Crochet Octopus For Preemies

A Crochet octopus is fun to make and offers comfort to babies! Maybe you want to crochet an octopus for preemies, crochet one for a young child or make an octopus amigurumi for yourself!

Let’s be honest here.. we all pretty much love weaving our fingers into those curly octopus tentacles!

My venture into crochet octopuses started with a news article about a father in Denmark who asked for a crocheted octopus for his baby. Hospital staff observed that the premature babies grasped the curly tentacles of the octopusinstead of pulling at their tubes.

The theory is that the curly tentacles mimic the umbilical cord and comfort the baby! What an amazing thought ~ that yarn and hook can lead to comfort for a premature baby!

It touched my heart. But of course, at the time I couldn’t find an octopus pattern that was made just the way I like. I’m not a fan of sewing on extra pieces when I can crochet something on instead. I also like a round octopus head, but acknowledge that an octopus really should have a slight oval shape as a nod to a real octopus.

So my adorable octopus has a slightly oblong head and a clever construction for attaching the tentacles. This well loved octopus has been viewed nearly 1 million times since it’s debut. It is a well loved and easy to follow crochet pattern. 

Is This Octopus Pattern Beginner – Friendly?

This octopus crochet amigurumi is such a fun project and it’s a great pattern for beginners to amigurumi. It features basic crochet stitches and simple increases and decreases and because it’s made in one piece there’s no intimidating sewing at the end!

Why You’ll Love Crocheting Octopuses!

Even though this beautiful crochet octopus features requires only basic crochet skills, it is a fun pattern for everyone! It takes on a life of its own as you quickly work it and … I’m telling you.. the fact that it’s seamless makes it way too fun to crochet!

Just work the head, insert the safety eyes (if using) and stuff as you go. When you get to the tentacle area, it’s fun to work the curly strands and before you know all 8 tentacles are complete and you are finishing up your darling little octopus!

It’s a perfect gift but it also looks pretty darn great on your desk at work or tucked into a little spot on a shelf at home. So fun!

Octopus Crochet Pattern Essentials

If this crochet octopus toy is your first time working an amigurumi pattern, here are a few tips to get you started with this free crochet pattern:

Start with a magic ring (also called a magic circle) to make your starting stitches nice and tight. Wondering how magic rings work? Be sure to check out my magic ring tutorial!

The octopus free pattern is worked mostly in single crochet. You’ll also need to know the chain stitch, and sl st (slip stitch). And of course, you will need stuffing and a tapestry needle to finish off your crochet octopus.

If you know how to single crochet and chain stitch you’ll be well on your way to making this octopus toy. Amigurumi are worked in continuous rounds which can make it hard to keep track of your rows. That’s why I always use a stitch markerson the last stitch in a row. 

I love that there are not a bunch of octopus body pieces in this cute crochet octopus pattern; there is no fastening off and attaching separate crochet curlicue tentacles. The pattern is worked in one piece, starting at the top of the head.

Other crocheters will use the stitch marker in the first single crochet stitch of the row. Or use a scrap piece of contrasting color yarn wedged between the first and last stitch of the row to keep track. It is really easy to lose your place, so pick a way of tracking each row and be consistent. 

Crocheting Octopus Toys for Preemies in the NICU

If you are making this crochet octopus to donate, be sure to contact your local hospital to get their requirements. Every hospital is different and has different rules for donated items.

Embroidering eyes are a must for babies for safety reasons. Even though plastic safety eyes may seem safe, for the littles of littles the small parts are a no- no. I especially like embroidering sleepy eyes for octopus intended for babies. So fun and so sweet!

How Do You Embroider An Octopus Face?

Embroidered features made out of simple stitches are just as lovely and a great alternative to safety eyes. Use embroider needles and floss or choose a contrasting or dark yarn and use french knots and back stitches to make eyes and a mouth, if desired. Or make sleepy eyes with simple straight stitches.

Supplies You’ll Need for Crocheting An Octopus

You’ll need very basic supplies for crocheting your octopus: yarn, a crochet hook, a stitch marker, stuffing and a yarn needle.

Crochet Hook Suggestions for Octopus Patterns

When I designed this cute little crochet octopus, it was important to me that the stitches be very dense and tight. I originally used a C (2.50 mm) hook, which is quite small for worsted weight cotton. While it does achieve that tight fabric look I was going for, I don’t always enjoy crocheting with that small of a hook.

So sometimes, I will use a F (3.75mm) or a G (4.00 mm) instead. I find that the octopus still turns out perfect and the size is not that much different. For instance, the blue-gray octopus with the sleeping eyes in this post was crocheted with a 4.00 mm hook.

