Candy Stripe Snake Amigurumi Free Crochet Pattern

This candy stripe snake pattern looks way harder than it actually is. If you can single crochet in the round, you’re already 90% of the way there. That’s genuinely all the skill you need.

The stripes do all the heavy lifting. You just switch colors every few rounds, and suddenly you’ve got a snake that looks like it came from a candy shop. No fancy colorwork. No complicated charts.

Each snake ends up around 15 to 18 inches long. That depends on your tension and how many body rounds you decide to work. It’s the perfect size for small hands to drag around, but big enough to feel like a real toy.

Materials You’ll Need Before You Start

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Gather everything first. Trust me, hunting for a yarn needle halfway through a round is no fun.

• Yarn: Worsted weight in two or more colors works great
• Hook: Size that matches your yarn (check the label)
• Notions: Stitch marker, safety eyes, fiberfill stuffing, yarn needle, scissors

Gauge isn’t critical here. But you do want a tight fabric so the stuffing doesn’t peek through. If you can see gaps between your stitches, go down a hook size.

Stitches and Abbreviations Made Simple

Let’s break down every stitch you’ll use. Even total beginners can follow along.

Magic Ring (MR): An adjustable loop that closes completely with no hole in the middle. Wrap yarn around your fingers, pull up a loop, chain one, then work stitches into the ring. Pull the tail to close it tight.

Chain (ch): Yarn over, pull through the loop on your hook. Done.

Single Crochet (sc): Insert hook into the stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop. You’ll have two loops on your hook. Yarn over again and pull through both loops.

Increase (inc): Work two single crochet stitches into the same stitch. This adds one stitch.

Decrease (dec): Also called sc2tog or invisible decrease. Insert your hook through the front loops only of the next two stitches. Yarn over, pull through both front loops, yarn over again, pull through both loops on your hook.

Slip Stitch (sl st): Insert hook, yarn over, pull through both the stitch and the loop on your hook in one motion. Great for joining and finishing.

Fasten Off (FO): Cut your yarn leaving a tail. Pull the tail through the last loop to lock everything in place.

What Skill Level Do You Need?

This pattern suits confident beginners. If you’ve finished a few small projects and feel okay working in continuous rounds, you’re ready.

The only tricky part might be changing colors cleanly. Don’t worry, I’ll walk you through that part step by step.

The Complete Snake Amigurumi Pattern

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This snake works up in continuous rounds. That means you don’t join at the end of each round. You just keep spiraling upward. Use a stitch marker to track the start of each round and move it up as you go.

Head

You’ll begin at the nose and work toward the body.

Using your main color and a magic ring:

Round 1: 6 sc into magic ring, pull tight. (6 sts)

Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)

Round 3: Sc 1, inc repeat around. (18 sts)

Round 4: Sc 2, inc repeat around. (24 sts)

Rounds 5 through 8: Sc in each st around. (24 sts)

After Round 6, stop and attach your safety eyes. Place them between Rounds 4 and 5, about 6 stitches apart. Push the post through from the outside, then secure the washer on the inside. Check that they’re even before moving on. This is way easier before you stuff the head.

Round 9: Sc 2, dec repeat around. (18 sts)

Round 10: Sc in each st around. (18 sts)

Start stuffing the head firmly now. You want it to hold a nice round shape.

Body

Here’s where the stripes come to life. The body is just a long tube with color changes every 4 rounds. Want wider or narrower stripes? Just change colors more or less often.

Continue from the head with your main color:

Rounds 11 through 14: Sc in each st around. (18 sts)

Switch to contrast color:

Rounds 15 through 18: Sc in each st around. (18 sts)

Switch back to main color:

Rounds 19 through 22: Sc in each st around. (18 sts)

Keep alternating colors every 4 rounds until the body measures about 12 to 14 inches from the nose. That’s usually around 15 to 18 stripe sections.

Pro tip for clean color changes: On the last stitch before switching, insert your hook and pull up a loop with the old color. Then finish the stitch by pulling through with the new color. This puts the new color exactly where you need it and kills that annoying jog between stripes.

Stuff as you go. Add small bits of fiberfill every few inches. Don’t wait until the end, because you won’t be able to reach inside that narrow tube. Pack it firmly, but not so tight that your stitches stretch out.

