Big Octopus Pillow Pet

It’s no secret that my favorite marine animal is the octopus. They’re just so smart! I got my daughter the Inky the Octopus picture book, and we love to read it at bedtime! Plus you hear stories about how an octopus knew it was being drawn, so it adopted artistic poses every 5 mins, or escaped its cage just to throw a bad shrimp at its caretaker. Those are such human-like reactions, it’s incredible. Apparently, the only reason octopuses aren’t attributed with human-like intelligence is because they don’t teach their young.

They also can regrow limbs – do you know how important that is to the scientific community? If they can regrow a tentacle, maybe studying it can help us figure out how to regrow an organ! Such an amazing animal!

So, in honor of the Outstanding Octopus, here’s my version of a Big Octopus Pillow Pet (I also made a mini one with thread just for fun!)!

9mm Hook, 6mm hook, optional 4mm hook

Bernat Blanket Yarn – One skein

Small amount of white #5 yarn for the eyes

Small amount of black #4 yarn OR 2 half inch black buttons

Polyfil

Main body, in Bernat Blanket yarn in Main Color, using 9mm hook:

You will be working in rounds, without slip stitching at the end of each round. Instead, put a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round, so you always find your way back to the beginning!

Round 1: Magic Circle. Ch1, 6sc. (6sc)

Round 2: 2sc in each st around. (12sc)

Round 3: (Sc, 2sc in the next st) around. (18sc)

Round 4: (Sc in next two sts, 2sc in the next st) around. (24sc)

Round 5: (Sc in next three sts, 2sc in the next st) around. (30sc)

Round 6: (Sc in next four sts, 2sc in the next st) around. (36sc)

Round 7: (Sc in next five sts, 2sc in the next st) around. (42sc)

Round 8: (Sc in next six sts, 2sc in the next st) around. (48sc)

Round 9: (Sc in next seven sts, 2sc in the next st) around. (54sc)

Round 10: (Sc in next eight sts, 2sc in the next st) around. (60sc)

Rounds 11-18: Sc in ea st around. (60sc)

Round 19: (Sc in the next 8 sts, sc2tog) around. (54sc)

Round 20: (Sc in next 7 sts, sc2tog) around. (48sc)

Round 21: (Sc in next 6 sts, sc2tog) around. (42sc)

Round 22: (Sc in next 5 sts, sc2tog) around. (36sc)

Round 23: This is where we make the tentacles! (Sc in next 2 sts. Ch22, 2dc in third ch from the hook. 3dc in each chain to the last. Sc2tog. Sc in next 3 sts. Ch22, 2dc in third ch from the hook. 3dc in each chain to the last. Sc2tog.) around. (28sc)

Round 24: (Sc in next 1 sts, sc2tog, sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog) around. The two sc’s you decrease over should be on each side of a tentacle. Stuff to desired firmness. (20sc)

Round 25: (Sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog) twice. (16sc)

Round 26: (Sc in next 1 sts, sc2tog) around. (12sc)

Round 27: Sc2tog around. (6sc)

FO. Close up the hole. Weave in end. 

Eyes (make two), in #5 yarn in white and using 6mm hook:

Magic Circle. Ch3 (counts as dc), 11 dc. Sl st to first dc. FO, leaving a long tail. (12dc)

Sew eyes onto Main Body at approximately rounds 12/13, leaving 5 sts between the eyes. 

Sew the black buttons on the white eyes, slightly lower than center, using the same white tail from the eyes. If not using buttons, with #4 black yarn and a #4 hook, do 6 sc in a Magic Circle, sl st to first sc, and FO. Sew onto white, slightly lower than center.

And that’s it! As always, I’d love to hear from you about what you think about the Big Octopus Pillow Pet, or any of my other creations, so feel free to leave a comment or ask a question!  If you make it, I’d love to see it in action, so tag me on Instagram @springintofalldesigns and on Ravelry at SpringintoFall.  Also, follow me on Instagram to be the first to know what new patterns are on their way!!!