Soft & Cuddly Crochet Squid & Octopus Tutorial Charming Gift For Children

Grab your crochet hook and yarn, and you can whip up a charming little squid or octopus! It's amazing how some loops and knots can turn into a soft, huggable sea creature. With each stitch, you add character, from their round bodies to the swirling tentacles.

Crochet Squid & Octopus

Materials Needed:

Category 4 yarn (color of your choice)
Polyfill stuffing
Two black safety eyes (or black yarn for eyes)
Darning needle (if using yarn for eyes)
3.75 mm crochet hook
Scissors

Pattern For Body:

Round 1:

Create a magic ring and chain 1. Make 6 single crochets (sc) into the ring. Close the ring. Slip stitch (sl st) to the first sc to join.

In Round 2:

Chain 1. Make 2 sc in each stitch around for a total of 12 stitches. Join with a sl st to the first sc.

Round 3:

Chain 1. 1 sc in the next stitch, then 2 sc in the next (increase). Repeat - around for a total of 18 stitches. Join with a sl st.

Round 4:

Chain 1. 2 sc, then an increase. Repeat - around for a total of 24 stitches. Join with a sl st.

For Rounds 5-6:

Chain 1. Make 1 sc in each stitch around for 2 rounds, maintaining 24 stitches. Join each round with a sl st.

Round 7 (Increase Round):

Chain 1. 3 sc, then an increase. Repeat - around for a total of 30 stitches. Join with a sl st.

Rounds 8-11:

Chain 1. Make 1 sc in each stitch around for 4 rounds, maintaining 30 stitches. Join each round with a sl st.

Adding Eyes and Mouth:

Place safety eyes between Rounds 7 and 8, spacing them about 5 stitches apart. If using yarn, sew on the eyes at this position.
Sew the mouth using black yarn slightly below and between the eyes.

Bottom of Body (Working in Back Loops Only for the Next Round):

Next Round:

Chain 1. 3 sc, then a decrease all around in the back loops only, to start forming the bottom of the squid, decreasing the stitch count to 24. Join with a sl st.

Following Round:

Chain 1. 2 sc, then a decrease around (not in back loops), decreasing to 18 stitches. Join with a sl st.
After this, stuff the body with polyfill before it gets too tight to fill.

Final Rounds:

Continue decreasing over the next few rounds until you can close the bottom.
Once you're down to about 6 stitches, cut the yarn, leaving a tail.
Use the darning needle to weave through the remaining stitches, pull tight to close, and secure the end.

Tentacles:

Create a slip knot and attach it to the front loop left from the round where you worked in the back loops only.
Chain 1 to secure it in place.
In the same loop, make 1 single crochet, 1 double crochet, and 1 single crochet to form the first bump of the tentacle.
Skip the next front loop, and in the following front loop, repeat step 3.
Continue around, creating bumps for tentacles by skipping one loop between each set of 1 sc, 1 dc, and 1 sc.