DIY Garden Gnome Halloween Costume

Measure + Cut Felt

The first step in the process of becoming a gnome is to create the iconic hat. Begin by measuring the circumference of your head with measuring tape. Once the measurement has been determined, add approximately 5 inches for seam allowance and ideal fit. Cut the felt into a hypotenuse as seen here; this will make it easier to shape the hat into a cone. Pro tip: we created a hat that was 16 inches high and 27 inches in circumference, but something smaller would still get the point across.

Shape Gnome Hat

Once the felt has been cut out, lay it on a flat surface. Place a thin strip of hot glue along the shorter side of the cutout, approximately 1/2 an inch from the edge. While the glue is still malleable, roll the opposite edge over the top of the hot glue to create a cone shape. Once the hat has been formed, cut off any remaining felt at the base to create a rounded edge.

Add Eyebrows + Decor

Gently pull apart cotton balls creating looser and larger pieces. Reshape the pieces into oblong eyebrow shapes, and place them near the edge of the hat. Secure the eyebrows using a single line of hot glue. Instead of adding eyebrow detail, add some dried flowers and moss to construct a lovely she-gnome look.

Create Beard

For clean-shaven men or women that want to rock a beard, create a fluffy accessory to polish off the costume. First, cut a backing for the beard out of poster board. Next, using the same technique used for creating the eyebrows, gently pull cotton balls apart to create a wispy white beard. Secure the cotton balls with hot glue. Continue to shape the cotton until you achieve the perfect gnome beard. Finally, attach two pieces of yarn to the backside of the beard to make a tie.

Complete Your Look

To finish off your gnome costume, simply select clothing pieces that you already have on hand. For our he-gnome look, we chose the following items: a plaid shirt, neutral-colored pants, suspenders and boots. For the she-gnome look, a neutral colored dress, boots and a festive apron work perfectly. We found that a walking stick or a mini lantern took this look to the next layer of gnome heaven. Don your gnome hat and beard, and your transformation is complete!