If you want to purchase an ad-free PDF version of this pattern, you can find it HERE on etsy or HERE on ravelry. The PDF is a two-in-one, so it also has the directions to make this octopus as an adorable mini amigurumi stuffed animal!
This pattern is fairly simple, the trickiest part is just working with embroidery floss. The strands can sometimes separate, and the small size of the hook can make it hard to work quickly. But it’s definitely worth the challenge because you end up with such a cute keychain!
At the end of this post/pattern I also include tips for sewing the little guy together so that your woven in ends will NEVER come out! When I first made one of these for a friend she had it attached to her backpack and a tentacle fell off. I felt so bad!
I was determined to never have that happen again, so I came up with a way to weave the ends in so they’d never come out. So make sure you read to the end to see how I do this!
NOTE: If you are wanting to sell finished products you’re welcome to, just make sure you link back to my pattern here and credit me with the design. Thank you!
Abbreviations
- Sc – single crochet
- Inc – increase
- Dec – decrease
- FO – Finish off
- Rnd – round
- sts – stitches
Materials
- Size F 3.75mm crochet hook
- One color of worsted weight yarn (For example Red Heart Super Saver, Loops & Threads Impeccable, etc.)
- 1 pair of 12mm safety eyes
- Scissors
- Yarn needle
- Stuffing (I use polyester fiberfill)
Head
Rnd 1: 6 sc in a Magic Ring (6)
Rnd 2: inc in each sc around (12)
Rnd 3: *sc, inc* 6 times (18)
Rnd 4: *sc (2), inc* 6 times (24)
Rnds 5-6: sc 24 each round
Rnd 7: sc 8, ch 2 and skip over one stitch, sc 4, ch 2 and skip over one stitch, sc 10 (26 counting each individual chain stitch)
** each ch 2 space creates the hole for the pegs of the 4mm safety eyes **
Rnd 8: sc 8, sc in the hole created by the ch 2, sc 4, sc in the hole created by the ch 2, sc 10 (24)
Rnd 9: sc 24 each round
If you are using safety eyes, place them in now between rows 7 and 8, with 5 stitches in between them. Snap on the back of the eyes, then begin stuffing the head.
Side Note: I found that the backs on the 4mm safety eyes are TOO BIG for such a small head. So to make them fit I had to trim the backing down to be a very small ring. If you have the same issue, just cut the outside ring of your safety eyes backs until they look like the middle ones in the picture below.
Rnd 10: *sc (2), dec* 6 times (18)
Rnd 11: *sc (1), dec* 6 times (12)
Rnd 12: *dec* 6 times (6)
You should now have 6 sts left. Cut the yarn leaving a tail about 6 inches long. Use a yarn/embroidery needle to thread the tail through the remaining loops. Pull tight to close the hole, similar to closing a drawstring bag. Then weave the tail in back through the head.
Tentacles (make 8)
Rnd 1: 5 sc in a Magic Ring (5)
Rnds 2-3: sc 5 in each rnd
FO leaving an 8 inch tail for sewing on.
Assembly
The entire assembly process that I have typed out is essentially just sewing the tentacles onto the bottom of the head, but I have included a second step after that which helps anchor all of the thread to each other so that it decreases the chance of a tentacle coming loose in the future.
This process should keep your little creation from coming apart no matter how it’s used!
Begin by sewing a tentacle onto the bottom of the head near round 11.
Once you’ve done that, you’ll poke the needle down through the body and then up out of the body between rounds 12 and 13 in a preexisting hole, so you’ll have a tail coming out of the underside of the octopus. (See the photos below.)
Sew the rest of the tentacles on in the same way as the previous one until all 8 are attached to the octopus and you have 8 strings coming out from between rounds 12 and 13. (See the photos below.)
After they are all sewed on, you will poke a crochet hook down in through one of those holes and out through one on the opposite side, grabbing that tail and pulling it out through where you started so that you have two tails coming up through the same hole. Continue to do so around the octopus so that you have 4 pairs of threads coming out of 4 holes. Knot these pairs together. (See the photos below.)
Next, trim each string to be about half an inch long, and then use the tip of your scissors to push the knot and the threads into the center of the octopus. The bottom should end up looking like the last photo below when it’s completed.
After that you’ll just need to attach your keyring to your octopus. Hook your jump ring through the MR you started with, place the keychain on, and close the jump ring. And your keychain is assembled!
Congratulations on making your own octopus!!
If you made one feel free to post a picture on social media with #lifewithbubbins or tag me on instagram @lifewithbubbins so I can see your lovely creations!
Thanks for following along!
