From SEW NEWS January '94 Issue

snake

MATERIALS
Poplin fabric: 1/8 yard of white; 6"x9" remnant of red
Several 6"x10" remnants of different colored and textured fabrics.
Small scrap of black felt for pupil and nostrils
Small scrap of white satin for eyes
Small scrap of fusible transfer web
Polyester fiberfill
Black and white thread
Pattern tracing cloth
Purchased or homemade rattles (see instructions earlier in this article under "Tiny Tidbits")

CONSTRUCTION
Note: Stitch right sides together using 5/8" seam allowances unless otherwise noted; press the seam allowances open.
Enlarge the snake patterns in Figure 9 onto pattern tracing cloth.



From the white fabric, cut two head tops and one head bottom. Cut the mouth top and mouth bottom from red fabric. Decide the snake body length and cut the desired number of 5 3/4" X 9 1/4" body pieces, each from a different fabric. Cut one tail from the desired fabric. Cut two eyes from the white scrap and two pupils and nostrils from the black felt.
Stitch the head top pieces together along the upper curve. Clip the curve and press the seam open.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions to fuse the transfer web to the eye, pupil and nostril pieces; remove the paper backing. Fuse the pieces to each side of the head top where indicated on the pattern.
Using black thread, satin stitch around the eye pieces. Straight stitch around the pupil inner edges. Stitch an "X" inside each nostril (Figure 10).



Pin the head bottom to the head top and stitch from the head back to the squares (Figure 11).



Stitch the mouth top to the mouth bottom along the back straight edge, matching markings.
Baste 5/8" and 1/4" from head bottom outer edge (Figure 12).



Pin the mouth to the head, matching the marks and pulling the basting stitches on the head bottom to ease in the fullness; stitch (Figure 13). Grade the seam allowances and clip the curves. Turn the head right-side-out and set aside.
Stitch the body section long edges together, matching center markings. Stitch the tail to the last body section, matching center markings.



Fold the body in half lengthwise, right sides together. Beginning at the tail, stitch the body long edge, leaving the upper edge open (Figure 14).




Stitch the head to the body, leaving an opening at the throat for turning (Figure 15).



Turn the snake right-side-out and fill with fiberfill. Add a selection of rattles, squeakers and bells approximately every third section (try not to put them too close to one another). Slipstitch the opening closed.

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