Meet Dr. Inky the Octopus! She is a quick octopus to make! This crochet pattern is also fun to make! She can be made in about half a day to a day depending how fast you crochet.

This Octopus would make an excellent choice for craft fair inventory this holiday season. It works up very quickly and is also an easy pattern to follow with photo tutorials.

This octopus crochet pattern is perfect for beginners because it uses basic stitches and simple and clear directions to piece together.

This octopus was part of the 2021 and 2023 Preemie Crochet Challenges hosted by my friend Helen at Sunflower Cottage Crochet.

Special note: If you are giving this cute cow to a child under 3, please embroider the eyes instead of using safety eyes for safety reasons.

Want to save this crochet pattern for later? Save this pin to your favorite Pinterest board.

Octopus Lovey Free Crochet Pattern
A Crochet Pattern by: Christina Ryan
This blog post may contain affiliate links.  If you purchase using my affiliate link, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.  This helps me to continue to bring you free crochet patterns, and supports my small business so thank you!

Design inspiration

I am so excited to be a part of this wonderful Preemie Crochet Challenge, hosted by Sunflower Cottage Crochet, as a designer! I have quite a few friends that are pregnant or have just had their little baby! I love snuggling with little babies. They are so sweet and cute to hold! When I signed up for this Preemie Crochet Challenge, I knew I wanted to design an Octopus that you see all the time in the NICUs.

This challenge is near and dear to my heart because my eldest daughter Gigi was a preemie baby. She is adopted but just looking at her medical records, it’s amazing she made it through. As a designer, I love giving back.

My youngest daughter Bella is the one who came up with the name of the pattern. She decided it should be a doctor. So she named it Dr. Inky the Octopus.

The text-only version of this pattern is available on my blog. If you would like to purchase the ad-free PDF version which features step-by-step instructions with photo tutorials throughout the pattern, please click the button below.

Materials:

  • 170 yards, Worsted Size 4, I Love This Yarn Solids 7 oz/199 grams, 355 yards/325 meters in Orchid.
  • 100 yards, Worsted Size 4, I Love This Yarn Solids 7 oz/199 grams, 355 yards/325 meters in Soft Pink.
  • HOOKS: US G/6 4.0 mm
  • Polyfil
  • Yarn needle to weave in ends
  • Stitch markers
  • Safety eyes (optional)
  • Scissors

Experience Level: Beginner

Gauge:

12 ½ stitches across x 10 rows = 4 x 4” square using a G/4.0 mm hook 

Pattern used for gauge: SC 

Size:

16” x 4” x 4” approximately

Pattern Key:

SC – single crochet

HDC – half double crochet

DC – Double Crochet

Sk St – Skip stitch

Sc2tog – single crochet decrease

Sl st – slip stitch

FO – finish off

St/sts – stitch/stitches

Ch – chain

Rnd(s) – round(s)

MC – magic circle

Shell – Shell Stitch

Color A – Orchid

Color B – Soft Pink

Special Stitches:

Shell Stitch – 5 DC in the same stitch

Notes:

  • Read through the entire pattern first.
  • Head/body and bottom part are done in continuous rounds. Do NOT join while making each of them. Use stitch markers to know where your first stitch in the round is.
  • Sl st does NOT count as a stitch throughout the pattern.
  • Repeat stitches between * and * around.
  • Alternative to MC – Ch 2; work number of specified SC in the 2nd chain from the hook.
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Pattern Instructions:

Head & Body – Worked in Continuous Rounds

Rnd 1:  Using Color A, create a MC; 6 SC in MC.  (6 sts)

Rnd 2:  2 SC in each stitch around.  (12 sts)

Rnd 3:  *SC in the next st; 2 SC in the next st.*  Repeat around.  (18 sts)

Rnd 4:  *SC in the next 2 sts; 2 SC in the next st.*  Repeat around.  (24 sts)

Rnd 5:  *SC in the next 3 sts; 2 SC in the next st.*  Repeat around.  (30 sts)

Rnd 6:  *SC in the next 4 sts; 2 SC in the next st.*  Repeat around.  (36 sts)

Rnd 7:  *SC in the next 5 sts; 2 SC in the next st.*  Repeat around.  (42 sts)

Rnds 8-15:  SC in each st around.  (42 sts) (8 total rounds)

****INSERT EYES BETWEEN ROUNDS 10 & 11 WITH 7 STS BETWEEN EACH EYE. (If giving to a child, I would actually not use safety eyes and embroider the eyes on at the end.) It’s up to you.

Rnd 16:  *SC in the next 5 sts; sc2tog.*  Repeat around.  (36 sts)

Rnds 17-18:  SC in each st around.  (36 sts)  (2 total rounds)

Rnd 19:  *SC in the next 4 sts; sc2tog*  Repeat around.  (30 sts)

****START STUFFING.****

Rnd 20:  *SC in the next 3 sts; sc2tog.*  Repeat around.  (24 sts)

Rnds 21-23:  SC in each stitch around; sl st in next stitch to join.  (24 sts)  (3 total rounds)

Rnd 24:  Ch 1; SC in the same st; *sk next st; Shell in the next st; sk next st; SC in the next st.*  Repeat around until the last 3 stitches.  Sk next st; Shell in the next st; sk the last stitch; sl st to first SC to join.  FO and weave in ends.

Bottom Part – Worked in Continuous Rounds

Rnd 1:  Using Color A, create a MC; 6 SC in MC.  (6 sts)

Rnd 2:  2 SC in each st around.  (12 sts)

Rnd 3:  *SC in the next st; 2 SC in the next st.*  Repeat around.  (18 sts)

Rnd 4:  *SC in the next 2 sts; 2 SC in the next st.*  Repeat around.  (24 sts)

Rnds 5-6:  SC in each st around.  (24 sts)  (2 rounds total)

FO with a 6” tail to sew to head/body.

Tentacles: Make 4 in Color A & 4 in Color B

Ch 50; 3 HDC in the 2nd chain from the hook and in each st across. FO with a 4” tail.

Assembly:

Attach tentacles every 3 sts on the inside (wrong side) of the bottom. I tied them on the inside. (Can be tricky, photo tutorial inside PDF upgrade!)

Sew bottom to the head to round 23

Embroider the face.

Congratulations!  You have created a sweet octopus lovey. 

Want to save this crochet pattern for later? Save this pin to your favorite Pinterest board.

Octopus Lovey Free Crochet Pattern
A Crochet Pattern by: Christina Ryan

Thank you Testers

I want to thank my tester Debra Gibson for testing this pattern. You can see her photo below.

Tester photo of octopus lovey

Original Design by Christina Ryan

Thank you for choosing Creative Snugglies Designs.  You are welcome to use this pattern to create and sell items created by you. If you sell your items online, please include a link back to my shop.  This pattern and the photographs, that I provided for your convenience, are my intellectual property.  They are protected by copyright and may not be used in any form.  You may not share, copy, reproduce, sell, or alter this pattern and claim it as your own. 

I would LOVE to see your creations so please share your finished work!  I have included links to my social media and store pages.  When you share your creations, please hashtag with #CreativeSnuggliesDesigns or #CreativeSnugglies and tag me so I can find your work!  Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions at CreativeSnugglies@gmail.com and I will help you with the pattern.

I hope you enjoy this crochet pattern. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. You can also favorite our Ravelry, Etsy, and Ribblr shops. Be sure to join our email list to stay informed about all the things.

Until next time, happy crocheting!

Christina

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