Orla Octopus Adapted by Aimée Kandl
Much like the beautiful Blue-ringed Octopus of Australia, Lion Brand's free "Ollie Octopus" pattern is charming but potentially lethal. This pattern is a $\%$ scale alternative, with stubby legs just long enough for a child to grip, but not so long as to become a tangled mess of strangulation danger. It should be completely machine washable and dryable, so it can withstand the messiest of playground escapades. Enjoy!
Skill level: Easy
Size: One size; $\tt{11^{\prime\prime}}$ across, $9^{\prime\prime}$ high with legs dangling.
MATERIALS
\*Lily Brand Sugar 'n Cream Ombre [ $.100\%$ cotton; 150 yd/138 m per 3 oz/85g skein]; color: Over the Rainbow, color #19739; 1 skein Super Size \*Small amount of yarn for eyes, perhaps 5 yards. $^{\ast_{1}}$ set US #5/3.75mm double-point needles \*Crochet hook size F or size to match yarn being used for eyes. $^{\ast_{1}}$ stitch marker or safety pin $^{\ast_{1}}$ tapestry needle \*Fiberfill stffing \*(optional) ras or old socks to stuff main body cavity, cut into strips or rings
GAUGE
Exact gauge is not critical, just be sure to knit tightly enough so that the fiberfil won't escape. 19 sts/28 rows $=4"$ in stockinette stitch
PATTERN
BODY Cast on 45 stitches and join in round, being careful not to twist stitches. Place a marker to note the beginning of the round. Divide onto 3 dpns (15 sts each needle). Rnd 1: Knit. INCREASES: Rnd 2: \*K2tog, k11, ssk; rep from \* around - 39 sts. Rnd 3: Knit. Rnd 4: \*K2tog, k9, ssk; rep from \* around - 33 sts. Rnds 5, 6: Knit. Rnd 7: \*K2tog, k7, ssk; rep from \* around - 27 sts. Rnds 8-11: Knit Rnd 12: $\ast\mathsf{K}1$ , m1, k7, m1, k1; rep from \* around - 33 sts. Rnd 13: Knit. Rnd 14: $\ast\mathsf{K}1$ , m1, k9, m1, k1; rep from \* around - 39 sts. Rnd 15: Knit. Rnd 16: $\ast\mathsf{K}1$ , m1, k11, m1, k1; rep from \* around - 45 sts. Rnd 17: Knit. Rnd 18: $\ast\mathsf{K}1$ , m1, k13, m1, k1; rep from \* around - 51 sts. Rnd 19: Knit. Rnd 20: $\ast\mathsf{K}1$ , m1, k15, m1, k1; rep from \* around - 57 sts. Rnd 21: Knit. Rnd 22: $\ast\mathsf{K}1$ , m1, k17, m1, k1; rep from \* around - 63 sts. Rnd 23: Knit. Rnd 24: $\ast\mathsf{K}1$ , m1, k19, m1, k1; rep from \* around - 69 sts. Rnds 25- 32: Knit. DECREASE FOR TOP OF BODY: Rnd 33: \*Ssk, k19, k2tog; rep from \* around- 63 sts Rnd 34: Knit. Rnd 35: \*Ssk, k17, k2tog; rep from \* around- 57 sts Rnd 36: Knit. Rnd 37: \*Ssk, k15, k2tog; rep from \* around- 51 sts Rnd 38: \*Ssk, k13, k2tog; rep from \* around- 45 sts Rnd 39: \*Ssk, k11, k2tog; rep from \* around- 39 sts Rnd 40: \*Ssk, k9, k2tog; rep from \* around- 33 sts Rnd 41: \*Ssk, k7, k2tog; rep from \* around- 27 sts Rnd 42: \*Ssk, k5, k2tog; rep from \* around- 21 sts Rnd 43: \*Ssk, k3, k2tog; rep from \* around- 15 sts Rnd 44: \*Ssk, k1, k2tog; rep from \* around- 9 sts Rnd 45: \*K3tog (slip 1 stitch, k2tog, psso) 3 times- 3 sts Cut yarn, leaving tail. Thread a tapestry needle and run yarn through last 3 stitches 2 times, weave end in. MAKE LEGS (8) Cast on 6 stitches, and then pick up 6 