Materials Needed & Measurements:
- Yarn:
- Color A: Light Teal, 320 yards (1 ball of Bernat Blanket yarn, 6 – Super Bulky, 100% polyester, 300g/10.5 oz, 220 yards per ball).
- Color B: White, 100 yards (1 ball of Bernat Blanket yarn, same specifications as above).
- Worsted Weight Yarn: 12″ (30 cm) of black yarn (for details or accents).
- Buttons:
- 40+ teal buttons, ½” (12mm) size (e.g., My Favorite Colors, JOANN).
- Two black buttons, ⅞” (22mm) size (e.g., La Mode, JOANN).
- Stuffing Pillow:
- 10″ round microbead pillow (blue) from Amazon.
- Alternative: Amazon square pillow if the round one is unavailable.
- Additional Materials:
- Stitch markers
- Coats sewing thread in white
- Gauge: 4″ (10cm) across after completing Round 3.
- Crochet Hook: US-L, 7.0 mm hook (e.g., Furls)
- Finished Size: Approximately 10″ around (excluding tentacles).
Abbreviations (US Terminology):
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- inc: increase (2 sc in the same stitch)
- st(s): stitch(es)
- rnd(s): round(s)
Stitching Instructions for Making the Octopus Squish Pattern:
Base of the Octopus (Head):
- Using Color A (Light Teal):
- Start with a magic ring (or ch 2 and work into the first chain).
- Rnd 1: Work 6 sc into the magic ring. Pull the ring tight. Sl st to the first sc to join. (6 sts)
- Rnd 2: Work 2 sc in each st around (inc in every st). Sl st to join. (12 sts)
- Rnd 3: (sc in the first st, inc in the next st) repeat around. Sl st to join. (18 sts)
- Rnd 4: (sc in the next 2 sts, inc in the following st) repeat around. Sl st to join. (24 sts)
- Rnd 5: (sc in the next 3 sts, inc in the following st) repeat around. Sl st to join. (30 sts)
- Continue increasing:
- In each subsequent round, increase by adding 1 more sc between each inc until the base measures approximately 10″ in diameter.
- Example: Rnd 6 will be (4 sc, inc) around; Rnd 7 will be (5 sc, inc) around, etc.
Body Section:
- Once the base reaches the desired size, stop increasing.
- Work Even Rounds:
- For the next 10-12 rounds (or until the body measures about 5″ tall), sc evenly around without any increases.
- Use stitch markers to mark the start of each round.
- Fasten off Color A but leave a long tail to sew the top of the octopus shut later.
Tentacles (Make 8):
- Attach Color A yarn to the base edge of the body.
- Insert your hook into one stitch at the bottom edge, yarn over, and pull through to attach.
- Row 1: Ch 30.
- Row 2: Starting from the second ch from the hook, work 2 sc into each chain across. (This creates a spiral effect for the tentacle.)
- When you reach the base, sl st into the next st to anchor the tentacle.
- Repeat Steps 2-4 to make 8 tentacles, spacing them evenly around the base edge.
- Fasten off and weave in any loose ends.
Eyes:
- Using Worsted Weight Black Yarn:
- Make a magic ring.
- Work 6 sc into the ring and pull tight. Sl st to join. (6 sts)
- Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
- Sew the black button (⅞”) onto the center of the crocheted black base using white sewing thread.
- Position the eyes evenly on the front of the octopus body and sew securely using the black yarn tail.
Assembly:
- Insert the 10″ round microbead pillow into the body. Ensure it fits snugly.
- Close the top of the body:
- Use the long tail from the body section.
- Either whipstitch or sc around the top edge to close. Pull tight and secure.
- Weave in any remaining loose ends.
Finishing Touches:
- Sew or glue teal buttons (½” size) randomly across the octopus’s body for added detail.
- Make sure all buttons and accents are securely attached, especially if the octopus is intended for children.
- Use a yarn needle to weave in any remaining yarn tails for a polished look.
Your Octopus Squish is now ready to snuggle!
Download PDF
