Inspiration in Tiny Ways: Om Like a Gnome

Sometimes inspiration comes from the smallest and most unexpected places.

In this case, it came from a tiny, two-inch gnome sitting on my desk at work.

He’s just a little figurine I picked up at the dollar store. Nothing fancy or expensive. Just a cute little gnome sitting peacefully in meditation.

One day at work, I happened to glance over at him and thought, Gee, I wish I could just om like a gnome.

And then I stopped.

Wait a minute. Om like a gnome?

Now THAT sounded like something I could have some fun with!

I grabbed my phone and took a picture of my little desk companion so I wouldn’t forget the idea by the time I got home.

From Tiny Gnome to Big Idea

That same evening, I opened Stitch Fiddle and started playing around with a design.

I knew I wanted the meditating gnome to be the centerpiece, with the words “Om Like a Gnome” above him. Of course, getting an idea out of my head and into an actual pattern is rarely quite as straightforward as it sounds.

I changed the lettering several times, adjusting the layout until I was happy with how everything fit together.

By the next day, I was already picking out yarn colors for an afghan. And the day after that, I started crocheting!

Sometimes an idea sits around for weeks or months before I do anything with it. This one apparently wasn’t interested in waiting. 🤣

A Little Changing Along the Way

Even after I started crocheting, the design wasn’t quite finished.

As the gnome began taking shape, I found myself making adjustments to the pattern. A little change here, a few stitches there, and sometimes a bigger adjustment when something didn’t look quite the way I’d imagined.

That’s one of the things I enjoy about designing. A pattern might look great on the computer screen, but seeing it come to life in yarn can give you a whole new perspective.

I wanted this gnome to look just right, so I kept tweaking things as I went.

And slowly, row by row, my little idea became one very large gnome!

A Cozy Place to Om

The finished afghan measures approximately 55 by 60 inches, so there’s plenty of room to snuggle underneath it.

I knew from the beginning that I wanted something generously sized. Something cozy enough to wrap around myself on a chilly evening while sitting in my recliner, reading, relaxing, or perhaps even attempting a little meditation.

I love the way the shades of gray work together, with the white gnome and lettering standing out against the striped background.

And there’s something amusing about having a giant meditating gnome to wrap up in when you’re trying to find a little peace and quiet.

I haven’t quite mastered the art of om-ing like a gnome myself.

But maybe one of these days I’ll get there!

Inspiration Really Is Everywhere

I think my favorite part of this project is remembering where it started.

Not with some grand plan or elaborate design session, but with a tiny dollar-store figurine sitting on my desk.

A passing thought, a silly little rhyme, and a quick picture on my phone turned into an entire afghan.

It’s a nice reminder that inspiration doesn’t always announce itself in a big way. Sometimes it’s sitting quietly right in front of you, waiting for you to notice.

And sometimes, the tiniest inspiration turns into something big enough to wrap yourself in.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a gnome to curl up with. Maybe he’ll teach me how to om. 😊

If you are interested in crocheting this super cozy blanket, check out the Om Like a Gnome Pattern in my shop.