The beauty of amigurumi crochet is that the item stays in proportion to itself. So you can easily move up or down in crochet hook size and your octopus will still look in proportion. Just know that your little guy might turn out a bit smaller or bigger than you planned!

Best Yarn Options for a Crochet Octopus Pattern

I love cotton yarn for my crochet octopuses. Organic cotton yarn is even lovelier. Truthfully, though, you can use your choice of yarn and work in a variety of colors. The choice is up to you and you might just find what you need in your yarn stash!

Of course, if you plan on giving the crochet octopus to a little one, it’s best to read the yarn label for washing instructions and choose your yarn accordingly.

Tips for a Perfect Crocheted Octopus

Thousands upon thousands of crocheters have made this beloved crochet octopus pattern which has given me insight into what aspects of the pattern are easy vs more challenging.

For the most part the octopus is very straightforward and most crocheters find the magic ring, the single crochet stitch and the increases and decreases easy to work.

The tentacle set up and tentacles themselves might require a bit of care. To prep for the actual tentacles, you work a round in the front loop only. Later, when the tentacles are complete, you come back and work in the back loops to finish off your little octopus.

The tentacles themselves each begin with a chain and then multiple single crochet stitches are worked into each chain, producing the curl.

Adjusting Your Stitch Tension

Remember how I mentioned that I used a small 2.500 mm crochet hook for this pattern? Well this small hook size means that my chain stitches are small and somewhat tight. This also means that I can crochet 2 single crochet stitches into each chain stitch and get a great curl in my octopus’s tentacle.

Many crocheters find this works great for them too! But other crocheters find that 2 sc stitches do not produce much of a curl at all! The reason all comes down to stitch tension.

We all crochet differently and sometimes our tension varies.  It can vary from one crocheter to another.  But it also can vary within your own work.  If you have a stressful day, you might find yourself crocheting much tighter than on a vacation day, for instance.

If you find that your octopus tentacles are not curling as you’d like, the simplest solution is to just add a 3^rd single crochet stitch into each of those chains (so sc3 instead of sc2).  Another option would be to hold your yarn tighter so that your chain is tighter to begin with or to drop a hook size.

It’s also ok to chain more chains or less chains if you’d like your octopus’s tentacles a different length.   

Crochet Octopus Pattern

Here is what you will need:

• US C2/2.50 mm crochet hook (Did you know you can purchase my go-to hooks on Amazon?)
• 3.5 oz Worsted weight cotton yarn. I used ‘I Love this Cotton’ worsted weight yarn by Hobby Lobby in a turquoise yarn color and a variegated yarn
• 9 mm safety eyes
• tapestry needle and scissors

A small hook produces a tight finished product and no stuffing will show through the stitches (and no small holes for tiny fingers to slip into). The tentacles are just the right length–long enough to be fun, but not too long for an octopus for preemies!

With worsted weight cotton yarn and a C hook, make a magic ring.

R1: 6 sc into ring (6 st)

R2: 2 sc in ea st around (12 st)

R3: *sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * around (18 st)

R4: *sc in next 2 st, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * around (24 st)

R5: *sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * around (30 st)

R6: *sc in next 4 st, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * around (36 st)

R7-12: sc around (36 st)

R13: *sc in next 4 st, sc 2 tog, repeat from * around (30 st)

R14: sc around (30 st)

If you are using safety eyes, now is the time to attach them. Using 9mm safety eyes, attach between rows 12 & 13, allowing approximately 5 stitches in between, or whatever distance looks good to you. If you are embroidering the eyes for an octopus for a small child, do so after the octopus is stuffed and completed.

R15: *sc in next 3 st, sc 2 tog, repeat from * around (24 st)

R16: sc around (24 st)

R17: *sc in next 2 st, sc 2 tog, repeat from * around. (18 st)

R18: *sc in next st, sc 2 tog, repeat from * around (12 st)

Stuff the octopus. Now you will work the next row in the front loop only. Later you will come back through on the underside to grab those back loops and finish off the octopus. (Read here to learn about stitch parts.)

R19: working in the front loop only, *sc in the next st, sc 2 tog, repeat from * around (8 st).

Octopus Toy Tentacle

Now comes the fun part: Making the tentacles for our octopus amigurumi! I love this part best because it starts with a long chain stitch and then you make that chain stitch curl! So fun!

Make the tentacles as follows:

*ch 50. sc in the 2nd ch from hook. 2 sc in ea chain across. When back to the body, sl st in the next stitch. Repeat from * 7 more times to make a total of 8 tentacles.

