A Spiral Snail Shell for Giant Snail from this pattern is 5.5 inches tall from bottom to top, 7 inches long from front to back, and 4 inches wide at the widest point. A Spiral Snail Shell for Medium Snail from this pattern is 4 inches tall from bottom to top, 4.5 inches long from front to back, and 3 inches wide at the widest point. This pattern is written in U.S. terminology. Have fun!
Materials List:
- Yarn, in worsted weight, all amounts are approximate:
- Giant Snail Shell: 122 yds
- Closure for Giant Snail Shell (optional): 14 yds
- Medium Snail Shell: 46 yds
- Closure for Medium Snail Shell (optional): 8 yds
- G (4.0mm) Hook
- Darning Needle
- Polyfil
- Pins
BLO [ ] Back Loop Only
**Pro-Tip: The rows with FLO or BLO stitches will be structured with brackets [ ]. The brackets will enclose any and all stitches that the FLO or BLO instruction should apply to. EG: FLO [SC 3], SC 3 would mean three Single crochet stitches in the FLO and then three normal SC.
Ch Chain
DC Double Crochet
DC Dec Double
- Crochet Decrease
- YO, insert into next stitch,
- YO, pull up,
- YO, pull through 2 loops,
- YO, insert into next stitch,
- YO, pull up,
- YO, pull through 2 loops,
- YO, pull through all three loops
DC/Half Trip Dec
- Double Crochet/Half Triple Crochet Decrease
- YO, insert into next stitch,
- YO, pull up,
- YO, pull through 2 loops,
- YO twice, insert into next stitch,
- YO, pull up,
- YO, pull through 2 loops,
- YO, pull through all four loops
DC/HDC Dec Double
- Crochet/Half Double Crochet Decrease
- YO, insert into next stitch,
- YO, pull up,
- YO, pull through 2 loops,
- YO, pull through 1 loop,
- YO, insert into next stitch,
- YO, pull up,
- YO, pull through all four loops
DC Inc
- Double Crochet Increase
- Two Double Crochet Stitches into the same stitch
DC Triple Inc
- Double Crochet Triple Increase
- Three Double Crochet Stitches in one space.
Dec
- Decrease: One stitch combining two spaces. All decreases are single crochet
- decreases unless otherwise stated.
FLO [ ] Front Loop Only
**Pro-Tip: The rows with FLO or BLO stitches will be structured with brackets [ ]. The brackets will enclose any and all stitches that the FLO or BLO instruction should apply to. EG: FLO [SC 3], SC 3 would mean three Single crochet stitches in the FLO and then three normal SC.
FP DC
- Front Post Double Crochet
- YO, insert hook from front to back to front around post of corresponding stitch below,
- YO, pull up,
- YO, pull through two loops,
- YO, pull through two remaining loops
FP HDC
- Front Post Half Double Crochet
- YO, insert hook from front to back to front around post of corresponding stitch below,
- YO, pull up,
- YO, pull through all remaining loops
Half Trip
- Half Triple Crochet
- YO twice, insert into next stitch,
- YO, pull up,
- YO, pull through 2 loops,
- YO, pull through all remaining loops
Half Trip Dec
- Half Triple Crochet Decrease
- YO twice, insert into next stitch,
- YO, pull up,
- YO, pull through 2 loops,
- YO, twice insert into next stitch,
- YO, pull up,
- YO, pull through 2 loops,
- YO, pull through all five remaining loops
Half Trip Inc
- Half Triple Crochet Increase
- Two Half Trip stitches into the same stitch
HDC Half Double Crochet
HDC Dec Half Double Crochet Decrease
- YO, insert into next stitch,
- YO, pull up,
- YO, pull through 2 loops,
- YO, insert into next stitch,
- YO, pull up,
- YO, pull through all four loops
HDC/DC Dec Half Double Crochet and Double Crochet Decrease
- YO, insert into next stitch,
- YO, pull up,
- YO, pull through 2 loops,
- YO, insert into next stitch,
- YO, pull up,
- YO, pull through 2 loops,
- YO, pull through 1 loop,
- YO, pull through all three remaining loops
HDC Inc Half Double Crochet Increase
- Two Half Double Crochet Stitches into the same stitch
HDC/SC Dec Half Double Crochet/Single Crochet Decrease
- YO, insert into next stitch,
- YO, pull up,
- YO, pull through 2 loops,
- Insert into next stitch,
- YO, pull up,
- YO, pull through all three loops
**Pro-Tip: The HDC/SC Dec are often worked up the “steps” made by skipping
the final stitches in previous rows. Work into the tops of stitches, not into the sides.
Inc Increase, 2 stitches in one space
- Assume all increases are SC increases, unless otherwise specified
OC Original Chain
- This refers to the very first set of Chain stitches you made to start the piece you’re working on.
