This pattern can be either easy or pretty difficult, depending on how you would like to make him. You can choose to sew on sequins and beads if you like, or leave him plain. You might also like to make the tentacles all in one hit, as one piece, or you can use the simpler option of doing them one by one. Both methods are written out below :)
Alot of the credit to this pattern must go to the picture that inspired me to make it, which was Sugar Coated's 'Octopus' on Ravelry, from the Chinese pattern I Am Octopus :)
Any problems, comment below! Have fun!
** Massive thanks to Fuzzitz in the comments below for pointing out the error to the stitch count for the All In One Tentacles part of the pattern. So sorry it's taken me so long to correct the post!**
The Big Mouth Octopus
You Will Need:
• Crochet Hook (I used 3.5mm, E)
• Double Knit/ Sport Weight/ Light Worsted Weight Yarn in Mint and White
• 12mm Safety Eyes
• Stitch Markers Or Piece Of Scrap Yarn
• Fiber fill Or Other Stuffing
• Curved Needle (Optional)
• Sequins and Seed Beads/Small Beads (Optional)
• Cotton/Thread (Optional)
• Fine Sewing Needle (Optional)
Abbreviations
• St/Sts – Stitch/Stitches
• Ch - Chain Stitch
• Sc - Single Crochet
• Tr – Triple Crochet
• Slst - Slip Stitch
• Inc (Increase) - 2 Sc into 1 St
• Dec (Decrease) – 1 Sc across 2 Sts
• ** - Marks a group of stitches to be repeated until the round is completed
Gauge
No gauge, just keep your stitches nice and tight to avoid gaps in your work
Finished Size
3.5 inches high (approx.) using a 3.5mm (E) hook
Other Info
• As this is amigurumi, work in continuous rounds; in a spiral, unless otherwise stated. Don’t join at the end of a row; just keep going
• Use stitch markers or a piece of scrap yarn to mark the start of every round. Replace at the start of the next round as you go along. This will help you keep track of where you started, and saves a lot of time if things go wrong!
• I write my patterns in American terms, so Sc means Single Crochet; Dc means Double Crochet etc
• The number at the end of each round is the number of stitches you should now have
• Although I have used certain colours for this ami please feel free to use whichever colours you like!
• Using a thicker yarn than DK/bigger hook than 3.75mm (F) will result in the toy being a considerably different size to that shown.
Head/Body
1. Ch 2, Sc 6 into 2nd Ch from hook, or Magic Ring 6 (6)
2. Inc around (12)
3. *Sc, Inc* around (18)
4. *Sc 2, Inc* around (24)
5. *Sc 3, Inc* around (30)
6. *Sc 4, Inc* around (36)
7. *Sc 5, Inc* around (42)
8. *Sc 6, Inc* around (48)
9. *Sc 7, Inc* around (54)
10. *Sc 8, Inc* around (60)
11-16. Sc around (60)
You can take this opportunity to sew on the beads and sequins, before it gets too difficult to reach the inside top of the head. It’s very fiddly and time consuming, so you may want to leave this step out. But I think it makes him look all special lol! I used a mixture of sequins and glass seed beads, though any small beads would look fab!
When you’ve done all the sewing, continue with…
17-20. Sc around (60)
You can stop here again and add some individual seed beads lower on the head, if you wanted him to look all fancy :)
21. *Sc 8, Dec* around (54)
22. *Sc 7, Dec* around (48)
The head closes up pretty rapidly from here, so you’re gonna want to stuff it whilst you go.
23. Dec around (24)
If using Safety Eyes, attach now, half way up the head.
24. Dec around (12)
25. Dec around (6)
*Finish Off, Weave In End*
There are 2 ways of doing the tentacles. You can do them all in one piece, which is the way I did it because it leaves a nicer finish on the bottom of the body, or you can do them individually. Here’s how to do them in one piece first…
Tentacles (One Piece)
1. Ch 2, Sc 8 into 2nd Ch from hook, or Magic Ring 8 (8)
2. Inc around (16)
3. *Sc 1, Inc* around (24)
WARNING - This gets VERY fiddly/annoying!! You’ve been warned!!
4. Ch 15, 6 Tr in 5th Ch from hook; 7 Tr in each of the next 7 Ch’s; 1 Tr in each of the remaining 3 Ch’s
When you’re back to the beginning of the Ch, Skip 2 Sc and Slst into the 3rd Sc of the base circle
Repeat Round 4, 7 more times to make 8 tentacles.
*Finish Off, Leave Long Tail*
If you don’t fancy doing it that way, you can do them individually…
Tentacles (One by One)
Ch 18, 6 Tr in 5th Ch from the hook; 7 Tr in each of the next 10 Ch’s; 1 Tr into each of the remaining 3 Ch’s
*Finish Off, Leave Long Tail*
Repeat 7 more times (or however many you’d like!)
Mouth
Ch 15, Join with a Slst, Ch 1
Sc 18 into the loop, Slst to beginning Ch 1. Ch 1
Sc 18 around, Slst to the Ch 1 at the beginning of the round
*Finish Off, Leave Long Tail*
Assembly
• To make the tentacles abit more curled up, you can give them a twist Clockwise (It may be Anticlockwise if you’re left handed, I’m not too sure :S)
• Sew the tentacle piece/the individual tentacles to the bottom of the body.
• Arrange the mouth in whichever shape you would like (Have fun! It could be a perfect ‘O’, smiley, sad…) on the front of the head, and sew in place.
Tada! You’re done!
I hope you liked the pattern! I’d love to see any Octopi made with this pattern! Also, again, you can comment below if you have any problems with it :)
Enjoy!