Tail

Once your body hits the length you want, decrease to close the tail. Keep going in whatever color comes next in your stripe pattern.

Round 1: Sc 1, dec repeat around. (12 sts)

Round 2: Sc in each st around. (12 sts)

Round 3: Dec around. (6 sts)

Round 4: Dec around. (3 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a 6-inch tail. Thread it through the remaining stitches and pull tight to close. Weave in the end securely.

Tongue

The tongue is a simple chain you’ll fold and attach.

Using red yarn:

Ch 8, sl st in second ch from hook, sl st in next 2 ch, ch 4, sl st in second ch from hook, sl st in remaining ch. Fasten off, leaving a 6-inch tail.

This gives you a forked tongue shape. Sew it to the front of the head, just below and between the eyes. A few stitches through the center will hold it nicely. Add a tiny dot of fabric glue for extra security if this is going to a young child.

Finishing Your Snake

Weave in all remaining ends carefully. For amigurumi, I like to weave through several stitches, then back through in a different direction. This locks everything in place.

If you carried yarn up the inside during color changes instead of cutting it each time, make sure those strands stay hidden and don’t poke through.

Give your snake a good squeeze to spread the stuffing evenly. If some spots feel lumpy or thin, you can still add or rearrange stuffing through the stitches before the tail is fully closed.

Fun Pattern Variations to Try

The best part about this pattern? You can customize it in so many ways. Here are some ideas:

• Rainbow snake: Use a different color for every stripe section. Great for using up tiny yarn scraps.
• Gradient snake: Start dark at the head and shift to lighter shades toward the tail.
• Solid snake: Skip the stripes entirely for a fast, monochrome version.
• Extra long snake: Just keep adding body rounds. Some makers go 3 feet or more. These make awesome draft stoppers for doors.
• Different eyes: Try embroidered eyes for a fully baby-safe option. French knots in black yarn work beautifully.
• Rattle insert: Before closing the tail, slip a small rattle or bell inside, wrapped in stuffing to muffle it a bit. Instant baby toy.

Tips for Crochet Beginners

If this is one of your first amigurumi projects, here are a few things I wish someone had told me earlier.

Tight stitches are your best friend. The fabric should be dense enough that you can’t see stuffing through it. If your stitches look loose and gappy, grab a smaller hook.

Count your stitches. Especially in the head where you’re increasing. Check your stitch count at the end of each round. Fixing a mistake right away beats discovering it 20 rounds later.

Trust the spiral. Working in continuous rounds feels weird at first. That slight diagonal line where rounds end? Totally normal. It won’t show in the finished piece.

Take breaks. Amigurumi needs focus. If you’re losing count or making mistakes, step away for a bit. Fresh eyes make everything easier.

Why Handmade Snakes Make Great Gifts

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These candy stripe snakes are my go-to gift for kids. They’re quirky, colorful, and way more interesting than yet another teddy bear. Kids love them because they can wrap them around their necks, stuff them in backpacks, or make them slither across the floor.

For baby showers, these work wonderfully when you keep safety in mind. Use embroidered eyes, secure the tongue with extra stitching, and double-check that all ends are woven in tight.

Adults love them too, believe it or not. Something about that soft, squeezable body is oddly calming to hold during phone calls or TV time. FYI, they make surprisingly good stress relievers.

How Long Does This Pattern Take?

Most crocheters finish one snake in 2 to 4 hours. The head takes about 30 minutes. The body eats up most of your time, but it’s such mindless, relaxing crochet that it flies by. The tail and tongue take just a few minutes each.

This is a perfect project for car rides, waiting rooms, or binge-watching your favorite show. Once you find your rhythm, those repeat rounds barely need any attention.

You Might Also Like:

• Coral Citrus Lace Placemat Crochet Pattern
• Classic Cream Highland Cow Amigurumi Free Crochet Pattern
• Teal Fern Corset Top Crochet Pattern

Conclusion

I really hope you enjoy making these sweet little snakes as much as I did. They’ve become one of my most requested patterns from friends and family, and now you can make your own.

If you whip up one (or four, like me), I’d love to see it. Share a photo, tag your friends, and show off your colorful creation. IMO, these snakes deserve way more love than they get. Save this pattern for later so you can find it whenever the mood strikes. Happy crocheting, friend.