Picot Ch 3, Sl St in the 3rd Ch from Hook
SC Single Crochet
SC/HDC Dec Single Crochet/Half Double Crochet Decrease
- Insert into next stitch,
- YO, pull up,
- YO, insert into next stitch,
- YO, pull up,
- YO, Pull through all remaining stitches
**Pro-Tip: The SC/HDC Dec are often worked down the “steps” made by skipping
final stitches in the previous rows. Work into the tops of stitches, not into the sides
final stitches in the previous rows. Work into the tops of stitches, not into the sides
Sk St Skip Stitch
Sl St Slip Stitch
Sl St to beginning Stitch, Ch 1
- JOINING: Most of this pattern is written with a Slip Stitch, Chain 1 joining method for each row. The Ch 1 does not count as a stitch. This DOES affect the shape of each piece, but in a minor way, as the piece was written with the seam shift in mind. If you prefer to crochet in spiral/in the round you are welcome to try it but I do not guarantee that all asymmetrical sections will come out exactly as shown.
Spiral
- When instructions note to work in a Spiral, you should work in the round without joining. For these rows DO NOT Sl St, Ch 1 join at the end of each row.
St Stitch
Triple Crochet YO twice, insert into next stitch,
- YO, pull up,
- YO, pull through 2 loops,
- YO, pull through 2 loops,
- YO, pull through all remaining loop
Triple Crochet
Dec
- YO twice, insert into next stitch,
- YO, pull up,
- YO, pull through 2 loops,
- YO, pull through 2 loops,
- YO twice, insert into next stitch,
- YO, pull up,
- YO, pull through 2 loops,
- YO, pull through 2 loops,
- YO, pull through all three loops
Triple Dec/ Triple SC Dec
- Triple Decrease/Triple Single Crochet Decrease One stitch combining three spaces using single crochet. (Insert in next stitch space, YO, pull up) x 3, YO, pull through all four loops
Triple SC Inc Triple Single
- Crochet Increase
Three Single Crochet Stitches in one space.
YO Yarn Over
Spiral Snail Shell for Giant Snail
Tools:
Any color yarn (~46 yds)
‘G’ (4 mm) hook
Any color yarn (~46 yds)
‘G’ (4 mm) hook
Make 1
In this Row you will Dec along the entire unfinished edge, working through both
sides at once to make a long, thin cone shape. Fold the entire long triangle in half the
long way with the visible ridges of BLO stitches on the outside. You will be working
through both halves of the long triangle at the same time, working one decrease for
every 2 rows.
sides at once to make a long, thin cone shape. Fold the entire long triangle in half the
long way with the visible ridges of BLO stitches on the outside. You will be working
through both halves of the long triangle at the same time, working one decrease for
every 2 rows.
You can tell you’re working only one decrease per 2 rows by placing
each decrease between the BLO ridge lines, as shown. Once you get past the
midpoint of the shell, begin stuffing the shell with polyfil. Leave the widest end
unstuffed for now, concentrating on the midpoint to the thinnest end. Stuff the wider
section of the shell medium-firm, stuffing more lightly as the shell tapers to a point.
each decrease between the BLO ridge lines, as shown. Once you get past the
midpoint of the shell, begin stuffing the shell with polyfil. Leave the widest end
unstuffed for now, concentrating on the midpoint to the thinnest end. Stuff the wider
section of the shell medium-firm, stuffing more lightly as the shell tapers to a point.
Finish stuffing the rest of the shell. Fasten off the shell with a 36” yarn tail.
Gently curl the shell into a spiral, starting at the thinnest end. Pin in place as you
work. The very center of the spiral (where the shell is thinnest) will be stacked on
top of the wider part, making a slight cone shape (see photos).
work. The very center of the spiral (where the shell is thinnest) will be stacked on
top of the wider part, making a slight cone shape (see photos).
The bottom most edge of the shell should fold in on itself a little bit and you can use
it to help shape the shell to fit against the back of the snail. Once you are pleased
with the shaping of the shell, use the yarn tail to sew along the spiral, securing the
spiral shape in place.
it to help shape the shell to fit against the back of the snail. Once you are pleased
with the shaping of the shell, use the yarn tail to sew along the spiral, securing the
spiral shape in place.
Pin the shell to attach to the back of the snail. The front edge of the shell opening
should rest at the point where the snail body angle upwards. The back of the shell
should not extend beyond the back edge of the snail “frill” (foot). Sew around the
shell opening to secure the shell to the snail body.
should rest at the point where the snail body angle upwards. The back of the shell
should not extend beyond the back edge of the snail “frill” (foot). Sew around the
shell opening to secure the shell to the snail body.
