How to Crochet a Baby Octopus

One of my favorite stuffed animals to crochet is an Octopus. Along with the bigger ones I create, I thought it would be fun to have a 'baby' octopus. I searched for a pattern, but the only instructions I could find were rather incomplete and difficult. Since I have a habit of always finding a simpler, quicker or easier way to do most everything, I worked on this idea until I came up with just the right combination of stitches to create the octopus design I had in mind.

*All images are my own, unless otherwise noted. (c) Wednesday-Elf

Over the past couple of years, I have crocheted dozens of these little 'octopuses' in all the colors of the rainbow and some in two-color combinations. It takes me about one-half hour to crochet and finish one, which I usually do while watching a favorite television show. I've given them as gifts, sold them in my Etsy Shop and found that children I meet as a vendor at craft fairs love them, as they are "just the right size" for little hands!

Since they are such fun to make, I decided other crochet artists would enjoy creating them as much as I do. This page will give you step-by-step directions to crochet a baby octopus. I hope you enjoy the pattern as much as I do.

For Baby Octopus

Stitch Abbreviations:

SC = Single Crochet

Ch = chain

St = stitch

sc2tog = (sc decrease) Insert hook into st and draw up a loop. Insert hook into next st and draw up a loop. Yarn over, draw through all 3 loops on hook.

NOTE:

Work in continuous rounds; do not join or turn.

For Your Baby Octopus!

Materials:

*Worsted Weight Yarn

(less than 2 oz.)

*Size F hook

*Large-Eye Blunt Needle

*Polyester fiberfill

*Googly eyes & craft glue, OR small amount of contrasting color yarn for eyes.

NOTE: Photo Gallery of baby octopus step-by-step is shown below:

Beg at top of head, ch 2

Rnd 1: 4 sc in 2nd ch from hook (4 sts)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc around (8 sts)

Rnd 3: 2 sc in each sc around (16 sts)

Rnd 4-5: Sc in each st around.

Rnd 6: *Sc2 tog, rep from * around - 8 sts.

DO NOT end off.

1. Slip stitch in next stitch - chain 21.
2. 2 sc in second chain from hook and 2 sc in each of the next 19 chains
3. Slip stitch in same stitch where chain began, slip stitch in next stitch in 8-stitch base. Repeat chains until there are 8 'tentacles'.
4. Slip stitch in last sc. End off.

*NOTE: As you crochet 2 sc in each chain, your work will begin to naturally curl, giving you a curled tentacle!

Chain 2.

Rnd 1: 4 sc in 2nd chain from hook (4 sc)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc around (8 sc)

End off, leaving about an 8 inch tail.

Lightly stuff body with a small amount of polyfil. Sew small round to bottom of octopus. Weave in ends.

For Eyes: EITHER:

1) Thread a yarn needle with a length of contrasting yarn. Embroider eyes on 3rd row from crown in satin stitch, leaving one or two sc spaces between eyes. OR

2) Glue on Googly eyes.

FINISHING NOTE: Finished size of Baby Octopus, using a Size F Crochet Hook, will be approximately 2 inches high and 6 inches across the tentacles!

Materials for Two-Tone Baby Octopus

*Choose two contrasting colors of your choice for two-tone baby octopus (approximately 1 oz. each):

Worsted Weight Yarn: Color A

Worsted Weight Yarn: Color B

*Size F hook

*Large-Eye Blunt Needle

*Polyester fiberfill

*Googly eyes & craft glue, OR small amount of contrasting color yarn for eyes.

Two-Tone Baby Octopus is made exactly the same way the single color octopus is crocheted, except for changing colors every other round and every other 'tentacle'. Perfect for creating a baby octopus in your favorite school colors, or in pink & blue for a baby gift!

See how-to photos in gallery below:

Octopus Body:

With Color A, beginning at top of head, ch 2

Rnd 1: 4 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Attach Color B in last stitch of Rnd 1.

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc around, changing to Color A in last stitch (8 sts)

Rnd 3: 2 sc in each sc around, changing to Color B in last stitch (16 sts)

Rnd 4-5: Sc in each st around. Continue to change colors each round by dropping unused color and picking up new color.

Rnd 6: *Sc2 tog, rep from * around - 8 sts. DO NOT end off.

Octopus Tentacles:

Slip stitch in next stitch - chain 21. 2 sc In 2nd from hook, 2 sc in remaining 19 chains. Slip stitch in same stitch as beginning.

Change color

• Slip stitch in next stitch, chain 21, 2 sc in next 20 chains, slip stitch in same stitch,
• Change color before next 'slip stitch' for each tentacle.
• Repeat from * until there are 8 'tentacles', changing colors with each one. At the end, you will have 4 tentacles of each color in an alternating pattern.
• Slip stitch in last sc. End off.

*NOTE: As you crochet 2 sc in each chain, your work will begin to naturally curl, giving you a curled tentacle!

Bottom of Octopus:

Chain 2.

Rnd 1: 4 sc in 2nd chain from hook (4 sts)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc around (8 sts)

End off, leaving about an 8 inch tail for sewing.

FINISHING:

Lightly stuff body. Sew small round to bottom of octopus. Weave in ends.

For Eyes: EITHER:

1) Thread a yarn needle with a length of contrasting yarn. Embroider eyes on 3rd row from crown in satin stitch, leaving one or two sc spaces between eyes. OR

2) Glue on Googly eyes.

I use 4-ply worsted weight acrylic yarn and hypoallergenic polyfill fiberfill for my baby octopus, because both the yarn and the fiberfill is completely machine* washable. This makes it an excellent choice for babies and children, who love these little octopuses. *If washing and drying the finished baby octopus by machine, use a lingerie bag to contain this tiny critter so that it doesn't get 'lost' in the laundry' :)

My yarn of choice is Red Heart, but any brand of 4-ply worsted weight yarn works equally as well.

You can also crochet a baby octopus with cotton yarn, but washing would need to be done in cold water or by hand to prevent shrinkage. Cotton yarn is preferred by many.

Mama and Baby Octopus by Coastal Crochet Crafts on Etsy

A baby octopus isn't the only size I like to crochet. This is an example of a bigger size Octopus I make, along with her 'baby' octopus.

Lavender Mama & Baby Octopus make a happy little family.

They have gone to live in a new home, so "Mama Octopus is not currently available in my Etsy Shop, but can be recreated upon request in any color you desire. Just contact me at Coastal Crochet Crafts.

The current big octopus in my shop is a pretty pastel octopus in a different style, darling for a new baby gift or would make a cute stocking stuffer for baby's first Christmas.

Hand-crocheted (by Wednesday-Elf in her crafting persona) baby octopi are available in my Etsy shop Coastal Crochet Crafts.

Crochet a Cheeseburger - Pot Holders for Summertime Grilling
Hot burger patties in crochet make clever hot pads and sturdy pot holders. Perfect for summertime grilling, for camp cookouts, or for tailgating at sporting ...