Scrappy Octopus

I saw a cute little octopus stuffed animal on Facebook the other day, and it got me thinking. I have been making a lot of Kooky Owls (pattern here) lately, so I wondered how it would turn out if I used some of those basics (three strands of knitting worsted held together, size K hook) to make a quick and easy octopus.

I'm still playing with eyes and size, but here's what I have so far:

Scrappy Octopus

Takes 3 balls of scrap yarn, about 1-1/2 ounces each for the smaller octopus, 2 ounces each for the larger one.
Sizes K & G crochet hooks
Yarn needle
For button eyes (pink octopus): two white buttons 5/8" and two black buttons 3/8"

Smaller (Pink) Version

Do not  join rounds - work in a continuous 
With three strands of yarn and size K hook, make a magic ring.
Round 1: 8 HDC in ring
Round 2: 2 HDC in each stitch (16 stitches)
Round 3:  HDC in first stitch, 2 HDC in next, repeat around (24 stitches)
Rounds 4-6: HDC around (24 stitches)
At this point, sew on the eyes on row 5. Center the black button the white button, and sew both on together. 
Round 7: HDC decrease, HDC, repeat around (16 stitches)
Add stuffing
Round 8: HDC decrease around (8 stitches).
Make a slip stitch in the stitch directly across the opening from your last stitch.
Tentacle:
Chain 20.
Two sc in second chain from hook, then one sc in next chain. Repeat (2 sc in stitch, 1 sc in next stitch) until you get back to the base of the octopus. Slip stitch in next available stitch of your final 8 stitches, and repeat tentacle instructions. Keep repeating until you have 8 tentacles.

Body is smaller version, but tentacles are longer, as in gray version.

Larger Gray Version:
Short version: same as pink, only I added two more rows in the body, and made tentacles with a chani of 30.
 Eyes:
With size G hook and white, make magic ring
6 SC in ring
Round 2: 2 SC in each stitch (12 sc)
Round 3: SC in first stitch, 2 SC in next stitch, repeat around (18 stitches)
End off, leaving long tail for sewing on.

Embroider black pupil at center of eye (option - sew on small black button).

Eyelid:
With gray, make magic ring. 10 DC in ring. Pull tight, but do not join. Finish off, leaving long tail for sewing on. Sew on top of eye.

Body:
Round 1: 8 HDC in ring
Round 2: 2 HDC in each stitch (16 stitches)
Round 3:  HDC in first stitch, 2 HDC in next, repeat around (24 stitches)
Rounds 4-8: HDC around (24 stitches)
Around row 6 or 7, sew on the eyes on row 5. 
Round 9: HDC decrease, HDC, repeat around (16 stitches)
Add stuffing 
Round 10: HDC decrease around (8 stitches).
Make a slip stitch in the stitch directly across the opening from your last stitch.
Tentacle:
Chain 30.
Two sc in second chain from hook, then one sc in next chain. Repeat (2 sc in stitch, 1 sc in next stitch) until you get back to the base of the octopus. Slip stitch in next available stitch of your final 8 stitches, and repeat tentacle instructions. Keep repeating until you have 8 tentacles.

Here is the same octopus worked up with a triple strand of Red Heart Shimmer yarn, using safety eyes.


You can have fun with these by varying the yarn and hook size. I just got a size S crochet hook... I could make a really big octopus with about six strands of yarn held together...that would really put a dent in my scrap yarn collection!


XL Version - Sleepy Green Octopus

About 20" tall without stretching, but tentacles will stretch from 12" to about 24"

I used three strands of yarn - one strand of "thick and thin" off-white, and two strands of green knitting worsted. I used a little over 2 ounces from each skein of green yarn, and about half of the skein of thick & thin.

Body:
Round 1: 6 HDC in ring
Round 2: 2 HDC in each stitch (12 stitches)
Round 3:  HDC in first stitch, 2 HDC in next, repeat around (18 stitches)
Round 4: HDC in first two stitches, 2 HDC in next, repeat around (24 stitches)
Round 5:  HDC in first three stitches, 2 HDC in next, repeat around (30 stitches)
Round 6:  HDC in first four stitches, 2 HDC in next, repeat around (36 stitches)
Rounds 7-11: HDC around (36 stitches)
Around row 10 or 11, sew on the eyes. 
Round 12: HDC in first four stitches, HDC decrease, repeat around (30 stitches)
Round 13:  HDC in first three stitches, HDC decrease, repeat around (24 stitches)
Round 14: HDC in first two stitches, HDC decrease, repeat around (18 stitches)
Round 15: HDC in first stitch, HDC decrease, repeat around (12 stitches)
Add stuffing 
Round 10: HDC decrease around (8 stitches).
Make a slip stitch in the stitch directly across the opening from your last stitch.
Tentacle:
Chain 50.
Two sc in second chain from hook, then one sc in next chain. Repeat (2 sc in stitch, 1 sc in next stitch) until you get back to the base of the octopus. Slip stitch in next available stitch of your final 8 stitches, and repeat tentacle instructions. Keep repeating until you have 8 tentacles.

Eyes: 
With single strand of white knitting worsted and size G hook, make 6 sc in magic ring.
Round 1: 2 sc in each stitch (12 stitches)
Round 2: 2 sc in first stitch, sc in next, repeat around. (18 stitches). Finish off, leaving long tail to sew on eye.
Using a little black thread, embroider on eyelashes as shown.

Hair Tuft:
Cut 4 strands of yarn about 4" long. Double over and pull a loop hrough a stitch at the top center of the head. Pull the yarn ends through the loop and pull to tighten. Unravel yarn for a fuller look. Trim to desired length.

CEO Redding
(Crazy Eyes Octopus)
For this guy, I did the same body as the gray version, but did mis-matched eyes.

The eyes are made with one strand of knitting worsted and a size H hook.
Smaller Eye
Round 1: 6 SC in magic ring
Round 2: 2 SC in each stitch (12)
Round 3: 2 SC in first stitch, SC in next, repeat around (18)
Finish off, leaving long tail to sew on. Sew on small button.

Larger Eye
Round 1: 6 SC in magic ring
Round 2: 2 SC in each stitch (12)
Round 3: 2 SC in first stitch, SC in next, repeat around (18)
Round 4: 2 SC in first stitch, SC in next two stitches, repeat around (24)
 Finish off, leaving long tail to sew on. Sew on button.