Looking for a colorful and fun crochet project? Crochet this Rainbow Snake Pattern with Light Weight Yarn [3] and a 3.25 mm (D) crochet hook. I have provided instructions to make this cute amigurumi snake in 2 different sizes and you will find my free written pattern in the post below.

Disclaimer: The yarn used to create these patterns was given to me by Lion Brand Yarns.

This is a very affordable crochet project to make. You can make 5 large snakes with just one cake of Lion Brand Mandala Baby yarn. The large crochet snake measures 36.25 inches long (not including the tongue) and 3.25 inches in circumference.

I have also included a Small Stripey Snake pattern for those who do not want to make the long toy snake! To make one small crocheted snake, you will need just 1 Mandala Craft Cake! The small stripey snake measures approximately 13 inches in length (not including the tongue) and 2.25 inches in circumference (when stuffed).

I designed my amigurumi snake as part of the 2023 Softie Crochet Along.

My daughter has been asking for a Rainbow Snake for quite some time so when Lion Brand offered to give us the yarn for this year’s crochet along, I promptly selected the Rainbow Falls Mandala Baby Yarn for her snake. Darla wanted her snake to be extra long, so I also requested the Mandala Craft Cake set to make a smaller version.

Whichever version of my pattern you decide to crochet I hope you enjoy the free pattern and your finished snake!

Free Crochet Snake Patterns

Supplies

• Yarn: Lion Brand Mandala Baby. 5.3 oz (150 g) and 590 yds (540 m). 100% Acrylic. Light Weight Yarn [3]. Machine washable and dryable. 
• Yarn Option 2: Lion Brand Mandala Craft Cake. 1.2 oz (35 g) and 88 yds (81 m). 100% Acrylic. Light Weight Yarn [3]. Machine washable and dryable.
• Color: 1 cake Rainbow Falls (Color: 201BQ) for Lion Brand Mandala Baby, or your favorite Lion Brand Mandala Craft Cake color.
• Crochet Hook: 3.25 mm (D) 
• Finished Project: Large Snake: 1.12 oz (30 g) and 118 yds (108 m)
• Two 12 mm black safety eyes for the LARGE SNAKE (two 9 mm black safety eyes for the SMALL SNAKE), Scissors, Tapestry Needle (yarn needle), Stitch Marker (optional)

Difficulty Level

• Easy

Finished Size

• LARGE SNAKE: Snake length approximately 33 inches X 3.25 inches around
• SMALL SNAKE: Snake length approximately 13 inches X 2.25 inches around
• Tongue adds approximately 1 inch in length

Gauge

• LARGE SNAKE: Approximately 5 sts per inch and 7 rows per inch.
• SMALL SNAKE: Approximately 7 sts per inch and 7 rows per inch.

You can substitute any yarn and hook for this stitch pattern – just remember when you substitute if your gauge is different, the finished size, and amount of yarn used for your project will also be different.

Abbreviations

Crochet Stitch Dictionary

US Terminology used

• ch – chain 
• DMR – double magic ring
• g- grams
• hdc – half double crochet
• m – meters
• oz – ounces
• picot – picot (*see special stitches)
• Rnd – round
• rem – remaining
• sc – single crochet
• sc2tog – single crochet 2 stitches together (decrease)
• sk – skip
• sl st – slip stitch
• st/sts – stitch/stitches
• yds – yards
• * to **– Repeat the instructions between the asterisks the number of times indicated. This repeat will contain multiple instructions.
• [ ] – at the end of the row – the total number of stitches
• ( ) – important notes AND sets of stitches to be worked within one stitch, or space

Special Stitches

Picot

The picot is made by chaining 3, then making a slip stitch into the third chain from the hook. This stitch is only used for the snake’s tongue.

Helpful Tutorials

• Crochet Stitch Guide 

Notes:

• Do not slip stitch to join. 
• I used invisible decreases for my sc2tog. See this tutorial if you’d like to try the invisible single crochet.
• Make color changes on the last yarn over of the last stitch of the round. Tie off unused colors on the inside of the snake. Do not carry unused yarn (LARGE SNAKE).
• Stuff the toy as you go. Add fiberfill after approximately 10 rounds. Do not overstuff. 
• I rolled each color section into a separate ball of yarn. You may use as many or as few colors as you like for the snake. I used 11 colors for my large snake. If you are using black safety eyes for the snake, I recommend that you do not use black yarn for the snake’s head; just because it can be more difficult to see them on the dark yarn.
• Add this Crochet Snake Pattern to your Ravelry library here.

