yards total):
  • Forest Green (FG): For the main background.
  • Moss Green (MG): For the ground and tree canopy.
  • Cream (CR): For the sky, beard, and pom-pom.
  • Rust Orange (RO): For the gnome’s body.
  • Warm Brown (WB): For the tree trunk and belt.
  • Soft Yellow (SY): For the hat and stars.
• Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm) knitting needles.
• Notions: A tapestry needle for weaving in ends and sewing details.
• Hanging Hardware: A 12-inch wooden dowel or a sturdy, straight branch from your yard.

Gauge: 18 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch. (Always check your gauge to ensure your finished piece is the correct size!)

Step-by-Step Instructions: Knitting Your Forest Tapestry

This wall hanging is knitted flat in one piece from the bottom up. We’ll use intarsia (using separate balls of yarn for color blocks) and duplicate stitch (embroidering over knit stitches) for the details. The finished piece measures approximately 12 inches wide by 18 inches tall.

Abbreviations

• CO: Cast on
• K: Knit
• P: Purl
• St(s): Stitch(es)
• K2tog: Knit two stitches together (decrease)
• M1: Make one stitch (increase)
• Rep: Repeat
• RS: Right Side
• WS: Wrong Side

Part 1: The Mossy Ground (Bottom Border)

We’ll start with the lush, textured base of our scene.

1. Cast On: CO 60 sts with Moss Green (MG).
2. Row 1 (RS): Knit all sts.
3. Row 2 (WS): Purl all sts.
4. Repeat: Rep Rows 1-2 until the piece measures 2 inches from the cast-on edge. End with a WS row. This creates a solid, mossy foundation.

Part 2: The Main Body (Forest Scene)

Now we switch to the deep forest green background and begin building our scene. We’ll work in stockinette stitch (knit on RS, purl on WS) for the entire body, using intarsia to create the tree and gnome.

Creating the Tree Trunk

1. Switch Colors: On the next RS row, switch to Forest Green (FG) for the background. You will now have two active yarns: FG for the background and Warm Brown (WB) for the trunk.
2. Position the Trunk: The trunk is 8 sts wide, positioned 10 sts from the left edge. On the RS row: K10 in FG, join WB and K8 for the trunk, then K42 in FG to finish the row.
3. Work Even: Continue in stockinette, carrying FG on both sides of the trunk and WB in the center. Remember to twist the yarns at color changes to avoid holes. Work the trunk straight up for 6 inches.
4. Shape the Top: To form the point of the trunk where it meets the canopy, decrease at each edge of the trunk over the next 4 rows. On the RS rows, K2tog at the beginning and end of the trunk section. You will have 4 sts remaining in WB.

Shaping the Tree Canopy

1. Switch to Canopy Color: On the next RS row, switch the trunk sts from WB to Moss Green (MG).
2. Increase for Canopy: Begin increasing (M1) at each edge of the canopy section every other row (on RS rows) until the canopy is 20 sts wide. This will create a rounded, bushy shape.
3. Work Even: Work even (no increases) for 2 inches.
4. Decrease for Canopy: Decrease (K2tog) at each edge of the canopy every other row until 8 sts remain.
5. Bind Off: Bind off these 8 sts. Your tree is complete! You can now cut the MG yarn and continue with only FG.

Knitting the Gnome Figure

The gnome sits to the right of the tree, about 4 inches from the bottom of the body. We’ll use intarsia to create his body, beard, and hat.

1. Position the Gnome: Count 4 inches up from the bottom of the body (the top of the mossy ground). On a RS row, you will begin the gnome. He is positioned to the right of the tree, leaving about 10-12 sts of FG between the tree and the gnome.
2. Gnome’s Body (Rust Orange): Using RO, work a 6 st by 6 inch rectangle. This is the gnome’s tunic. Work this in stockinette, carrying FG on both sides.
3. Gnome’s Beard (Cream): Above the body, switch to CR. The beard is a 4 st by 2 inch triangle. Start with 4 sts and decrease (K2tog) at each edge on RS rows until you have 2 sts, then K2tog to finish the point.
4. Gnome’s Hat (Soft Yellow): Above the beard, switch to SY. The hat is a 6 st by 3 inch triangle. Start with 6 sts and decrease (K2tog) at each edge on RS rows until you have 2 sts, then K2tog to finish the point.
5. Add Details with Duplicate Stitch: Once the knitting is done, use your tapestry needle and duplicate stitch to add:
   • A small Warm Brown (WB) belt across the middle of the rust-orange body.
   • A small Cream (CR) pom-pom at the very tip of the yellow hat.

Finishing the Background

1. Continue in FG: After the gnome is complete, continue working the FG background in stockinette stitch until the entire piece measures 16 inches from the cast-on edge. End with a WS row.

Part 3: The Sky and Stars (Top Border)

Now we’ll create the starry night sky at the top of your tapestry.

1. Switch to Cream: Switch to Cream (CR) yarn.
2. Work Even: Work in stockinette stitch for 2 inches.
3. Add Stars: On the first RS row of this section, use duplicate stitch to add small Soft Yellow (SY) stars. Each star is a simple cross of 5 stitches. Scatter them randomly across the cream section for a magical effect.

Part 4: Finishing and Hanging

1. Bind Off: Bind off all 60 sts loosely. This prevents the top edge from curling.
2. Weave in Ends: Carefully weave in all loose yarn ends with your tapestry needle.
3. Block Your Work: Gently block the piece to even out the stitches and relax the yarn. This will help it hang beautifully.
4. Create the Casing: Fold the top edge (the cream section) over your wooden dowel or branch. Sew down the folded edge to create a casing for the dowel to slide through.
5. Trim and Hang: Trim any remaining loose yarn. Slide the dowel through the casing, hang it on your wall, and enjoy your handcrafted woodland gnome wall hanging!

You’ve just created a beautiful, one-of-a-kind piece of art that brings a touch of the enchanted forest into your home. This project is perfect for relaxing evenings and makes a wonderful, heartfelt gift. Happy knitting!