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This is a This is a free crochet pattern for creating the Octopus Amigurumi for Boy and Girl Preemies, which means this wonderfully easy pattern is designed and organized such that you can make a male or female version. This pattern has both photos and videos.
The small hand reaches out and grabs the tentacle. The shape is familiar. The texture is warm and soft. Immediately, the baby’s heart rate begins to slow down as the calm, familiarity of this environment relaxes the nerves.
To learn how to support your local hospitals by making your own octopus amigurumi, please continue to the tutorial below.
Recently, the crochet octopus came into the news, because hospitals are asking for donations of octopus with spiral tentacles as they are thought to represent the umbilical cord for premature babies. They love snuggling with those crocheted octopus stuffed animals.
Of course, there are several things you will need to know and be aware of when crocheting these octopuses.
First, they need to be crocheted with 100% cotton yarn only, because the hospitals need to be able to wash them in high temperatures and cotton yarn is just the best yarn for those circumstances. Also you must use anti-allergenic poly-fill.
Notes About Donating Amigurumi Octopus to the NICU
Technically my octopuses are a bit larger than usually accepted. If you use a smaller hook than mine, you should be able to meet the safety standard on the size. Also make sure no fur, odor, or hair is on them.
They also need to be washed at high temperature before giving them to the NICU. Make sure you call your local NICU at the Hospital before dropping off these octopuses, to be sure you follow their standards.
I do not guarantee that my pattern meets the standard, neither do I assume any liability if something happens with the babies when they were given to them.
Furthermore, you cannot use any plastic eyes, embellishments or accessories on the crocheted octopuses as those can be easily swallowed and may be a choking hazard!
Finally, be sure to use a small or large enough hook (to make it comfortable while crocheting) that does not create any holes when making your stitches. You do not want any of the poly-fill content of the amigurumi to escape while using or washing it. That can also be dangerous for babies.
Free Amigurumi Octopus Crochet Tutorial
Now, that you know the basics of how to crochet a safe to use octopus, let me tell you that I created a complete step-by-step video tutorial of every part of the pattern. Of course, that makes the video a bit longer, but so worth watching it.
Be sure to add this pattern to your Ravelry Favorites by clicking the button below.
If you add this pattern to your Ravelry Favorites and share it on social media as a link, I will be able to share a lot more free crochet patterns for you all.
You can get the crochet pattern for the Octopus Amigurumi on Ravelry, Etsy, LoveCrafts, or my new membership The Crochet Club. The Crochet Club has so much more to offer than just PDF patterns! You get tutorials, references and the complete VIP treatment as well.
If you pay just twice the amount as this pattern costs and you have a month’s worth of The Crochet Club Membership with a lot more patterns – it’s well worth it.
If you do not want to join The Crochet Club, you can also purchase the ad-free, printer-friendly PDF pattern at the links below. But IF you join the All-Access Membership you will automatically get this pattern.
In addition, I created a downloadable PDF that has all of the pictures separated from the pattern, so you can choose whether you want to print them or not. This can save you a lot of ink in the long run. You can buy the ad-free, printer-friendly PDF on Ravelry, Etsy, LoveCrafts, and my VIP crochet membership, The Crochet Club.
So let me now get started and tell you what you will need in order to crochet these awesome male and female octopuses.
How to crochet an Octopus for boy and girl preemies
Material List:
Stitches used (US terms):
Click HERE to learn these basic stitches
- sl st = slip stitch
- sc = single crochet
- inc = increase
- dec = decrease
- flo = front loop only
- ch = chain
Gauge:
4 sc x 5 rows = 1 square inch
Final Size:
14.5 (height of head and tentacles together) x 4 (diameter) inches
If you use a smaller hook, the size will be smaller and possibly meet the safety standard. No guaranty though.
Instructions:
I will write the girl yarn colors in parenthesis so you will know exactly what I used for which part of the pattern.
Start with the Azure (Blush) yarn
You will work in continuous rounds, so be sure to use a stitch marker!
Round 1:
Make a magic ring and add 8 sc’s to the center, close up the hole (8 sts)
Round 2:
2 sc’s in each st all around (16 sts)
Round 3:
*1 sc, 1 sc inc, repeat from * all around (24 sts)
Round 4:
*1 sc, 1 sc, 1 sc inc, repeat from * all around (32 sts)
Round 5:
*[1 sc] 3 times, 1 sc inc, repeat from * all around (40 sts)
Round 6:
*[1 sc] 4 times, 1 sc inc, repeat from * all around (48 sts)
Round
7 – 21: *1 sc in st all around (48 sts)
Round 22:
*[1 sc] 4 times, 1 sc dec in the flo, repeat from * all around (40 sts)
Round 23:
*[1 sc] 3 times, 1 sc dec in the flo, repeat from * all around (32 sts)
Round 24:
*[1 sc] 2 times, 1 sc dec in the flo, repeat from * all around (24 sts)
Round 25:
*1 sc, 1 sc dec in the flo, repeat from * all around (16 sts)
You should add the poly-fill now. Do not over stuff it as you do not want the stitches to create gaps to make the poly-fill appear!
Round 26:
*1 sc dec in the flo all around (8 sts)
Now use a tapestry needle and sew the hole closed. Be sure to watch my video tutorial below, so you can see exactly how I did it. Fasten off and weave in the end.
Crocheting the tentacles of the Octopus
Now, attach the Aqua (Rose) yarn with a slip stitch to the just closed up area.
{**Row 1: Ch 60, 1 sc in the second ch from the hook, 2 sc’s in the rest of the chains
Slip stitch 1/4 over (imaging a circle where the 4 corners are 4 tentacles)
Repeat from** 3 more times.
Fasten off the yarn, weave in the ends.}
Next, attach the Denim (Red) yarn a bit further in of the circle of the tentacles that was just created.
Repeat between the {} 4 times.
Crocheting the eyes and sewing the mouth on the head of the octopus
Start with the black yarn and make two eyes suing the instructions below
Round 1: Make a magic ring and add 8 sc’s to the center, close up the hole, sl st to the first st (8 sts), cut a longer piece of yarn as the yarn end
Weave in the inner yarn end that helped close the hole of the magic ring.
Sewing on the Eyes
Using the outer yarn end and a tapestry needle, sew on the eyes evenly next to each other by going thru the back loop only.
For the girl, also add 3 different sized eyelashes to the eyes as the pictures show.
Now, use on the yarn ends of the eyes and weave it thru to the place where one of the mouth corners is. Now sew a smiling mouth to the octopuses’ head.
Fasten off and weave in all the rest of your ends.
You are now done creating your awesome octopus you can donate to hospitals around the world to support and provide comfort to boy and girl premature babies.
Full Video Tutorial of the crocheted Octopus (girl):
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Be sure to share this free crochet pattern for this octopus as a LINK on social media. Thank you!
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