Crochet Rainbow Snake – Free Crochet Pattern

There is something undeniably joyful about a crochet snake. Maybe it is the long, satisfying stretch of stitches that builds up row by row, or maybe it is the way a simple tube of yarn transforms into something that wiggles with personality the moment you stuff it and sew it shut. Whatever the reason, snakes have become one of those beloved crochet projects that beginners love for their simplicity and experienced crafters love for their creative potential. This rainbow snake pattern from GoldenLucyCrafts takes that joy to a whole new level by wrapping your project in every color of the spectrum, making it the perfect toy, decoration, or gift for anyone who loves a little color in their life.

Whether you are crocheting for a child who needs a new cuddle companion, making a sensory toy for a classroom, or just want a fun weekend project that uses up all those yarn scraps sitting in your craft basket, this free pattern has you covered. Read on for the full instructions, helpful tips, yarn recommendations, and everything else you need to make your very own crochet rainbow snake from start to finish.

Why You Will Love This Pattern

Before we dive into the hook and yarn, let us talk about what makes this particular snake pattern special. The rainbow color sequence is the obvious star of the show — working through red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet gives the finished piece a cheerful, eye-catching look that appeals to children and adults alike. But beyond the aesthetics, this pattern is genuinely beginner friendly. The body is worked entirely in the round using single crochet stitches, which means if you can make a magic ring and work in continuous rounds, you already have all the skills you need.

The construction is also wonderfully forgiving. Because you are building a long, rounded tube, minor tension inconsistencies or small stitch count variations are barely noticeable in the finished piece. That makes it an ideal project for someone who is still developing confidence in their gauge and tension. At the same time, there is enough repetition in the pattern that your hands will fall into a rhythm quickly, and those rainbow color changes give you natural stopping points if you need to put the project down and come back to it later.

The finished snake is also incredibly versatile. Stuff it firmly and it becomes a sturdy toy. Stuff it lightly and it becomes a floppy, draped decoration. Make it in earthy tones instead of rainbow colors and it looks like a realistic garden snake. Make it in metallics and it becomes a glamorous desk accessory. This pattern is really just a beautiful starting point for your own creativity.

Materials You Will Need

Getting your supplies together before you start is always a good idea, and for this project the list is refreshingly short.

Yarn: Worsted weight yarn in the following colors — red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet (or purple). You do not need a full skein of each color. Approximately 20 to 30 yards per color section is enough for a medium-sized snake, though you can work more or fewer rounds in each color to adjust the stripe width and overall length to your liking. This pattern is a wonderful stash-busting project, so reach for those leftover skeins from previous projects if you have them. Any brand of worsted weight yarn will work. Some crafters love the softness of Lion Brand Pound of Love or Caron Simply Soft for toys because they are machine washable and gentle against a child’s skin.

Hook: A 5mm (size H/8) crochet hook works well with most worsted weight yarns and gives you a firm enough fabric to conceal the stuffing inside. If you tend to crochet loosely, you might try a 4.5mm hook instead.

Stuffing: Polyfill stuffing, which is the standard fiberfill you find at any craft store, works perfectly. For a toy intended for young children, make sure you use a hypoallergenic, washable stuffing. You will need enough to fill the entire length of the snake, so have a generous bag on hand.

Stitch marker: A removable stitch marker or a small piece of contrasting yarn to mark the beginning of each round is extremely helpful since you will be working in continuous rounds.

Tapestry needle: You will use this to weave in your ends neatly at each color change and to sew the head closed at the end.

Safety eyes: Two black safety eyes in 12mm or 15mm are ideal for a medium snake. If you are making this for a child under three years old, embroider the eyes instead with black yarn to eliminate the choking hazard.

Optional: A small piece of red or pink felt or fleece fabric for the forked tongue, or you can crochet a simple chain for the tongue as well.

Gauge and Sizing

Gauge: Approximately 14 single crochet stitches and 16 rounds equals 4 inches using a 5mm hook and worsted weight yarn.

Finished size: Using the materials listed and following the pattern as written, the finished snake measures approximately 24 to 26 inches long with a body circumference of about 4 to 5 inches at its widest point. You can easily make the snake longer by adding more rounds to each color section, or shorter by reducing them.

Abbreviations

Throughout this pattern the following abbreviations are used. All stitches are standard United States crochet terms.

