Free Crochet Pattern: Piper the Peppermint Snake

Happy Holidays!! It always blows my mind a little that such a festive time of the year can also be the most stressful time of the year. Between work parties, family gatherings and everyday life there’s suddenly a lot to do and not a lot of time to do it in. If you’re like me and turn to crochet for stress relief, finding a project to get you through this busy season is essential. That’s why I created this free crochet pattern: Piper the Peppermint Snake!

Piper is not only festive, but so easy and mindless that you can just relax into the stitches while watching your current Netflix obsession. (I totally made another snake while binging Wednesday.) So grab your supplies and a comfy seat and let’s dive in!

©2022 cbfiberworks. This pattern or it’s parts are not allowed to be redistributed, copied or resold. Any items handmade by you from this pattern may be sold, but please credit me (cbfiberworks) as the designer.

Free Crochet Pattern: Piper the Peppermint Snake

Tester Photos

If the classic red and white isn’t your thing, why not mix it up? Check out these amazing snakes from my lovely testers! Be sure to check them out on Instagram and give them some love!

Don’t want to deal with ads? You can get the printable, premium version of this pattern with 20+ photos and video tutorials in my Etsy and Ravelry shops!

Project Materials

• Yarn: Hobby Lobby I Love This Cotton (2 skeins)
  • Color A: White (82yds)
  • Color B: Burnt Sienna (82yds)
• 3.25mm hook
• 12mm safety eyes
• Stitch markers
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors
• Polyfil/stuffing
• Pipe cleaners/ wire (optional)

Stitch Abbreviations

(**) – See Project Notes section

• MR – magic ring (**)
• Sc – single crochet (**)
• Inc – increase (**)
• Dec – decrease (**)
• St(s) – stitch(es)
• Rnd – round

Project Notes

• Final dimensions: L: 31in x W: 2.5in
  • This length will vary depending on your yarn, hook, tension and the number of body rows you work.
• This project is written in US terminology.
• Unless otherwise specified, work in continuous rounds without using a slip stitch to join rows.
• Move stitch markers up each row as you go.
• Magic Ring: Create a magic ring and work the specified number of single crochet into it (ex. MR6 = 6sc into the ring).
• Single Crochet: Unless otherwise specified, this project uses the yarn under technique. Insert your hook into the stitch, yarn under, pull up a loop (2 loops on your hook), yarn under, and pull through both loops.
• Increase: work 2sc into the same stitch.
• Decrease: Unless otherwise specified, use the invisible decrease method. Insert your hook into the front loop of the next stitch, then insert your hook into the front loop of the following stitch, yarn over and pull through the first loop (3 loops on the hook), then yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on the hook.
• Changing Colors: In this pattern, always change colors in the last stitch stitch of the working color by finishing the stitch with the new color:
  • How to change colors: Insert your hook into the next st, yarn under, pull up a loop, then finish the sc by pulling through the last 2 loops with the second color.
  • When to change colors: Ex. Color A: 2sc, Color B: 2sc.
    • Work 2sc in Color A, then use the method above to change colors in the 2nd st.
    • Work 2sc in Color B, then change colors in the 2nd st.
  • Keep your floats loose: We’re using fair isle crochet in this pattern, which means you’ll have yarn running along the inside of your work. I suggest keeping the stitches where you change color just a little bit looser and you can always tug on the float to tighten it as needed. Check out this article for more info on Fair Isle crochet.
• Wire: Using wire in this project is optional and only needed if you want your snake to be poseable. I used pipe cleaners and connected them as I crocheted the body, but it’s not super stiff. So if you want something stronger, I recommend using a thicker wire wrapped in tape. If you’d like to check out the optional wire tutorial that accompanies this pattern, it’s included in the premium pdf version available in my Etsy and Ravelry shops!

Piper the Peppermint Snake Pattern

Head

Start by holding Color A and B together.

Rnd 0: form a MR, A: ch 1, sc, B: sc, A: sc, B: sc, A: sc, B: sc. (6)

NOTE: Starting this 2 color spiral can be a bit tricky at first, but there’s a helpful video tutorial for it in the premium version of this pattern. You can grab your pdf copy of this pattern in my Etsy and Ravelry shops!

Rnd 1: [A: inc, B: inc] 3 times. (12)

Rnd 2: [A: 2sc, B: 2sc] 3 times. (12)

Rnd 3: [A: inc, sc, B: inc, sc] 3 times. (18)

Rnd 4: [A: 3sc, B: 3sc] 3 times. (18)

Rnd 5: [A: sc, inc, sc, B: sc, inc, sc] 3 times. (24)

Rnd 6: [A: 4sc, B: 4sc] 3 times. (24)

Rnd 7: [A: inc, 3sc, B: inc, 3sc] 3 times. (30)

Rnd 8: [A: 5sc, B: 5sc] 3 times. (30)

Rnd 9: [A: 2sc, inc, 2sc, B: 2sc, inc, 2sc] 3 times. (36)

Rnds 10-12: [A: 6sc, B: 6sc] 3 times. (36)

Rnd 13: [A: 2sc, dec, 2sc, B: 2sc, dec, 2sc] 3 times. (30)

Place your safety eyes between Rnds 8-9 with one red stripe and one white stripe between them. (Your stitch marker will be at the top.)

Rnd 14: [A: sc, dec, 2sc, B: sc, dec, 2sc] 3 times. (24)

Rnd 15: [A: sc, dec, sc, B: sc, dec, sc] 3 times. (18)

Start stuffing the head, leaving a center gap for the wire. 

NOTE: Using pipe cleaners or wire is optional–it’s just to make your snake posable.

Body

Rnds 16-18: [A: 3sc, B: 3sc] 3 times. (18)

Finish stuffing the head and push the end of the wire into the head. Try to keep the wire in the center of the body and stuff around it as you go.

Make sure to pause and add stuffing every inch or so (about 6 to 8 Rnds).

Rnds 19-165: [A: 3sc, B: 3sc] 3 times. (18)

NOTE: In total, the body is 150 Rnds, but feel free to work more or less depending on how long you want your snake to be. When your snake is as long as you want, continue to Rnd 166 to start the tail.

Tail

Rnd 166: [A: dec, sc, B: dec, sc] 3 times. (12)

Rnds 167-168: [A: 2sc, B: 2sc] 3 times. (12)

Rnd 169: [A: dec, B: dec] 3 times. (6)

If you’re using wire, trim it now and tuck any sharp bits down inside the body.

Rnds 170-171: [A: sc, B: sc] 3 times. (6)

Fasten off and sew the remaining hole closed. Weave in any excess yarn tails.

You’re done!

Wrap Up

If you loved this pattern, be sure to Pin it for later and share it with your friends! And I’d love to see your beautiful peppermint snakes, so if you want to share your project with me, tag me on socials @cbfiberworks!

Did you know I have other fun and free holiday patterns? Check out Sid the Snowman and my Tree Ornament patterns right here!

Have a happy holiday and stay crafty!