Sew a Softie - Silly Sweater Sleeve Snake and Scarf

Welcome back to Sew a Softie Month! This time we are using up-cycled sweater sleeves to make a stuffed snake! Leave out the stuffing and make a fun snake scarf! Ok, it is not exactly scarf weather here in New York in July, but someday it will be. Make your snake as short or as long as you like in any fun colors you can find. As usual, my favorite 12 year old is back!

You will need:

Sweater (or shirt) sleeves

Felt for the Tongue and Tail

2 buttons

Embroidery floss or Thread

Fiberfill or other stuffing

Needles

Scissors

Note:

Before you begin, you may want to wash the sweaters. A wool sweater will shrink and become denser depending on how hot the wash water is and how you dry it. I like to throw it into the washer and dryer and see what comes out. This will affect the size and shape of your snake, but that’s part of the fun.

To Make a Stuffed Snake:

1. For the Tongue, cut a small triangle from felt, about 1” x 2”. For the Tail, cut a large triangle from felt, about 4” x 5”.

2. Cut the sleeves off the sweaters if you haven’t already done so. Start with the sleeve that is going to be the head end. Cut one end of the sleeve into a curve. Insert the pointed end of the small triangle into the curve, at least 1/2”, between the two sides. Pin in place. 

3. Use a running stitch to sew the curve closed, catching in the point of the triangle. 

4. Sew on the two buttons for the eyes.

5. Stuff the sleeve about 3/4 full.

6. Take the next sleeve and insert it into the first sleeve, overlapping one end of the sleeve with the open end of the first sleeve about 1” and pin around the sleeve so you still have a tube. Sew the sleeves together, with a running stitch, around the circle of the sleeve openings. You can put your hand into the empty sleeve to help with the sewing. 

7. Stuff the last 1/4 of the first sleeve and 3/4 of the next sleeve.

8. Continue in the same way, stuffing the sleeve and then adding the next sleeve until you have sewn on as many sleeves as you like.

9. When your snake is as long as you would like, finish stuffing the snake fully.

10. Take the large triangle and insert the shortest straight side of the triangle into the end of the last sleeve, at least 1/2”. Pin the end flat, sandwiching the side of the triangle. Use a running stitch to sew the end closed, catching in the side of the triangle.

To Make a Snake Scarf:

1. Start the scarf the same way as the stuffed snake, sewing the tongue in and the buttons on for the eyes.

2. Take the next sleeve and insert it into the first sleeve, overlapping one end of the sleeve with the open end of the first sleeve about 1”. Pin them together flat. Sew the sleeves together, with a running stitch, through all four layers.

3. Continue in the same way, adding the next sleeve until you have sewn on as many sleeves as you like.

4. When your snake is as long as you would like, take the large triangle and insert the shortest straight side of the triangle into the end of the last sleeve, at least 1/2”. Pin the end flat, sandwiching the side of the triangle. Use a running stitch to sew the end closed, catching in the side of the triangle.