MR — Magic ring
ch — Chain
sc — Single crochet
inc — Increase (two single crochet stitches worked into the same stitch)
dec — Decrease (invisible decrease worked across two stitches)
sl st — Slip stitch
st — Stitch
sts — Stitches
PM — Place marker
BLO — Back loop only

Pattern Notes

This snake is worked from the tail end to the head end, in continuous spiral rounds unless otherwise stated. Do not join or turn at the end of each round unless the pattern specifically tells you to. Move your stitch marker up at the beginning of each new round to keep track of where you are.

When changing colors, finish the last stitch of the old color by pulling the new color through the final loop of that stitch. This creates a clean, smooth color join. Leave a tail of about six inches when you cut the old color, and weave it in securely on the inside of the tube once you have a few more rounds worked above it.

Because the body is a long tube, you will want to add stuffing gradually as you work rather than waiting until the end. Every fifteen to twenty rounds is a good time to pause and push fiberfill down into the section you have completed. This makes the process much easier and ensures even, smooth stuffing throughout the length of the snake.

The Pattern

Tail

Using red yarn, make a magic ring.

Round 1: Work 6 sc into the magic ring. Pull the ring closed tight. PM in the last stitch. (6 sts)

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

Round 3: (Sc in next st, inc in next st) 6 times. (18 sts)

Round 4: (Sc in next 2 sts, inc in next st) 6 times. (24 sts)

Round 5: (Sc in next 3 sts, inc in next st) 6 times. (30 sts)

Rounds 6 through 8: Sc in each st around. (30 sts)

The tail is now complete. You should have a rounded, slightly pointed tip that will form the narrow end of the snake.

Body — Red Section

Rounds 9 through 18: Sc in each st around. (30 sts)

Continue working in the established spiral. By round 18, the red section will be well established and you are ready to switch to orange.

Body — Orange Section

Switch to orange yarn at the beginning of round 19.

Rounds 19 through 30: Sc in each st around. (30 sts)

Body — Yellow Section

Switch to yellow yarn at the beginning of round 31.

Rounds 31 through 42: Sc in each st around. (30 sts)

Body — Green Section

Switch to green yarn at the beginning of round 43.

Rounds 43 through 54: Sc in each st around. (30 sts)

Body — Blue Section

Switch to blue yarn at the beginning of round 55.

Rounds 55 through 66: Sc in each st around. (30 sts)

Body — Violet Section

Switch to violet yarn at the beginning of round 67.

Rounds 67 through 78: Sc in each st around. (30 sts)

At this point you have completed one full rainbow sequence. If you would like a longer snake, simply repeat the color sequence starting from red again and continue until you reach your desired length. Each additional full color sequence will add approximately six to eight inches to the finished snake.

Head

The head section widens slightly to give the snake a more realistic, defined shape.

Continue with violet yarn, or switch back to red if you prefer the head to contrast with the body.

Round 79: (Sc in next 4 sts, inc in next st) 6 times. (36 sts)

Rounds 80 through 82: Sc in each st around. (36 sts)

Round 83: (Sc in next 5 sts, inc in next st) 6 times. (42 sts)

Rounds 84 through 88: Sc in each st around. (42 sts)

Before you begin the decreasing rounds, attach your safety eyes. Position them between rounds 84 and 85, approximately 7 to 8 stitches apart from each other on either side of the head. Press the safety eye posts through the fabric firmly and attach the washers tightly on the inside. If you are embroidering the eyes, you will add these after the head is closed and stuffed.

Now stuff the head firmly before you close it up. Make sure the entire body is filled with stuffing at this point too.

Closing the Head

Round 89: (Sc in next 5 sts, dec) 6 times. (36 sts)

Round 90: (Sc in next 4 sts, dec) 6 times. (30 sts)

Round 91: (Sc in next 3 sts, dec) 6 times. (24 sts)

Round 92: (Sc in next 2 sts, dec) 6 times. (18 sts)

Round 93: (Sc in next st, dec) 6 times. (12 sts)

Add any additional stuffing needed at this point to make sure the head is firm and nicely rounded.

Round 94: Dec 6 times. (6 sts)

Fasten off and leave a long tail. Using your tapestry needle, weave the tail through the front loops of the remaining 6 stitches and pull tight to close the opening completely. Knot securely and weave in the end on the inside.

