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-Ru.
Sneaky Snake! by Ruth H. Bennett
Hang on to your root beer!
(Get to know about Tom T. Hall’s childrens’ songs if’n you don’t get it!)
Sneaky snake will be a slitherin’ & a prancin’!
I hope Sam loves him.
I am following an early morning pattern vision for a snake that actually “slithers” rather than just layin’ there.
Super Simple & IMHO, Super Cute.
Yarn: DK wt variegated yarn (plus some stash yarn for eyes, tongue or optional fangs)
The snake shown is 3’ long & used about 150 yds of yarn.
Thank you Colleen for the gift of your stash bounty to design/make Sneaky for Sam!
Needles: set of 5 #4 dpns
Other Materials/Notions:
Size H/8 crochet hook
Size F/5 crochet hook
Poly Fiber-fil or stuffing of choice
Yarn needle
(optional: "safety snap-on"eyes or cute buttons if that’s the look you’re going for... A safety squeaker or rattle capsule to stuff inside if you want to go for maximum cuteness!)
Gauge: Not important, but in this case, 6 sts = 1”
(You could easily change the size of the snake by altering yarn & needle size. However, be careful to use a smaller size needle than the ball band calls for so your stuffing does not poof out)
With a looser gauge, this could be a cute felting project if you are into felting/fulling projects.
Head:
Round 1: Long Tail CO 8 sts on 4 dpns
Round 2: Join (place marker if needed) Knit
Round 3: K1, M1, K1 on each needle = 12 sts
Round 4: Knit
Round 5: dpn1)K1,M1,K2 dpn2)K2, M1, K1 dpn3)K1, M1, K2 dpn4)K2, M1, K1=16sts
Round 6: Knit
Round 7: dpn1)K1,M1,K3 dpn2)K3, M1, K1 dpn3)K1, M1, K3 dpn4)K3, M1, K1=20sts
Round 8: Knit
Round 9: dpn1)K1,M1,K4 dpn2)K4, M1, K1 dpn3)K1, M1, K4 dpn4)K4, M1, K1=24sts
Round 10: Knit
Round 11: dpn1)K1,M1,K5 dpn2)K5, M1, K1 dpn3)K1, M1, K5 dpn4)K5, M1, K1=28sts
Round 12: Knit
Round 13: dpn1)K1,M1,K6 dpn2)K6, M1, K1 dpn3)K1, M1, K6 dpn4)K6, M1, K1=32sts
Round 14: Knit
Round 15: dpn1)K1,M1,K7 dpn2)K7, M1, K1 dpn3)K1, M1, K7 dpn4)K7, M1, K1=36sts
Round 16: Knit
Round 17: dpn1)K1,M1,K8 dpn2)K8, M1, K1 dpn3)K1, M1, K8 dpn4)K8, M1, K1=40sts
Round 18: Knit
Round 19: dpn1)K1,M1,K9 dpn2)K9, M1, K1 dpn3)K1, M1, K9 dpn4)K9, M1, K1=44sts
Round 20: Knit
Round 21: dpn1)K1,M1,K10 dpn2)K10, M1, K1 dpn3)K1, M1, K10 dpn4)K10, M1, K1=48sts
Round 22-32: Knit
Round 33: (K2, K2tog)* =36 sts
Round 34: Knit
Round 35: (K1, K2tog)* =24 sts
Round 30-42: Knit (be sure to distribute 6 sts on each dpn & maintain marker for beg of round)
~Add Safety Eyes now (if that’ s what you had in mind for eyes) & begin to stuff with poly fiber-fil or roving as you go.
The Body:
Now, it is just a matter of making Sneaky Snake slither....
The body is basically a set of right-leaning or left-leaning slants interspersed with sections of plain knitting in the round!
During these slants, it is helpful to jog stitches back & forth between the needles to keep them evenly distributed, 6 on each needle. Believe me, it will make sense once you start.
Right Leaning Slant:
Round 1: dpn1) K1, M1, K4 dpn2) K4, PSSO dpn3) K2tog, K4 dpn4) K4, M1, K1
Round 2: Knit
Repeat these 2 rounds for 14 rounds, or 7 slants total. Be sure to maintain 24 sts for each round at all times.
Knit in the round for 7 rounds.
Left Leaning Slant:
Round 1: dpn1) K2tog, K4 dpn2) K4, M1, K1 dpn3) K1, M1, K4 dpn4) K4, PSSO
Round 2: Knit
Repeat these 2 rounds for 14 rounds, or 7 slants total. Be sure to maintain 24 sts for each round at all times.
Knit in the round for 7 rounds.
