I created this design in honor of the
Chinese Year of the Snake (although it would also be suitable for a little member of Slytherin!. The Chinese
zodiac is a 12 year cycle, with a different
animal for each year; in addition,
each year is also associated with one of
five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal
or water). 2013 is the year of the Water
Snake; water snakes belong to the genus
Nerodia.

For a blog post on the design process for this pattern, click here.

Difficulty is Intermediate: Skills include cable knitting,
reading charts, picking up stitches,
and working in the round.

Snake band is worked sideways; body
stitches are then picked up from long
side of band. Sleeves are worked in the
round to the underarms, then joined to
body; the yoke is worked flat. Instructions
for the snake band are given in
chart form. Cardigan closes with snaps
sewn to front bands; buttons are sewn
over snaps. Beaded snake eyes and
embroidered snake tongues add a bit of
whimsy!

Materials
Yarn: DK weight yarn, 470 (540, 630,
730, 860, 1010, 1170) yd/430 (495,
575, 670, 790, 925, 1070) m. Shown
in Plymouth Yarn DK Merino Superwash
(100% merino wool, 130 yd/50 g
skein), color #1105, 4 (5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
skeins.
Needles: US size 5/3.75 mm circular
needle, 24-47”/60-120 cm long depending
on selected garment size, for
body, yoke and bands. These sections
are not worked in the round, but needle
must be long enough to accommodate
all yoke sts. US size 5/3.75 mm set of
double-pointed needles, for sleeves.
Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain
the correct gauge.
Notions: Markers; cable needle; stitch
holders; tapestry and sewing needles; 4
(4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6) size 1/0 or 1 (approx.
10-11 mm diam) sew-on snaps; 4 (4, 5,
5, 5, 6, 6) buttons. Buttons are purely
decorative; buttons shown are approx.
18 mm in diam. Optional: 6 size 6/0
beads, for eyes; red yarn for tongues.

Pattern includes instructions for seven sizes, intended for approximately the following ages: 12 mo (24 mo, 2-4 yr, 4-6 yr, 6-8 yr, 10 yr, 12 yr). Sample shown is 12 mo size.

Chest circumference: 21.25 (23.25, 25.25, 27.25, 29.25, 31.25, 33.25) in / 54 (59, 64, 69, 74, 79, 84) cm

Length: 11.75 (12.5, 13.5, 14.5, 16, 17.75, 19.25) in / 30 (32, 34.5, 37, 40.5, 45, 49) cm

Sleeve length to underarm: 7.5 (8.5, 9.5, 11, 12, 13.5, 15) in/ 19 (21.5, 24, 28, 30.5, 34.5, 38) cm

Sleeve circ at underarm: 8.75 (9.25, 9.75, 10.25, 10.75, 11, 11.25) in / 22 (23.5, 24.5, 26, 27, 28, 29) cm