Knitted Snake Draft Stopper

Instructions

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1. 1Cast onWith A, cast on 42 sts on 7 mm needles. Once the edges are sewn, this width gives a tube about 31 cm around; the single edge st at each side is the seam allowance (42 sts).
2. 2Striped bodyWork stockinette: knit RS rows, purl WS rows. Change colors every 12 rows in this order: A, B, C, A, B, C... Work 13 stripes in total; the first and last stripes are A (5 A, 4 B, 4 C; 156 rows). Always change colors at the beginning of a RS row.
3. 3Bind offAfter the last A stripe, bind off loosely and cut the yarn leaving 40 cm. The piece is a rectangle about 32 x 87 cm.
4. 4Seaming the tubeFold the piece lengthwise with the RS outside. Sew the long edges together from the RS with mattress stitch, going between the edge stitches all the way along. Match up the color stripes.
5. 5Tail endAt the cast-on end, run a line of running stitch around the tube 1 cm from the edge with the yarn needle and pull it tight to gather the end. Secure with a few stitches; this is the snake's tail.
6. 6StuffingThrough the open end, add some fiberfill first, then place the rice bags in the middle and fill the rest with fiberfill. The weight stops the draft stopper from sliding; the tube should not be hard, just soft enough to settle onto the floor.
7. 7Head and finishingGather and close the open end (the A stripe) the same way as the tail; this end forms the head. Cut two round eyes from black felt and a forked tongue from red felt and sew them onto the head. Hide the ends inside the tube.