This is Spike. Spike wears a three-spiked hat not because she aspires to being a court jester--please, it’s too obvious!--but because she loves prime numbers. (Also because her hair stands up in three untameable spikes and the hat fits it perfectly, but she doesn’t like folks to know that.) Spike’s favorite season is winter, and she is always prepared for snow. Cocoa, anyone?

I love this one so much! That hat! The little hands in the little pockets! The roly-poly shape!

I was stuck in bed for days while working on this, so I watched all the accompanying tutorial videos. I usually only watch the videos if I have a question, and the patterns are always very clear so I don’t have a lot of questions, but I am so glad I watched these! Sarah Schira makes the absolute best instructional videos. I picked up some excellent tips and my gnome came out better because of it.

I did use larger needles as recommended for the spikes on the hat, but they’re still pretty stiff. I was going to steam-block them into submission, but I decided I quite like how they stand up and stick out.

Note that this one needed a lot more weighted stuffing than you might expect to make it stand properly. The base was too small for the 2” washers I like to use.