Can you crochet an Octopus?

New Forest for Ukraine no longer required knitted items for premature babies, however they would like help with crocheting an Octopus for premature babies.

Would you like to make a difference and help a premature baby feel safe – then grab your crochet hook. The tentacles of the octo resembles the cord and reminds the babies of the time in the womb. The octos get donated to families with premature babies.

MATERIALS:

– Crochet hook size 3 or 3,5 millimeter

– Cotton yarn (100 percent cotton only), cotton 8/4 or 8/8 ( the reason for mentioning more options is that tightness is individual and to emphasize that it is perfectly fine to use leftover yarn. The octos does not have to be all alike.

– Stuffing: Fiber filling – has to be washable at 60 degrees Celsius

– Tapestry needle

Abbreviations:

Dc – double crochet

Htc – half treble crochet

Tc – treble crochet

St – stitch

Sts – stitches

Ch – chain

Tg – together

Sl st – slip stitch

Yoh – yarn over hook

Body: working in continuous rounds:

1st round: 6 dc in a magic loop

2nd round: 2 dc in each st (12 sts in total)

3rd round: 2 dc in every other st, 1 dc in the other sts (18 sts in total)

4th round: 2 dc in every 3rd st, 1 dc in all other sts (24 sts)

5th round: 2 dc in every 4th st, 1 dc in all other sts (30 sts)

6th round: 2 dc in every 5th st, 1 dc in all other stitches (36 sts)

7th – 14th round: 1 dc in each st (36 sts each round)

15th round: *1 dc in the first 4 st, dc tg 5th and 6th st* repeat 5 times (30 sts remaining)

16th – 17th round: 1 dc in each st (30 sts)

18th round: *1 dc in each of 3 sts, dc tg 4th and 5th st* repeat 5 times (24 sts remaining)

19th-20th round: 1 dc in each st (24 sts)21st round: *1 dc in first 2 sts, dc tg 3rd and 4th st* repeat 5 times (18 sts remaining)

22nd round: 1 dc in each st (18 sts)

23rd round: *1 dc in first 7 sts, dc tg 8th and 9th st * repeat once (16 sts remaining)

24th round: 1 dc in each st (16 sts)

25th round: this is where the tentacles starts: *1 dc, chain 50, turn, 2 or 3 dc in each chain (49 chains), 1 dc in next st of the body* repeat 7 times, making 8 tentacles. End with a sl st, cut yarn and sew in the end.

The tentacles must not be longer than 22 centimeters when drawn out the longest they can, as they may be a choking hazard if longer.

Bottom:

1st round: 5 dc in a magic ring

2nd round: 2 dc in each stitch (10 stitches)

3rd round: 2 dc in every other stitch, 1 dc in the other stitches (15 stitches) End with a sl st, cut yarn and sew in the end.

Eyes:

Crochet in single white yarn, make 2 (or embroider the eyes as you like)

1st round: 4 dc in a magic loop

2nd round: 2 dc in each st (8 sts)

3rd round: 2 dc in every other st, 1 dc in the other (12 sts)

End with a sl st, cut yarn and sew in ends.

Embroider pupils with black thread.

Assembling the octo

Stuff the body and sew the bottom on. Sew on the eyes (or embroider them on) and embroider a

mouth using your preferred stitches.

Accessory inspiration

Purple flower/star:

1st round: ch 6, sl st in first st to make a ring

2nd round: ch 1, 10 dc in the ring, sl st in first dc to end round,

3rd round: ch 1, 1 dc in same st, *ch 3, miss 1 st, 1 dc in next st* repeat 4 times (last repeat ends

with a sl st instead of a dc) Now there should be 5 loops

4th round: into the first loop: ch 1, 1dc, 1 htc, 1 tc, 1 htc, 1 dc. Repeat into the other 4 loops, in the

last loop end with sl st instead of dc. Cut yarn and sew in ends

Green flower with 5 petals

1st round: ch 6, sl st into first st to form a ring

2nd round: ch 1, 10 dc into the ring, sl st in first dc to end round3rd round: ch 1, 1 dc in same st, *ch 3, miss 1 st, 1 dc in next st* repeat 4 times (5 loops)

4th round: *ch 3, (yoh, hook through loop, yoh, draw up till same height as the ch 3, do this 4 more

times (10 loops on hook), yoh, pull through all loops on the hook), ch 3, 1 dc in next st* repeat for

each of the 4 remaining loops, end last repeat with sl st instead of dc, fasten of, cut yarn and sew in

ends.

Hat:

1st round: 5 dc into a magic ring

2nd round: 2 dc in each st (10 sts)

3rd round: 2 dc in every other st, 1 dc in the rest (15 st)

4th-6th round: 1 dc in each st (15 sts)

7th round: 2 dc in each st (30 sts) sl st in first dc, fasten of, cut yarn and sew in ends

Stuff the hat a little bit and sew it onto the octo. Embroider the hat in 6th round with a double

string yarn in contrasting color and make a bow. Sew the bow securely to the hat to insure it does

not loosen.

Other items that are required can be seen here.

Or take a look at other knitted items that are required here.

Brockenhurst WI continue to make bandages for Ukraine, led by Rita. The group meets on Wednesday mornings and help is always required -either at these sessions or there are things you can do at home at a time to suit you. Contact us for information.

Thank you very much for your support.