Date: Thu, 18 May 1995 06:49:50 -0500 From: Harriet=Kay%NUCMED%UMASS@BANYAN.UMMED.EDU To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: Snake KNITTED SNAKE This was printed in Women's Day or Family Circle at least 25 years ago so I think it is safe to share it. Materials: approximately 6 oz of knitting worsted 6"x14" piece of red felt 6"x8" piece of yellow felt 8" pipe cleaner size 6 dp needles 1 lb polyester stuffing 2 3/4" buttons stitch holders Gauge: 6 sts = 1", 6 rows = 1" Cast on 12 sts, divide among 3 needles; mark beginning of each rnd. Knit around changing colors as desired. Inc 1 st on each needle (3 per rnd) every 1.5" 21 times--75 sts. Work even until piece measures 52". Dec 1 st on next rnd; break off yarn. MOUTH: Place first 19 and last 18 sts of rnd on a holder; place remaining sts on needle. Attach yarn and work even in st st for 2.5". Dec 1 st each end of next row, work 1" even. Dec 1 st each end of next and every 2nd row, 7 times in all. Bind of 2 sts beg next 4 rows; bind of remaining 13 sts. Place sts from holder onto needle. Attach yarn, work as for other section. Finishing: At bottom, run end of yarn through sts, pull up; fasten off. Cut red mouth and 2 yellow tongues. Sandwich pipe cleaner between; glue tongue sections together. Stuff snake loosely to within 2" of head. Sew on button eyes. Slip-stitch mouth in place leaving small opening. Finish stuffing; close opening. Slip-stitch straight edge of tongue inside mouth. HOW I ACTUALLY DO IT: I cast on 12 sts and work this flat, increasing 1 st each side approximately every 2" until snake is as tall as I am (5'2"). Then I work the mouth. The last one I made, I decreased to 37 sts and did a neck in garter st. Then I increased one stitch each side every other row for a while and then decreased, making a diamond shaped head (with a pattern stitch down the center). I use the finished knitting as the pattern for the mouth, which I usually make out of red fabric, the crazier the better. This last one will have a closed mouth with a red I-cord tongue sticking out. I do the seam on the sewing machine, leaving a large hole in the middle for stuffing. Before I turn it inside out, I sew a VERY LARGE bell to the seam with lots and lots of carpet thread. Then I leave a few inches above the bell empty of stuffing. For eyes, I cut three different sized circles out of three different colors of felt, stack and glue them onto the snake and then fasten more securely with a French knot in the center of each. My first snake (for my now 27-year-old son) was made from left over crewel wool knotted together somewhat at random. I made sure all the knots were on the purl side and considered them extra stuffing. The inside looked like a sickly hedgehog and DH keeps urging me to do one inside out. Would look fun but little fingers would probably have it apart in a minute. When using short lengths, I knot them together and make a ball out of the mess. These days I use longer lengths and practice new patterns up the snake. This is a good way to see how various color/pattern combinations work out because it basically doesn't matter what you do -- it will look wonderful. I usually need 1.5 pounds of polyester to do the stuffing and I finish the whole thing off with a pretty bow around the neck. I don't sew this to the snake 'cause I figure it is going to be the first thing to be taken away for the baby's safety. And then I "wrap" it in a plastic garbage bag because it is really very big. Despite its large size, the snake washes and dries quickly and easily. Since it is a toy, forget the dry clean only yarns but don't be afraid to mix fibers/colors/patterns. I have never had one come out "bad," no matter how crazy I got with it. Just have fun. WARNING: Do not give your snake a name. Once you put the eyes on, it becomes real and has a name. It will reveal this name to its child when it is ready. You can find the name out if you keep in touch and ask. [...] Harriet hkay@umassmed.ummed.edu --- This pattern downloaded from Wool Works: the online knitting compendium http://www.woolworks.org/