Arrange the octopus so that the tentacles are overlapping the body/head and the open end is up towards you. You will be working in the free loops from row 19 which are now on the underside of your octopus. They can be a bit difficult to see, so just do your best and sc 2 together around. Fasten off yarn and then weave the yarn through the remaining stitches and pull tight.

Crochet Octopus Frequently Asked Questions

This crochet octopus is one of the most favorite of all crochet patterns. It is just so fun and fast to make. And it’s the kind of gift that warms your heart-spreading love out into the world! Over the years, readers have reached out with crochet octopus questions so here’s a little FAQ to help you out on your crochet octopus journey!

What kind of yarn can you use for making the octopuses? I really like using 100% cotton worsted weight yarn for my crochet octopus. I like the crisp stitches and it’s an easy material for babies. If that’s not important to you or if you are crocheting your octopus for an older child (or even yourself) you might enjoy a different yarn fiber.

How to crochet an octopus? If you’re wondering how to crochet an octopus step by step, this post is perfect for you. Just follow the directions, one step at a time and you will have a darling little crochet octopus when you are done! Be sure to follow the links if you get stuck on a particular crochet stitch and you’re new to pattern reading, be sure to learn how with my How to read a crochet pattern post.

Is the crochet octopus at a beginner skill level? A crochet octopus requires a little bit of an advanced experience skill level. If you’re a beginner with a little bit of experience and are ready to work in the round, work increases and decreases and keep track of your rows, this is a great small project to take your crochet to the intermediate skill level! Just remember to take extra time as you need and be patient with yourself and the cutest crochet octopus will emerge from your hook!

How do you crochet a magic ring? You might notice that my amigurumi patterns all start with a magic ring. That’s because a crochet magic circle (aka magic ring) enables you to pull that starting row really tight. Be sure to read my How to Crochet a Magic Ring Post for step by step directions. Readers tell me it really helped them understand how to work this technique.

How do you crochet an octopus tentacles? Or how do you crochet octopus legs? The octopus tentacles is basically a long string of crochet chain stitches to start and then 2 single crochet stitches into each chain stitch.

What to do when tentacles are not twisted much? This is a great question. For some people 2 stitches into each chain using the same yarn and hook size as in the pattern creates the same twisted tentacle look as I achieved. But for others, the tentacle pieces are too loose and looks more like wavy spiral crocheting on leg. This is because we all crochet differently. You might crochet tighter or looser than I do. Or you could have chosen a different yarn and hook combination. In any case, this is an easy fix. Simply add ONE MORE stitch to each chain stitch (So THREE single crochet stitches instead of two).

Can you make this pattern out of different yarn? Yes, you certainly can! You can make a cute baby octopus plushies out of bulky blanket yarn like Bernat Blanket Super Bulky 6 yarn, Bernat Pipsqueak Extra Soft Bulky Weight Yarn or another bulky yarn weight. You can also go smaller than a worsted weight 4 yarn, such as a DK weight yarn or even thread. If using a different weight yarn, just adjust the hook size for the yarn. Be sure to also allow for additional yarn if going bigger as a larger octopus will take more yarn.

This is an excellent scrap yarn project perfect for a baby birthday gift or cute baby shower gifts. Remember, though, if you are gifting toys to babies to embroider black yarn eyes (or other contrasting favorite yarn colors). Just pick your favorite color of yarn and your cuddliest baby gift is a few moments away!

How do you crochet small animals? Maybe this adventure into crocheting an octopus has you excited about crocheting even more crochet dolls and toys! I love crocheting amigurumi so much that I wrote an entire amigurumi ebook! Or if you just want to dip your toe into the crochet toy pool, you might enjoy my free Amigurumi Secrets with this tip sheet for my newsletter subscribers:

More Free Amigurumi Crochet Patterns

If you love this Crochet Octopus pattern, you might also like to check out these other patterns for babies. You can find all our Baby Crochet Patterns here.

Hippo Rattle // Friendly Crochet Spider // Snowman Octopus

More Crochet Patterns

Do you love crochet as much as I do? I think you’re going to love these other free crochet patterns:

• Crochet Princess Lovey
• Easy Crochet Hat
• Crochet Heart
• Crochet Bee
• Crochet Cow
• Crochet Turtle
• Easy Crochet Dishcloth
• Crochet Cat Sweater
• Men’s Crochet Beanie

I love seeing your finished projects! If you enjoyed making the Crochet Octopus Pattern I’d love to see yours on Instagram, be sure to tag me @crochet365knittoo. If you are on Facebook, stop over to the Crochet 365 Knit Too Facebook page or pop over to the Crochet365KnitToo Club and share a photo! I’d love to see your work!