Making the Tongue

The forked tongue is a fun finishing detail that really brings your snake to life. You have two easy options.

For a crocheted tongue, use red or pink yarn and join to the center front of the head just below the eyes. Chain 8, then slip stitch back along 4 chains to the midpoint. Chain 4 more from the midpoint and slip stitch back to the beginning. Fasten off and weave in ends. This creates the characteristic forked shape.

For a felt tongue, cut a narrow teardrop or oval shape from red or pink felt, then make a small snip at the rounded end to create the fork. Use a tapestry needle and a few small stitches of matching thread or thin yarn to attach it to the center front of the face.

Finishing Touches

Weave in all remaining yarn ends carefully. Because this is a toy that may see a fair amount of handling, take the time to weave each end in two or three directions to make sure nothing works its way loose over time.

If you want to give your snake a little extra dimension, you can use black yarn or embroidery floss to add a subtle smile or nostril dots just above the tongue attachment point. These tiny details add a lot of character and make each snake feel unique.

Give the finished snake a gentle hand wash if needed, reshape it while damp, and let it air dry fully before gifting or playing with it.

Tips for Customizing Your Rainbow Snake

One of the best things about this pattern is how easily it adapts to different styles and preferences. Here are a few ideas to spark your creativity.

Change the color order. The traditional ROYGBIV rainbow is classic, but there is no rule saying you have to follow it. Try a sunset palette moving through peach, coral, gold, and rust. Try an ocean palette in aqua, turquoise, navy, and seafoam. Try a pastel rainbow for a softer, more dreamy look. The tube construction works with absolutely any color combination.

Adjust the stripe width. In this pattern each color section is twelve rounds, which creates stripes of roughly equal width. You could make some stripes wider and some narrower for a more playful, irregular look, or you could work just four or five rounds in each color for tighter, more frequent stripes.

Make it longer. Simply repeat the color sequence as many times as you like. A snake that is three or four feet long becomes a dramatic, impressive piece that looks stunning draped over a couch arm or bookshelf.

Add a rattle. Before stuffing the tail section closed, place a small plastic rattle insert or a handful of dry rice in a small zip-lock bag inside the tail. The gentle sound adds a sensory element that young children tend to love.

Use different yarn weights. Working this pattern in bulky yarn with a larger hook will produce a thick, chunky snake very quickly. Working it in fingering weight yarn with a small hook will produce a tiny, delicate snake that would make a sweet ornament or keychain accessory.

Caring for Your Crochet Snake

If you are making this snake as a toy for a child, durability and easy care are important. Choose machine washable yarn and polyfill stuffing from the start. When it comes time to wash, place the snake in a mesh laundry bag and wash it on a gentle cycle in cold water. Lay it flat or hang it to air dry — the dryer’s heat can sometimes warp the shape of crocheted toys, though most acrylic and cotton yarns handle it fine on a low heat setting.

Check the safety eyes periodically if the snake belongs to a young child, and reinforce them if they ever feel loose. Better yet, always embroider the eyes for any toy intended for a child under three.

Sharing Your Make

If you make a rainbow snake using this free pattern from GoldenLucyCrafts, we would absolutely love to see it. Sharing your finished project on social media and tagging GoldenLucyCrafts helps this small, independent pattern designer grow and makes it possible to keep offering free patterns to the crochet community. Whether your snake is perfectly polished or charmingly wobbly, every version of this pattern is worth celebrating. No two handmade snakes look exactly alike, and that is exactly what makes them so special.

You are welcome to sell finished items made using this pattern, but please do not redistribute the pattern itself or claim it as your own. Crediting GoldenLucyCrafts when sharing your makes online is always appreciated and helps other crafters find the pattern for themselves.

Final Thoughts

A crochet rainbow snake is one of those projects that manages to be simple in construction but rich in reward. From the satisfying moment you close the magic ring on the tail to the final pull of the yarn that seals the head shut, the process is smooth, enjoyable, and genuinely meditative in that lovely way that crochet so often is. The finished snake is bright, tactile, personality-filled, and sure to delight anyone who receives it as a gift.

Whether this is your very first crochet toy or one of many, we hope this free pattern from GoldenLucyCrafts gives you hours of happy stitching and a finished piece that makes you smile every time you look at it. Happy crocheting, and enjoy every colorful round of your rainbow snake.