This tie began as a funky striped yarn that was just begging to be made into a snake. The snake, knit from the tongue to the tail, was originally gifted as a child's scarf, but after Daddy snatched up the snake up for Wacky Tie day, his full potential was realized. And so (thanks to Aaron Visser) I give you Monty the Python! Monty is quick to knit and is a great project for those novelty yarns that you really had no idea what to do with! He also makes great scarves for little ones and can be stuffed before seaming to become a snakey toy. Two different ways to make the tongue and eyes makes this project perfect for a beginner or an intermediate knitter.
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Width: 5 inches Length: 6o inches (Adult) or 45 (Child)
MATERIALS
[MC] any DK, Worsted, or Aran Weight will work
GREEN SNAKE: GGH Milano [Nylon, wool, acrylic; 88yd/8om per 50g skein]; color:006 (green) 2 skeins BLUE SNAKE: Amerah by South West Trading Company [ $100\%$ silk; 97yd/89m per 50g skein]; color:273 (denim) 2 skeins [CC1] Knit Picks Essential Sock yarn [nylon, merino; 231yd/211m per 50g skein]; color: coral, roughly $3^{-5}\mathrm{m}$ is needed, so any left over pink fingering weight will work just fine. [CC2] Patons Canadiana [acrylic; 241yd/220m per 100g skein]; color: white, roughly 3m is needed, so any left over worsted weight will work. [CC3] Patons Canadiana [acrylic; 241yd/220m per 100g skein]; color: black, roughly $0.5\mathrm{m}$ is needed, so any left over worsted weight works. 1 US #2/2.75 mm double-point needles OR 1 US #2/2.75 mm circular needle (any length)
1 US #2/2.75 mm double-point needles OR 1 US #9/5.5 mm circular needle (any length) GAUGE 15 sts/28 rows $\mathsf{\Delta}=4^{\mathsf{\,>}}$ in stockinette stitch
PATTERN NOTES
Bobble Eye To make bobble, with CC2: K1,P1,K1 into stitch, turn Purl back across 3 sts, turn K1, M1, K1, M1, K1, turn Purl back across 5 sts, turn Knit across 5 sts, turn Purl back across 5 sts, turn SSK, K1, K2tog, turn Purl back across 3 sts, turn With MC, K3tog,
PATTERN Tongue Easy tongue (on green snake):
With US size 2, cast on 5 sts with CC1, knit in garter stitch for 1 inch (for a longer, sillier tongue, knit for 2 inches), R1. Knit 2, knit 2 tog, knit (this forks the tongue, place the first 2 stitches on a stitch holder and work 2 sides separately) R2.P2 R3.K2tog R4. Bind off st, weave in end R5. Repeat rows 2-4 on other side of tongue Pick up 5 sts on either side of tongue as close to CO edge as possible (10 sts)
Advanced tongue (on blue snake): This is essentially making a little strip that when folded, is like a picot cuff on a sock (easier on circulars than dpns). With US size 2, andCC1,hold twodpns or 2 needes of acircular paralll and,using a figure8 cast n method, CO 10 sts (5 on each needle). Knit around each needle once. Now you have a little mini strip 5 sts wide with a needle at each end, knit ONE SIDE/NEEDLE ONLY in stockinette for about an inch (for a longer, sillier tongue, knit for 2 inches). Next row, k2, k2tog, k1 (4sts) P2 tog, YO, YO, P2tog K, Knit first yo through front, knit second yo through back, K K2, M1, K2 with ahole in the middle.Fold the strip with the wrong side facing out, so the hole is at thefold.Stith up the sides of the strip and then using a pencil or knitting nede, push itright side out nitted ide out) and you have a little tongue with two needles at the base
Head
Switch to larger needles and MC R1 : Knit in Round, PM, K5, PM K5 R2: \*Slip marker, K1, M1, K3, M1, K1\* x2 (14 sts) R3: Knit in round R4: \*Slip marker, K1, M1, knit until 1 before marker, M1. $\mathbf{K}1^{*}\textbf{x}2$ (18 sts) \*Repeat rounds 3 and 4, 5 more times, 38sts around R15: Knit R16: Knit R17: As R4 (42 sts) \*Repeat R15, 16 and 17 once more (46 sts) Knit in stockinette for 4 rounds \*Place eyes If you don't want to make bobble eyes, simply knit a few more rows into the pattern and sew in googlie eyes (a.k.a. wiggle eyes). Knit 7 sts with MC, MB, Knit 7sts with MC, MB, Knit to end of round in MC With CC3 embroider pupils onto the bobble eyes With MC, Knit in stockinette for 3 rounds R28: \*Slip Marker, K1, SSK, knit to 3 before marker, K2Tog, $\mathbf{K}1^{*}\textbf{x}2$ Repeat R28 7 more times, 18 sts on needles (9sts between markers)
Body
Knit in round until snake measures 55 inches $\left[140\mathrm{cm}\right)$ from tip of head for an adult length tie or 40 inches $(102\mathrm{cm})$ for a child length tie
Tail
R1: \*Slip Marker, K1, SSK, knit to 3 before marker, K2Tog, K1\* x2 Knit 3 rounds in stockinette (14sts) R5: \* Slip Marker, K1, SSK, knit to 3 before marker, K2Tog, K1\* x2 Knit 2 rounds in stockinette (10sts) R8: \* Slip Marker, SSK, K1, K2tog\* x2 R9: Knit (6sts) R10: K3tog x 2, Break yarn and thread through remaining two stitches.
FINISHING
Weave in ends and IF MATERIAL PERMITS iron tie.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Rowan is a paleontology graduate student at the University of Southern California studying ancient coral reefs. She grew up on a farm (with sheep) in Alberta, Canada and was taught how to knit by her mother. Rowan delights in trying new knitting tricks at night while struggling with her PhD during the day. Sadly Rowan was not named after the yarn company... and has, in fact, never actually knit with Rowan yarn.
