About This Pattern
This snake starts as a magic ring and ends as a tapered tail. Nothing gets sewn together. One hook, one strand, 61 rounds, start to finish. It fits into a quiet evening, maybe two if you savor it. It wants a gradient cake yarn, a stitch marker, and some patience for the long middle. That is all.
In the basket
Yarn
Hook
Notions
Optional
Abbreviations
- MR
- Magic Ring: An adjustable loop that closes completely at the center. You work your first round of stitches into this ring, then pull the tail to close the hole tight.
- ch
- Chain: The foundation stitch. Yarn over, pull through the loop on your hook.
- sc
- Single Crochet: Insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (two loops on hook), yarn over and pull through both loops. This is the only stitch you need for the entire pattern.
- inc
- Increase: Work two single crochet stitches into the same stitch. This adds one stitch to your count.
- dec
- Invisible Decrease: Insert hook through the front loops only of the next two stitches, yarn over and pull through both front loops, yarn over and pull through both loops on hook. This creates a neater decrease than the standard method.
- sl st
- Slip Stitch: Insert hook, yarn over, pull through stitch and loop on hook in one motion. Used only for closing.
- (XX sts)
- The number in parentheses tells you the total stitch count you should have at the end of that round.
Pastel rainbow snake plushie crochet pattern in one piece
Head Section
- Round 1Make a magic ring. Work 6 sc into the ring. Pull tail to close. Place marker in first stitch. (6 sts)
- Round 2Inc in each stitch around. (12 sts)
- Round 3*Sc 1, inc* repeat 6 times. (18 sts)
- Round 4*Sc 2, inc* repeat 6 times. (24 sts)
- Round 5*Sc 3, inc* repeat 6 times. (30 sts)
- Rounds 6–10Sc in each stitch around. (30 sts) – 5 rounds even At this point, your head should look like a rounded dome. This is where you will add the safety eyes.
Body Section
- Round 11*Sc 3, dec* repeat 6 times. (24 sts)
- Round 12*Sc 2, dec* repeat 6 times. (18 sts)
- Round 1350 Sc in each stitch around. (18 sts) – 38 rounds even This creates the long body of your snake. Yes, it is a lot of rounds. Put on a podcast. Get cozy. This is the relaxing, mindless part of the project.
Tip: Start adding stuffing when you have a few inches of body worked. It is much easier to stuff as you go than to try cramming filling down a long tube at the end.
Tail Section
- Round 51*Sc 1, dec* repeat 6 times. (12 sts)
- Rounds 52–55Sc in each stitch around. (12 sts) – 4 rounds even
- Round 56*Sc 1, dec* repeat 4 times. (8 sts)
- Rounds 57–60Sc in each stitch around. (8 sts) – 4 rounds even
- Round 61Dec 4 times. (4 sts)
- Rounds 62–64Sc in each stitch around. (4 sts) – 3 rounds even Add final stuffing now. Use a chopstick or stuffing tool to push filling all the way to the tail tip. Do not overstuff or the tail will look lumpy.Finishing: Cut yarn, leaving a 6 inch tail. Thread through yarn needle. Weave through the front loops of all 4 remaining stitches. Pull tight to close the hole. Weave in the end securely by running your needle back through the body several inches. Trim close.
Adding Safety Eyes
Stop here before continuing. Insert the safety eyes between Rounds 7 and 8, spacing them about 8-10 stitches apart. The placement is flexible. Put them where they look cute to you.
Push the post through from the outside, then secure the washer backing firmly from the inside. Once the backing is on, the eyes cannot be removed. Make sure you like the placement before committing.
The eyes in the photos sit fairly close together, giving the snakes that sweet, curious expression.
More pictures
Before the first stitch
- Check you have 80-100 yards of gradient or self-striping worsted yarn.
- Set a stitch marker in round 1, stitch 1, before you forget.
- Read through round 11 once, so the first decrease does not surprise you.
Minutes per piece
- Head Section about 20 minutes, because six rounds of shaping move fast
- Body and Tail Sections about 3-5 hours, because the body alone holds 38 even rounds
Other yarns that work
- Acrylic, worsted weight Same hook size works. Slightly less drape, but colors stay vivid and the toy holds its shape well.
- Cotton blend, worsted weight Firmer fabric, so stuffing shows less. Stitches may feel stiffer to work; consider a swatch first.
Where it ends up
- A soft toy for a child's shelf or play pile, paired with a small basket of other plush animals.
- A desk companion that curls around a monitor stand or stack of books.
- A travel toy that fits in a bag side pocket, easy to pack for a car ride.
Small notes
- Keep the stitch marker moving up every round. Continuous rounds have no join to orient you.
- Drop to a 3.5mm hook even if your yarn label suggests larger. Tighter stitches keep stuffing from peeking through.
- Stuff the body as you go, a few inches at a time. A long tube is hard to fill after the fact.
Little questions
Can I use a yarn cake instead of changing colors myself?
Yes, that is the easiest route. A gradient cake like the one in the photos handles the pastel shift automatically. You just crochet and watch the colors move.
Why does the pattern use continuous rounds instead of joining?
Joining leaves a visible seam line down the body. Continuous rounds spiral smoothly with no seam. The stitch marker is what keeps you oriented without that join.
How long is the finished snake?
The pattern does not state a finished length directly. It depends on your tension and the 61 total rounds worked. A swatch beforehand will give you a sense of scale.
Is the long body section boring to crochet?
It is 38 even rounds of single crochet, so yes, it is repetitive. I treat it as the easy part, good for a podcast or quiet thinking. Stuff it as you go so the ending feels quick.
Original pattern: https://bunnypatterns.com/rainbow-pastel-snake-plushie-free-crochet-pattern/
About the Author
Tamsin Okoro Who writes the patterns at Yarn Gallery, how a pattern gets from the hook to the page, and what this site will never do.