Continue to 8” before you want your snake to end.
(Snake shown has 5 left/right slants for 10 big kinks & 9 knit in the round sections total)
Remember to stuff the body as you go...
Now, make 2 smaller kinks:
Small Right Leaning Slant:
Round 1: dpn1) K1, M1, K4 dpn2) K4, PSSO dpn3) K2tog, K4 dpn4) K4, M1, K1
Round 2: Knit
Repeat these 2 rounds for 6 rounds, or 3 slants total. Be sure to maintain 24 sts for each round at all times.
Remember to stuff the body as you go...
Knit in the round for 5 rounds.
Small Left Leaning Slant:
Round 1: dpn1) K2tog, K4 dpn2) K4, M1, K1 dpn3) K1, M1, K4 dpn4) K4, PSSO
Round 2: Knit
Repeat these 2 rounds for 6 rounds, or 3 slants total. Be sure to maintain 24 sts for each round at all times.
Remember to stuff the body as you go...
Knit in the round for 5 rounds.
Tail Decreases:
Step 1: dpn1) K2tog, K4 dpn2) K4, PSSO dpn3) K2tog, K4 dpn4) K4, PSSO = 20sts
Step 2: Knit in round for 3 rounds
Step 3: dpn1) K2tog, K3 dpn2) K3, PSSO dpn3) K2tog, K3 dpn4) K3, PSSO = 16sts
Step 4: Knit in round for 5 rounds
Step 5: dpn1) K2tog, K2 dpn2) K2, PSSO dpn3) K2tog, K2 dpn4) K2, PSSO = 12sts
Step 6: Knit in round for 7 rounds
Step 7: dpn1) K2tog, K1 dpn2) K1, PSSO dpn3) K2tog, K1 dpn4) K1, PSSO = 8sts
Step 8: Knit in round for 9 rounds
Step 9: dpn1) K2tog dpn2)PSSO dpn3) K2tog dpn4) PSSO = 4sts
Step 10: Knit as i-cord on 2 dpns for 5 rounds
Step 11: BO & weave in ends.
A nice optional detail on the tail tip could be to stop decreases at 8 sts & begin working in garter stitch to create a “rattle” effect for the tail tip. (As Sneaky Snake subsists primarily on scavenged/unattended root beer such protective adaptations as fangs & rattles are unnecessary... Even counter-adaptative!) Continue for 3”, break yarn, pull yarn through the 8 loops, tie closed & weave in ends.
Forked Tongue:
Measure 1 yd. of stash yarn in desired color. Fold in half & use crochet hook to “hitch” tongue onto mouth (as you would add a fringe to a scarf).
( I gave an extra knot or two to reinforce the join. The tongue will get a lot of punishment if this is mean to be a toy for a child)
Use larger crochet hook (size H) to chain 12 (use both strands of yarn to do so).
Pull yarn through last loop to secure chain.
Switch to smaller crochet hook to individually ch 3 on each of the yarns used for the tongue to create a fork. I started the chain using the last loop available from the end of the tongue.
Tie off each end & trim. Be sure to leave a little bit of yarn showing so the knot will stay tied.
Optional Fangs:
Pick up 3 sts in white stash yarn along bottom front of mouth increase line.
Work as i-cord for desired length.
K2tog, k1.
B0. Weave in ends
Repeat on same place on the other side of the mouth.
Embroidered Eyes:
(CAUTION: You might want to have embroidery experience for this... Otherwise you will be extremely frustrated with these instructions!)
Mark out 2 9 st squares (3x3) evenly on desired area on top of head.
Use worsted weight white yarn to tie onto bottom right corner of marked square.
Leave 3” or 4” inches of tail dangling
Satin stitch for 6 stitches (2 passes for each knit row)
From right side of “square”, work 8 buttonhole stitches with the button hole “ridges” facing front. This will create a “scallop shell” looking eye white.
Tie both ends of white yarn together to pull scallop into a circle” facing front.
Weave in ends.
To make a pupil, tie black worsted yarn in 3 half-hitches (or overhand knots) over the bottom ‘join’ of the white yarn.
Weave in ends.
Repeat on the same place on the other side of the head.
Really, sew on felt eyes...Or, buttons if your intended recipient is over 3.
Whatever moves you.
Just remember, if you are adding "safety snap-on" eyes, you need to put those in before you stuff the head & move on the the body.
Embellish at will!
Be creative!
...Add beads as you knit him (or her, if you like)!
...Make flames come out of its mouth!
...Make a little Basilisk!
Or, add neck feathers & make your own knit Quetzalcoatl!
Please share pictures of your creations/adaptations with me... I’d love to see it!
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