This octopus barely counts as a project, and I wasn't sure about posting the pattern so I asked on FB if I should. Because it's so easy and so fast. It was one of my little yarn doodles and a fun use of small amounts of worsted weight yarn. It uses mini pony beads worked into the crochet for eyes, and it's a nice method for adding eyes to finger puppets, hats and other things where safety eyes with their pegs may not be the best choice.
You will need:
- small amount worsted weight yarn- I used Bernat Handicrafter in Pinky Stripes
- Size F hook
- yarn needle
- 2 mini pony beads (4x7 mm)
- scissors
Abbreviations:
st or sts = stitch or stitches
sc = single crochet
sl st- slip stitch
beaded sc= beaded single crochet- insert hook into stitch, yarn over, pull loop through stitch (2 loops on hook), push bead up, yarn over, pull yarn through loops on hook.
repeat ** = repeat the instructions between the *asterisks*
Put the 2 pony beads on the yarn. Push them up out of the way until they are needed.
Ch 2 or make magic ring
Round 1- 4 sc in first ch on hook or magic ring. Sl st to join.
Round 2: ch 1, does not count as first stitch, 2 sc in each stitch around, sl st to join (8 sc)
Round 3: ch 1, does not count as first stitch, sc in first st, sc in next sc, sc in next st, beaded sc in next st, sc in next st, beaded sc in next st, sc in next st, sc in last st, sl st to join.
Round 4: ch 1, does not count as first stitch, sc in each stitch around, sl st to join
Round 5: ch 1, does not count as first stitch, sc in each stitch around, sl st to join
Tentacles:
Round 6: *ch 8, skip last ch, sl st in next 3 sts, skip 4th ch, sl st in last 3 chs, sl st in next st on round 5* repeat ** 7 times working one tentacle in each stitch around.
Break off yarn, weave in ends.
The skipped chain is what makes the little curve in the tentacle by making one side long then the other.
Super easy! Because they are worked with a smaller hook and pretty small they also stand up pretty well even without a finger in them, so you could make a handful of them to decorate a curio shelf very quickly.
I use this method to make eyes for a lot of my crochet figures, especially when working with thread. Beaded eyes are easy and inexpensive. In the example below I used size 8 seed beads with size 10 crochet cotton.