Crochet Snake Patterns

This project is crocheted in continuous rounds.

Large Rainbow Crochet Snake Pattern

Using your 3.25 mm (D) crochet hook (or size required for gauge):

Large Rainbow Snake Head

Rnd 1: With your chosen head color: Make 6 sc in a DMR. [6 sc]

Rnd 2: 1 sc and 2 hdc in the first st, 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, 2 hdc and 1 sc in the next st, 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts. [6 sc, 4 hdc]

Rnd 3: 1 sc in the first st, 2 sc in each of the next 2 sts, 1 sc in each of the next 3 sts, 2 sc in each of the next 2 sts, 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts. [14 sc]

Rnd 4: 1 sc in each st around. [14 sc]

Rnd 5: 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, 2 sc in each of the next 2 sts, 1 sc in each of the next 6 sts, 2 sc in each of the next 2 sts, 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts. [18 sc]

Rnd 6: 1 sc in each st around. [18 sc]

Rnd 7: 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, 2 sc in the next st, 1 sc in the next st, 2 sc in the next st, 1 sc in each of the next 6 sts, 2 sc in the next st, 1 sc in the next st, 2 sc in the next st, 1 sc in each of the next 4 sts. [22 sc]

Rnd 8 – Rnd 13: 1 sc in each st around. [22 sc]

Rnd 14: 1 sc in each of the next 4 sts, sc2tog, sc2tog, 1 sc in each of the next 7 sts, sc2tog, sc2tog, 1 sc in each of the next 3 sts. [18 sc]

Rnd 15: 1 sc in each st around. [18 sc]

Place the eyes in Rnd 10 with 6 stitches between. 

Rnd 16: 1 sc in each of the next 5 sts, sc2tog, 1 sc in each of the next 7 sts, sc2tog, 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, changing yarn colors on the last yarn over of the last stitch. [16 sc]

Large Rainbow Snake Body

If you are making a multicolored snake, change to your new yarn color on the last yarn over of the last stitch of each repeat section (every 10 rounds). I crocheted my Rainbow Snake with 11 different colors from the one Mandala Baby yarn cake.

Rnd 17-Rnd 26: 1 sc in each st around. Change to new color on the last yarn over of the last st of the round. [16 sc]

Rnd 27-Rnd 196: Rep Rnd 17-Rnd 26

Rnd 197-Rnd 199: 1 sc in each st around. [16 sc]

Rnd 200: Sc2tog, 1 sc in each rem st around. [15 sc]

Rnd 201-Rnd 203: 1 sc in each st around. [15 sc]

Rnd 204: Sc2tog, 1 sc in each rem st around. [14 sc]

Rnd 205-Rnd 206: 1 sc in each st around. Change to new color on the last yarn over of the last st of the round. [14 sc]

Rnd 207-Rnd 216: Rep Rnd 197-Rnd 206 [12 sc]

Rnd 217-Rnd 219: 1 sc in each st around. [12 sc]

Rnd 220: Sc2tog, 1 sc in each rem st around. [11 sc]

Rnd 221-Rnd 223: 1 sc in each st around. [11 sc]

Rnd 224: Sc2tog, 1 sc in each rem st around. [10 sc]

Rnd 225: Sc2tog, 1 sc in each rem st around. [9 sc]

Rnd 226: Sc2tog, 1 sc in each st around. [8 sc]

Rnd 227: 1 sc in each st around. [8 sc]

Rnd 228: Sc2tog around. [4 sc]

Proceed to finishing instructions.

