Octopus for Preemie {Free Crochet Pattern & Video Tutorial} – Octo Project

Written by Anastasia on February 13, 2017. Posted in Free Patterns, Toys

Octo Project - Crochet for babies

Octo Project is a worldwide project that has crafters help preemies thrive by crocheting octopuses for babies in the NICU. The tentacles of the octopus resemble the umbilical cord and remind babies of the womb and comfort.

This is a modified crochet pattern by Anastasia Popova to the original Octo Project pattern. Changes are made to accommodate worsted weight yarn and eliminate seeming.

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 7″. 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 5-9: Sc in each st around.

RND 10: (Sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog) around – 18 sts.

RND 11-12: Sc in each st around.

RND 13: (Sc in next 7 sts, sc2tog) twice – 16 sts.

RND 14: Sc in each st around.

RND 15 (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: Ch 35, 2 sc in 3^rd ch from the hook, (3 sc in next ch, 2 sc in next 2 chs) across all chains.

Option 2 (shown in the video): Ch 35, 2 sc in 3^rd 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 16: Sc in each sc around – 16 sts.

RND 17: Sc2tog around – 8 sts.

Fasten off leaving 8″ tail.

Octo Project - Crochet for babies

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.

Tags: crochet octopus, octo project, octopus for preemies