stitches from the cast-on edge of the RS body. Divide the stitches evenly among 3 dpns (4 stitches each needle). Mark the beginning of the round. Rnds 1-4: Knit. Rnd 5: (Decrease) K2, k2tog, k to end of round - 11 sts Rnds 6-8: Knit. Rnd 9: (Decrease) K2, k2tog, k to end of round - 10 sts Rnds 10-11: Knit. Rnd 12: (Decrease) K2, k2tog, k to end of round - 9 sts Rnds 13-14: Knit. Rnd 15: (Decrease) K2, k2tog, k to end of round - 8 sts Rnd 16: Knit. Rnd 17: K2, k2tog, k to end of round - 7 sts Rnd 18: Knit. Rnd 19: K2, k2tog, k to end of round - 6 sts Rnd 20: Knit. Rnd 21: K2tog, k2tog, k2tog, placing all stitches on one needle- 3 sts. Rnd 22: Work remaining 3 stitches in I-cord. Rnd 23: Work 3 sts in I-cord. Rnd 24: K1, ssk- 2 stsRnd 25: K2tog. Cut yarn and pull thread through remaining stitch. Using the tapestry needle, weave in the end and fasten off. Third, Fifth, and Seventh leg: Cast on 6 sts, then pick up 1 stitch in same cast-on stitch as used for previous leg.
Eyes could be knitted or worked in buttonhole stitch with the tapestry needle, or even circles of felt could be sewn on. Here are directions for crocheting and attaching them: Crochet: (Hook size F and thinner weight yarn)
Rnd1: Chain 6, join in a round with a slipstitch. Rnd 2: Ch1, ch 11 in ring; join with slip stitch in first sc. Rnd 3: (Attaching to body) Place eye just above "waist" of octopus body, toward the site of the increases and decreases. (Refer to octopus photo). Secure by pinching with your thumb, or with a safety pin. Ch1. \*Push crochet hook through next st of ring as if to make a sc-then continue to push hook down and through a loop of the octopus body. Yarn over and pull a loop through the body and st of ring- 2 loops on hook. Yarn over and draw through these 2 loops—1 loop on hook. \* Repeat this step in next st of ring 10 times or until you reach the first sc. Join with slip stitch in first sc. Break yarn, fasten off, and weave in ends. STUFFING. Stuff legs lightly with fiberfill. You can tuck the yarn tails in as you go. Stuff the body with fiberfill or scraps of fabric, or a combination of both. UNDERSIDE OF BODY Working from the underneath of the body, along the cast-on edges of the legs, pick up 6 stitches on each leg and 1 stitch between each leg for a total of 54 sts. Divide equally onto 3 dpns. Mark beginning of round. Rnd 1: Knit. (if you have mistakenly picked up too many stitches, you can decrease in this round to get the correct number) Rnd 2: Ssk, ki4, k2tog; rep from \* around- 48 sts Rnd 3: $\ast\mathsf{K}4$ , k2tog; rep from \* around- 40 sts Rnd 4: $^{\ast}\mathsf{K}3$ , k2tog; rep from \* around- 32 sts Finish stuffing body. Rnd 5: $\ast\mathsf{K}2$ , k2tog; rep from \* around- 24 sts Rnd 6: Knit. Rnd 7: $\ast\mathsf{K}2$ , k2tog; rep from \* around- 18 sts Rnd 8: \*K2tog; rep from \* around - 9 sts Rnd 9: Knit Rnd 10: $\ast\mathsf{K}3$ tog (slip 1 stitch, k2tog, psso) rep from \* 3 times- 3 sts Cut yarn, leaving tail. Thread a tapestry needle and run yarn through last 3 stitches twice, weave end in. DONE!
