Materials Needed & Measurements:

Yarn: Light (3) weight in the following colors:
- Primary Color: (e.g., gray) for the head and tentacles.
- Accent Colors: (e.g., blue, white, black) for details such as eyes, suckers, and marks.
Hook: 2.75 mm crochet hook.
Stuffing: Polyester fiberfill or similar material for filling the head and tentacles.
Embroidery Thread: Black cotton thread for details like the eyes and mouth.
Needle: Tapestry needle for sewing and embroidery work.
Scissors: For trimming yarn and thread.
Stitch Marker: Optional, for keeping track of rounds.
Finished Size: Approximately 4 inches tall and 3 inches wide, depending on yarn tension and hook size.

Abbreviations:

Magic Ring (to start the head):
- Begin with the primary color (e.g., gray).
- Make a magic ring (MR), then ch 1.
- Work 6 single crochets (sc) into the ring. Tighten the ring to close it. (6 sc)
Increasing Rounds:
- Rnd 2: Inc in each stitch around. (12 sc)
- Rnd 3: Sc in next st, inc in next st – repeat around. (18 sc)
- Rnd 4: Sc in next 2 st, inc in next st – repeat around. (24 sc)
- Rnd 5: Sc in next 3 st, inc in next st – repeat around. (30 sc)
Body Rounds:
- Rnd 6-8: Sc in each st around. (30 sc)
Decreasing Rounds:
- Rnd 9: Sc in next 3 st, dec in next st – repeat around. (24 sc)
- Rnd 10: Sc in next 2 st, dec in next st – repeat around. (18 sc)
- Rnd 11: Sc in next st, dec in next st – repeat around. (12 sc)
- Rnd 12: Dec around (6 st).
- Fasten off, leaving a long tail for closing the hole.
Finishing the Head:
- Stuff the head lightly with polyester fiberfill.
- Use a tapestry needle to weave the tail through the remaining stitches and pull tight to close the hole.
- Secure the tail and trim any excess yarn.

Magic Ring (to start each tentacle):
- Begin with the primary color for each tentacle.
- Make a magic ring (MR), then ch 1.
- Work 6 sc into the ring. Tighten the ring. (6 sc)
Increasing Rounds:
- Rnd 2: Inc in each stitch around. (12 sc)
- Rnd 3: Sc in next st, inc in next st – repeat around. (18 sc)
Body Rounds:
- Rnd 4-10: Sc in each st around. (18 sc)
Decreasing Rounds:
- Rnd 11: Sc in next st, dec in next st – repeat around. (12 sc)
- Rnd 12: Dec around. (6 sc)
Finishing the Tentacle:
- Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
- Stuff lightly with fiberfill if desired to give the tentacles some structure.
- Repeat the above steps to make all 8 tentacles.

Start by attaching each tentacle to the base of the head. You should space them evenly around the head, placing 4 tentacles on each side.
Use the tapestry needle to sew each tentacle securely to the base, ensuring they are even and symmetrical.

Creating the Eyes:
- With an accent color (e.g., white), make a magic ring (MR) and work 6 sc into the ring. Tighten the ring. (6 sc)
- Rnd 2: Inc in each stitch around. (12 sc)
- Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing the eye.
Embroidering the Pupil: Using black embroidery thread, embroider a small black dot in the center of each eye to form the pupil.
Attaching the Eyes:
- Position the eyes symmetrically on the head, above the center.
- Sew each eye securely to the head using a tapestry needle.

Mouth:
- Using black embroidery thread, stitch a small curved line below the eyes to create the mouth.
- You can adjust the shape or add more details as desired.
Additional Features (Optional): You can add extra accents, such as marks or lines on the tentacles using a contrasting color (e.g., light blue or black) to create texture or patterns.

Attaching the Head to the Body: Since the head is already crocheted and the tentacles are attached to it, no additional body part needs to be stitched. If you like, you can use a few stitches to secure any loose areas, but the head should already be stable.
Finishing Touches:
- Trim any excess yarn from the eyes, mouth, and other details.
- Adjust the stuffing inside the head and tentacles to ensure the octopus has a rounded shape.
- Double-check all attachments and secure any loose ends by weaving in the yarn tails with a tapestry needle.

Download PDF

Carolina the Octopus Pattern Download