Giant Amigurumi Octopus!

As I mentioned before, JoAnn’s sent me their new Cape Discovery catalog, which features 72 projects perfect for kids & teens to make as Summer projects! They asked me to make a project from the catalog and this crochet octopus just looked way too awesome to pass up! If you’d like to make your own, you can find the free pattern right here!

They encouraged me to add my own twist to the project so I made a few modifications. First of all, I used Caron Simply Soft (pagoda & passion) & Bernat Satin (aqua) rather than the yarns the pattern recommended. Also, I thought it would be even more awesome if I made the octopus bigger so I made the entire thing holding two strands of yarn together! He ended up being about 8 inches high and has a leg span (when they’re stretched straight out) of about 30 inches. I made his eye balls using embroidery floss rather than yarn.

I have a few notes about the pattern to share:

– The pattern calls for you to join at the end of rounds when making the head and I didn’t do that because I think it’s unnecessary and looks better without the seam.

– This pattern actually makes a heptapus not an octopus, which means it only has seven legs. I was kinda bummed about this and would have modified it had I noticed soon enough, but when I use someone else’s pattern I tend to just follow it and not think ahead. So he has seven legs! If you want to make one with eight legs, it’s a really easy fix. In the first round of the head it says, “7 sc in 2nd ch from hook”. Instead make 8 sc and everything will work out!

– It’s designed to be assembled so that the bottom is wrong side out and this sort of thing drives me nuts. I’m one of those people who hates to see inside out amigurumi! haha! :P I know, it’s really just a personal preference thing but it bugs me so I modified it to be right side out. It’s kind of hard to explain what I did so refer to the two pictures below:

I only partially made the bottom, and stopped at the part where you start chaining to make the legs. Then I made the legs by crocheting in the chain I made for the top part of the leg. Afterwards, I sewed the bottom in place and single crocheted along the edge with the purple to finish it off! A lot of extra work but I think it was worth it!

It was a somewhat time consuming project but he turned out so well that I think it was worth the effort! It’s one of the coolest looking octopus patterns I’ve seen, so I recommend it if you’re a slightly more advanced crocheter!

I would love to hear what you think of him! Will you try making one of your own?

EDIT: The pattern was moved to a different URL. The links in this post have been updated. You can now find the pattern right here!

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31 Comments

  1. It is quite unique and soooooo cute! I would not think of ever cuddling with an octopus and are naturally turned off by them, but here you have made one that is quite inviting for a squeeze and a cuddle too!

  2. Just had to let you know, I think you did a beautiful job on the octopus!! I love the changes, the colors, it is just so cute!!!

  3. So awesome! I love the colours you used! How hard is it to crochet? Is the basic process of creating the legs sort of similar to making points on a flat star?

  4. Julie, I Love this octopus and hope to make 3 of them for my granddaughters. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

  5. This is beautiful. I’m forever making new toys for my wool obsessed two year old. Can’t wait to make and show him this!

  6. Hi Julie, I absolutely love your Giant Octopus. I’m going to make 3 of them for my granddaughters. So wish me luck. I’m going to try to add the 8th leg, hoping it will work out ok. Wish me luck….

  7. i can no longer find your pattern for this octopus. which i like much better then the original.is there anyway you can send to me? ty so much barbara forshaw

  8. Hi Julie,
    I can’t seem to acquire the pattern. Would you be willing to email me a copy of the pattern please? Thank you :()

  9. Do you have an unbroken link for this pattern? I tried all the links and couldn’t find it and even searched the joann’s page. Thanks!

  10. I found you today and saw this amazing Octopus but unfortunately it is no longer at the website you send us to. Do you have a copy of the crochet pattern I could download or print out? My 6 year old Grandson would love one of these for his birthday!
    Thank you!

  11. Hi Julie! I love the octopus pattern, but the link doesn’t work (anymore?)… Could you please send me a copy by email? Thanks!

  12. Hi just found it and its beautiful…unfortunetaly the webpage is not working. Can you please send the patern on my email? Thanks so much!
    Martina

  13. Is it possible to have this pattern sent to my email address? I commented over a month ago and hoped to receive a return reply? This parttern is awesome and would love to know where I can find it!
    Caren

  14. Darn!!! I just finished the exact same pattern you’re referring to & I’m kicking myself for not looking deeper and seeing your notes and your beautiful octopus here! I wish I’d have seen your post and went the route you did. The number of legs bugged me too! I think the way you did the legs looks easier than the way the pattern called for, so great job figuring this thing out and making it so unique! I adore the color combo you used!

    I think, after seeing your notes, I might give a second octopus a shot! :) Thanks for sharing your adorable work!

  15. hola que encantada con el pulpo.quisiera hacerlo por desgracia no entiendo el patron. por favor me enviarías mas detallado con las cantidades de puntos por finales de vueltas . espero su contestación muchas gracias

  16. hi i started to make it is one of the best one i seen for it and i think it adorable im making for a very sick little boy and he just love OCTOPUS i no he will enjoy it
    so thank you for the pattern

  17. Thanks for the tip about adding an additional stitch to the starting circle, for 8 legs instead of 7.
    I’m a new to crochet, just started Jan 2016. My 4 year old son wanted an octopus, so I gave this pattern a try. I’m so happy I did, it turned out great. Mine is quite a bit smaller than yours as I used a 3.5 mm hook & yarn to accommodate.

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