Oliver Octopus & Baby

Mabel Bunny & Co

Posted by Search Press

About

My star sign is Pisces and I love the rivers, seas and oceans. When you see octopuses in the sea they are so calm and graceful, gently moving around. Their whole energy just speaks to me. While I love all of my animals, Oliver Octopus is my favourite!
Oliver was made with our Cheeky Chunky yarn, which is a super bulky (super chunky) merino yarn. Mini Oliver was made with our Beau Baby yarn, which is a light worsted (DK) merino yarn.

Size: Approx. 33cm (13in) tall, tentacles approx. 67cm (26½in) long; baby is approx. 15cm (6in) tall, tentacles approx. 36cm (14in) long

Special stitches
Puff stitch as described on page 24, but repeat twice, so that you have seven loops on your hook.
Sl st together the tentacle (sl st tent) working on row 2, insert hook through stitch 126 and stitch 1, sl st through both stitches, continue down the tentacle.

Tip
Use the same pattern for both toys, but do not make a heart for Mini Oliver.

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You Will Need (14 things)

  • Oliver octopus

  • Three balls of Cheeky Chunky Merino yarn in natural grey (A); 200g/142yd/130m
  • 
Three balls of Cheeky Chunky Merino yarn in natural cream (B); 200g/142yd/130m
  • 
20g (¾oz) of Cheeky Chunky Merino yarn in baby pink (C), oddment in black (D); 200g/142yd/130m
  • 
8mm (US 11, UK 0) Crochet Hook
  • 
160g (5½oz) toy Stuffing

  • Mini oliver

  • 
Three balls of Beau Baby Merino /acrylic yarn in natural grey (A); 50g/98yd/90m
  • 
Two balls of Beau Baby Merino /acrylic yarn in natural cream (B); 50g/98yd/90m
  • 
Oddment of Beau Baby Merino /acrylic yarn in black (D); 50g/98yd/90m
  • 3 ½ mm (US 4, UK 9/10) Crochet Hook
  • 
80g (2¾oz) Toy Stuffing

  • Both

  • Tapestry Needle

Steps (7 steps, 600 minutes)

  1. 1

    Body
    Round 1: using yarn A, make a magic ring and work 6 sc (UK dc) into the ring (6 sts).
    Round 2: [2 sc (UK dc) in next st] six times (12 sts).
    Round 3: [1 sc (UK dc), 2 sc (UK dc) in next st] six times (18 sts).
    Round 4: [2 sc (UK dc), 2 sc (UK dc) in next st] six times (24 sts).
    Round 5: [3 sc (UK dc), 2 sc (UK dc) in next st] six times (30 sts).
    Round 6: [4 sc (UK dc), 2 sc (UK dc) in next st] six times (36 sts).
    Round 7: [5 sc (UK dc), 2 sc (UK dc) in next st] six times (42 sts).
    Round 8: [6 sc (UK dc), 2 sc (UK dc) in next st] six times (48 sts).
    Rounds 9–30: sc (UK dc) in each st around.

  2. 2

    Tentacle one (main tentacle)
    Continue using yarn A.
    Rows 1–60: 6 sc (UK dc), 1 ch, turn (6 sts).
    Row 61: 1 sc2tog (UK dc2tog), 2 sc (UK dc), 1 sc2tog (UK dc2tog), 1 ch, turn (4 sts).
    Row 62: 2 sc2tog (UK dc2tog), 1 ch, turn (2 sts).
    Row 63: 1 sc2tog (UK dc2tog) (1 st).
    Fasten off.

  3. 3

    Tentacle one suckers
    Row 1: using yarn B, starting on row 1, stitch 1, of tentacle 1, sl st into each first st of rows 1–63, turn (63 sts). On the opposite side of the tentacle, sl st into the first st of rows 63–1, 1 ch, turn (126 sts).
    Row 2: [1 sc (UK dc), 1 puff] sixty-three times, 1 ch, turn.
    Row 3: sl st tent to close the opening.
    Fasten off.

  4. 4

    Tentacles two to eight
    Repeat tentacle 1 seven times.

  5. 5

    Underside of the octopus
    Round 1: using yarn B, make a magic ring and work 6 sc (UK dc) into the ring (6 sts).
    Round 2: [2 sc (UK dc) in next st] six times (12 sts).
    Round 3: [1 sc (UK dc), 2 sc (UK dc) in next st] six times (18 sts).
    Round 4: [2 sc (UK dc), 2 sc (UK dc) in next st] six times (24 sts).
    Round 5: [3 sc (UK dc), 2 sc (UK dc) in next st] six times (30 sts).
    Round 6: [4 sc (UK dc), 2 sc (UK dc) in next st] six times (36 sts).
    Round 7: [5 sc (UK dc), 2 sc (UK dc) in next st] six times (42 sts).
    Round 8: [6 sc (UK dc), 2 sc (UK dc) in next st] six times (48 sts).
    Fasten off, leaving a 60cm (23½in) tail.

  6. 6

    Heart (for large octopus only)
    Round 1: using yarn C, make a heart as described on pages 34–35.

  7. 7

    Making up (for both octopuses)

    Stuff the body. Using yarn B, join the underside of the octopus to the body by slip stitching around the opening (48 sts). Fasten off.
    Using yarn D, embroider the right-hand eye using one vertical stitch spanning two rows and three further stitches fanning to the right-hand side of the first stitch. Mirror the left-hand side eye on the opposite side of the body. Sew the heart on the back of the body, at the bottom.