{create} a cosy wool door snake

tutorial and photography Helen Louise Wilkinson of Blossom + Cat

The seasons have turned and the nights are really rather cold! It’s time to get cosy and make yourself one of these lovely wool door snakes, they are lots of fun and perfect for keeping out the cold winter drafts.

 

you will need...
 + an old wool blanket
 + sturdy fabric for the base
 + buttons
 + a scrap of felt
 + embroidery cotton
 + fabric scraps for stuffing
 + scissors and pins
 + iron

 + sewing machine
 + pattern sheet - click here to download

 

step 1 Print the paper pattern sheet - click here to download.
Measure your door and cut a strip of paper the right length to fit the gap in the pattern, add on an extra 8cm. (example: my door measured 86cm wide my finished paper pattern was 94cm).
Layer the fabric and pin the pattern sheet in place.

step 2 Cut out your fabric shapes.

step 3 Use the embroidery cotton to sew on the buttons, they don’t have to match, you could also try layering them for a different effect.

step 4 Position the tongue facing inwards towards the body and pin in place. This will stick out once the snake has been turned!

step 5 Pin the top and bottom of the snake together with right sides of the fabric touching. Using a sewing machine sew around the edges allowing for a 1cm seam allowance. Leave a gap half way down the body of around 12cm for turning and stuffing.

step 6 Turn your snake right side out, push out the seams and press. Stuff firmly with fabric scraps, make sure you cut them into small pieces to avoid lumps!

step 7 Pin the gap closed and stitch together firmly using small neat stitches.

finished! name your snake and pop him in front of your door!

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this tutorial was originally published in issue 11 of tickle the imagination magazine.

tutorial by Helen Louise Wilkinson of blossom + cat

*please note - this tutorial is for personal use only