Twirly Snake

Twirly Snake Knitting Pattern by Amanda Berry

What Is Being Made

The Twirly Snake is a playful knitted toy designed by Amanda Berry that features a distinctive spiral shape created through short-row knitting techniques. This intermediate-level project results in a three-dimensional stuffed snake that naturally twists and curls, making it an engaging handmade toy perfect for craft enthusiasts looking to create unique playthings or decorative pieces.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs short-row knitting as its primary shaping method, which creates the signature twirly spiral form that gives the snake its distinctive character. The short-row technique involves knitting back and forth across only a portion of stitches in each row, rather than working across all stitches, which naturally encourages the fabric to curl and twist into a three-dimensional spiral. Additionally, the pattern uses simple increases and decreases to shape the snake's body, allowing the designer to control the thickness and contours of the finished toy. These fundamental shaping techniques make this an ideal intermediate-level project for knitters who have mastered basic stitches and are ready to explore more advanced construction methods.

Stitches and Abbreviations

The Twirly Snake pattern utilizes basic knitting stitches including:

• k (Knit) – The fundamental knit stitch that forms the foundation of the fabric
• k2tog (Knit two stitches together) – A decrease technique that reduces stitch count by one and helps shape the snake's body

These straightforward stitches, combined with the short-row construction method, create the pattern's elegant spiral effect without requiring complex stitch work.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Twirly Snake is designed to be knitted with DK weight yarn (also known as double knitting, light worsted weight, or 8 ply). The pattern calls for 100% acrylic DK yarn, which provides durability and easy care for a toy that may require frequent washing. The recommended yardage includes:

• 100g skein in Dark Green
• 100g skein in Light Green
• A few grammes each in White and Red for accent details

The pattern specifically references Hayfield Bonus DK 100% Acrylic in the shades Petrol, Bright Green, White, and Signal Red as the yarn used in the photographed sample. However, any similar DK weight acrylic yarn in comparable colors will work well for this project, giving knitters flexibility in yarn selection while maintaining the intended finished appearance and texture.

Needles and Notions

To complete the Twirly Snake, knitters will need the following supplies:

• 3.5mm (US 4) single pointed needles – A minimum length of 20cm is required to accommodate the stitches comfortably
• Darning or tapestry needle – Essential for seaming the knitted pieces together and weaving in yarn ends
• 250g bag of toy filling – Polyester fiberfill or similar stuffing material to give the snake its three-dimensional shape and weight
• Two 6mm black buttons – Used for the snake's eyes, creating an expressive face
• Sewing needle and thread – Required to securely attach the buttons to the finished knitted head
• Stitch holder – Useful for temporarily holding stitches during the construction process

Pattern Difficulty and Suitability

Rated as an intermediate level pattern, the Twirly Snake is suitable for knitters who have completed basic projects and are comfortable with fundamental techniques. The pattern's use of short-row shaping introduces knitters to a valuable construction method that expands their technical skills, while the simple stitch vocabulary keeps the project accessible and enjoyable rather than overwhelming.