Octopus for Preemies 2.0 – Free Crochet Pattern and Video Tutorial – Octo Project
Wow! Thank You!! I am blown away by the response to my initial post and video about the Octo Project. I am glad to know it has touched so many people.
Based on the success of my original modified pattern I was inspired to create version 2.0.
This version uses the same yarn and the same techniques, however it creates a new variety of the octopus with a different body shape. Not better, not worse, but different. It is longer and a little wider. Variety is the spice of life crochet. So I proudly present octo 2.0.
Skills Required:
- Basic stitches (single crochet)
- Adjustable ring
- Increases
- Decreases
- Crocheting in the round
- Basic sewing
Finished Measurements: About 8″ tall. Head circumference is about 8″. Curled up tentacles are about 4-5″ long, fully stretched cannot exceed 8″ for safety reasons.
Yarn: Worsted weight 100% cotton yarn.
I would recommend not using mercerized cotton as it is treated with chemicals to make yarn shinier. I would also recommend not using yellow color for preemies (bad juju). I have used Sugar n’ Cream which can be purchased at any big box craft store. It’s inexpensive, readily available and comes in a lot of colors. It could be a little hard on your hands as it needs to be crocheted at a tight gauge. Another great option that I will mostly be using is Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Cotton, very soft, great color selection.
Sample Shown in: Lily Sugar ’n Cream (100% cotton; 120 yds [110 m]/ 2.5 oz [70.9 g]), and
I Love This Cotton (100% cotton; 180 yds [165 m]/3.5 oz [100 g]).
Hook: US size G/6 (4.25 mm). Or hook necessary to obtain gauge.
Notions: Yarn needle, fiberfill.
Gauge: 8-9 sts and 10-11 rows = 2″ in single crochet.
Note on gauge: Gauge is not crucial for this project, stitches should be tight for stuffing not to show through.
Pattern Instructions
BODY
Make an adjustable ring.
RND 1: Make 6 sc into the ring. Pull tail to tighten the ring – 6 sts.
RND 2: 2 sc in each st around – 12 sts.
RND 3: (Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) around – 18 sts.
RND 4: (Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st) around – 24 sts.
RND 5: (Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st) around – 30 sts.
RND 6-11: Sc in each st around.
RND 12: (Sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog) around – 24 sts.
RND 13: Sc in each st around.
RND 14: (Sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog) around – 18 sts.
RND 15: Sc in each st around.
RND 16: (Sc in next 7 sts, sc2tog) twice – 16 sts.
RND 17: Sc in each st around.
RND 18 (this is where tentacles are created and attached to the body): *Sc in next st, crochet a tentacle (see below) sc in next st of the body; repeat from * 7 more times, making 8 tentacles.
TENTACLES
Note on tentacle length: Fully stretched tentacles should not be longer than 8″ as they may pose a choking hazard. I usually make a chain 8″ long, between 30-40 chains.
Option 1 (shown in the video): Ch 32, 2 sc in 3rd ch from the hook, (3 sc in next ch, 2 sc in next 2 chs) across all chains.
Option 2: Ch 35, 2 sc in 3rd ch from hook and each ch across.
BOTTOM
With the tentacles falling to the outside (spreading like a flower), crochet into the two single crochet stitches that’s between the tentacles only.
RND 19: Sc in each sc around – 16 sts.
RND 20: Sc2tog around – 8 sts.
Fasten off leaving 8″ tail.
Finishing
Stuff the body with fiberfill. Using yarn needle, weave the tail through the remaining 8 sts and pull tight to close the opening. Secure the yarn and weave in the ends.
Embellish as desired.
Written pattern copyright Anastasia Popova 2017, all rights reserved. Please do not reprint or repost this pattern, but please do link to this page to share this pattern with others.
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Julie Cafaro
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Thanks for sharing this pattern. Does one skein of the Hobby Lobby yarn or Sugar and Cream yarn complete an octopus or do I need to buy multiple? Thanks.
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Anastasia
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You are welcome! One skein is more than enough!
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Jean
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Thanks for the pattern. My daughter-in-law is a NICU nurse and I would like to donate these.
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Anastasia
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Hi Jean,
thank you for your comment and thank you for helping the babies 🙂
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Louise
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your work looks really neat..but I can not hear you …you need to turn the volume up
thank you
Louise
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Anastasia
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Hi Louise,
Thank you for watching and your comment.
I am new to video and even though I spoke at my normal tone, the volume was not captured properly by the camera. It WILL be fixed in my next videos!
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Carole
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Hi,
Our craft group is hoping to make some of these . Is it possible to download and print the pattern?
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Ann Roberts
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I copied/pasted the instructions to MSWord. You can also copy/paste to Google docs. I am taking this to my craft group, as well. Anastasia, THANK YOU for SHARING this lovely project with all of us. It fills a need on both ends, the babies and the fact that you are allowing us to share our knowledge of crocheting and contributing to help the babies!
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cindy
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Thank you for the great video..You made it look SO easy. Tomorrow first thing I am going to start one. Question, why just premies ? wouldn’t they be good for any newborn ? I think they are too cute !
Also , there is something wrong with your volume, I had my computer up to 100% and I had to lean into the computer, but I did watch the whole thing ! You did a great job filming and step by step instructions were very helpful. Thank you again.
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Ashley
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I absolutely love this pattern! Thank you for posting it and the lovely video with step by step instructions! I’ve worked up several already! My only complaint is that it is kind of a pain to have to stare at my iPad screen to work this up and, if I try to print, it ends up being 13 pages with overlapping print in some areas. I was wondering if you have or plan to make a printer friendly version/PDF of this pattern.
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Mary marshall
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Thank you for your expert tutorial, I though I could not follow a pattern until you helped. I am in to my fifth octopus! Thank you once again, you make things very easy to understand and follow
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Lilith
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What kind of fiber fill is best? Concerned about sterilization process or autoclave of dolls causing melting of poly fiber fill.
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Mari Downey
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Thank you so much. I am hoping that I can donate these to a hospital to help the babies.
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Sue
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Thanks for the pattern – may I suggest that the print be a little darker for those of us who have visual problems but still want to help with projects like these? Thanks so much – can’t wait to get started on my first octopus!
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Cute Octopus Softies | American Crochet | Pattern Roundup
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[…] http://crochetforbabies.com/2017/03/04/octopus-for-preemies-2-0-free-crochet-pattern-octo-project/ […]
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August challenge – little octopi | Simply hooked
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[…] pattern is adapted from one at crochet for babies here, and has a pleasing symmetry to it, so the counting doesn’t get too arduous. I made the […]
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Laura
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Thank you so much for this video. I tried making one of these octopus is using a different set of instructions and gave up. I found your video and thoroughly enjoyed the clear instructions that you gave throughout the making of this toy. I am making these for the NICU babies in Savannah, Georgia. I had almost given up until I found your video. Thank you again!
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Crystal
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Love this! Could you update the written instructions telling us when to partially stuff the octopus, and then when to add the final amount of stuffing, for those that did not watch the video.
Thanks!
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Anastasia
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Hi Chrystal,
Thank you for your comment! That’s an excellent question! I usually stuff all the way at the end when I have an opening of 8 stitches. Some propel like toa tuff when they have about 18-24 sets opening. I just find that if I add stuffing earlier it sometimes get caught with the hook and then it gets fuzzy everywhere. So I just wait till I am all done crocheting
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Janie
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Thank you for the free pattern and especially the video. I’m fairly new at crocheting and struggle with just a written pattern, but I can follow you doing it on the video. I just finished my first octopus & am so proud of myself.
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