Knitted in the round this is an easy pattern if you already know how to knit stranded colorwork and this pattern assumes that you do know how to knit stranded colorwork. If you have not knitted stranded colorwork before then this is an experienced level pattern.

Instructions are given for head sizes 18” (46 cm), 21” (53 cm), and 23” (58 cm). These correspond to child, small adult and medium-large adult sizes.

Fingering weight yarn. The samples were knitted with Knit Picks Felici and Hobii Dream Color
BC: (background color), SC: (snail color)
Size 18” (46 cm), BC 70 yds (64 m), SC 56 yds (51 m)
Size 21” (53 cm), BC 105 yds (96 m), SC 61 yds (56 m)
Size 23” (58 cm), BC 118 yds (108 m), SC 65 yds (59 m)

Found all over the world, there are approximately 43,000 species of snails. They live in a very wide range of environments - marshes, deserts, mountains, in bodies of fresh water and the depths of the sea.
Native snails are not pests, but the species imported from Europe as culinary delights, cause problems in our gardens. In Polynesia, carnivorous snails were introduced to eat escaped imported culinary snails, but unfortunately, ended up devouring benign native snail species instead, sometimes to the point of extinction.
As is true for most currently endangered animals, humans are the root cause behind the population loss. Whether from habitat destruction, introduction of invasive species, global warming or pollution, almost a thousand snail species are listed as endangered worldwide. Snails are sensitive creatures that easily absorb toxins into their bodies. If just a sprinkle of salt or a squirt of soap can kill a snail, it’s easy to imagine that pollution, pesticide use and the dumping of toxic waste can have a devastating effect on snail populations.
Land snails have two pairs of tentacles. The two tallest tentacles have eyes at their tips, which enables a wider frame of vision because they’re able to move their eyes around using their tentacles. Snails in areas prone to frost or freezing temperatures will hibernate during winters. Alternatively, snails inhabiting dry, arid regions will estivate — a summer version of hibernation — when water is scarce or when droughts occur. In both situations, by secreting extra mucus and sealing themselves into their shells, snails protect themselves with trapped humidity and filtered oxygen. During this time, metabolism slows and the snails live in a suspended state until warm rains revive them.