Small Stripey Crochet Snake Pattern

Using your 3.25 mm (D) crochet hook (or size required for gauge):

Small Stripey Snake Head

Rnd 1: With your chosen head color: Make 6 sc in a DMR. [6 sc]

Rnd 2: 1 sc and 2 hdc in the first st, 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, 2 hdc and 1 sc in the next st, 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts. [6 sc, 4 hdc]

Rnd 3: 1 sc in the first st, 2 sc in each of the next 2 sts, 1 sc in each of the next 3 sts, 2 sc in each of the next 2 sts, 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts. [14 sc]

Rnd 4: 1 sc in each st around. [14 sc]

Rnd 5: 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, 2 sc in each of the next 2 sts, 1 sc in each of the next 6 sts, 2 sc in each of the next 2 sts, 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts. [18 sc]

Rnd 6: 1 sc in each st around. [18 sc]

Rnd 7: 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, 2 sc in the next st, 1 sc in the next st, 2 sc in the next st, 1 sc in each of the next 6 sts, 2 sc in the next st, 1 sc in the next st, 2 sc in the next st, 1 sc in each of the next 4 sts. [22 sc]

Rnd 8 – Rnd 13: 1 sc in each st around. [22 sc]

Rnd 14: 1 sc in each of the next 4 sts, sc2tog, sc2tog, 1 sc in each of the next 7 sts, sc2tog, sc2tog, 1 sc in each of the next 3 sts. [18 sc]

Rnd 15: 1 sc in each st around. [18 sc]

Place the eyes in Rnd 10 with 6 stitches between. 

Rnd 16: 1 sc in each of the next 5 sts, sc2tog, 1 sc in each of the next 7 sts, sc2tog, 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, changing yarn colors on the last yarn over of the last stitch. [16 sc]

Small Stripey Snake Body

If you are making a multicolored snake, change to your new yarn color on the last yarn over of the last stitch of each repeat section. I crocheted my Stripey Snake with 4 different colors from my Mandala Craft Cake. I changed color every 3 rounds.

TIP: To make my small snake neater, I made sure I had 3 rounds of each color showing on the top of the snake and fudged to keep my color changes on the underside of the snake. If you prefer you can use a stitch marker and make your changes on the exact stitch of each round as written below.

Rnd 17-Rnd 19: 1 sc in each st around. Change to new color on the last yarn over of the last st of the round. [16 sc]

Rnd 20-Rnd 72: Rep Rnd 17-Rnd 19

Rnd 73-Rnd 74: 1 sc in each st around. [16 sc]

Rnd 75: Sc2tog, 1 sc in each rem st around. [15 sc]

Rnd 76-Rnd 85: Rep Rnd 73 and Rnd 74 [10 sc]

Rnd 86: 1 sc in each st around. Change to new color on the last yarn over of the last st of the round. [10 sc]

Rnd 87: Sc2tog, 1 sc in each rem st around. [8 sc]

Rnd 88: 1 sc in each st around. [8 sc]

Rnd 89: Sc2tog around. [4 sc]

Proceed to finishing instructions.

Snake Tongue for both snakes

LARGE SNAKE: I used red, SMALL SNAKE: I used black.

R1: Ch 5, picot, picot, 1 sl st in each of the first 5 chs. [5 sl st, 2 picots]

Proceed to finishing instructions.

Finishing Instructions for both snakes

Snake Tail: Finish off, leaving a 4 inch tail of yarn. Thread the yarn tail on your needle and close the small hole remaining in the tail by weaving the yarn tail in and out of the last round of stitches and pull to tighten and close. Weave the end in securely so the tail does not reopen. Weave remaining yarn tail into the inside of the snake. See this tutorial for help.

Snake Tongue: Finish off leaving a 4 inch tail of yarn. Sew the snake tongue in place on Rnd 1 of the snake using the 2 yarn tails. Secure the tongue with a couple stitches on both sides and through the middle of the one edge. Weave the end in inside the snake.

Did you remember to make your Ravelry Project Page? (How to Make a Ravelry Project Page.)

Add your crochet snake project page to Ravelry here.

Social Media Posts

If you’re looking for something bright and fun to crochet, then this Rainbow Snake Pattern is perfect for you! With a light weight yarn and a 3.25 mm (D) crochet hook, you will be able to create a vibrant amigurumi snake in two different sizes. In the step-by-step instructions provided in this post, you will learn how to make the snake from start to finish. You can also find the free written pattern included with the post. Get ready to be amazed at your own colorful creation!

🐍🌈 Crocheting up something fun and bright? 🤩 Check out my free Rainbow Snake Pattern to make this adorable amigurumi! 🧶 #snakeamigurumi #colourfulcrochet #crochetaddict

Let your inner artist shine and crochet some rainbow vibes with this super cute and fun amigurumi snake pattern! Check out my post for a free and detailed written pattern to make this project using light weight yarn and a 3.25mm crochet hook 🌈🐍

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