Short answer: This amigurumi octopus is made entirely in one piece: The body is started with a magic ring in spiral rounds, and the eight arms are crocheted directly into the last round of the body – no separate sewing is needed. You can choose between a small (approx. 6.5 cm) and a large version (approx. 11 cm), depending on your hook size and yarn. Difficulty level: Suitable for beginners, time: 1.5–3 hours.
Crocheting an octopus is the perfect introduction to the world of amigurumi – and for good reason, the first recommendation in our amigurumi overview : it has a round base, and because the arms are created directly on the body, there’s no tedious sewing involved. This pattern is completely free, written in German, illustrated step by step – and we crocheted it ourselves before publishing it here. You can find out more about the origins of this Japanese crochet art on Wikipedia .
What do you need for the octopus?
You can choose between two sizes – the number of stitches remains the same, only the needle, yarn and eye size change:
| material | Small version (~6.5 cm) | Large version (~11 cm) |
|---|---|---|
| crochet hook | 5 mm | 9 mm |
| yarn | Chunky yarn | Super chunky yarn |
| Safety eyes | 10 mm, 1 pair | 18 mm, 1 pair (or alternatively black craft felt) |
| Stuffing | a handful | a little more |
Instructions: Crochet an octopus in one piece
Difficulty: ●○○ Beginner · Duration: 1.5–3 hours depending on size
You crochet continuously in spiral rounds (do not turn, do not close with a slip stitch), the basic stitch is the single crochet (sc), unless otherwise specified.
Body
- Magic ring, crochet 8 sc into it (8)
- Crochet 2 single crochet stitches into each stitch of the round (16)
- 1 sc, then 2 sc in the next stitch – repeat 8 times (24)
- – 7. Four rounds without an increase, simply 24 sc per round (24)
- 1 sc, then decrease 2 stitches to 1 – repeat 8 times (16)
Crochet the arms directly onto the body (no sewing required!).
9. Working exclusively in the front loops of the current round: repeat 8 times – crochet one cluster stitch (6 incomplete double crochets pulled together into one stitch) each time, then finish with a slip stitch. This creates the eight arms in one step.
Important – before round 10: Now attach the safety eyes between rounds 6 and 7, approximately 4 stitches apart. Then stuff the body halfway with fiberfill.
10. Decrease 2 stitches to 1 – repeat 8 times (8)
Stuff completely, then finish with a slip stitch into the next stitch. Leave a long tail for sewing, close the remaining opening with a darning needle, and weave in the tail.
Crochet a mini octopus
The small version (5 mm needle, approx. 6.5 cm) from the materials chart above is already your mini octopus – ideal as a bag charm or keychain. Since both sizes use the exact same stitch sequence, you don’t need a second pattern: simply choose a thinner needle and yarn.
Crochet an XXL octopus
Want a large, cuddly version for 30 cm+? For that, you’ll need thicker yarn, a larger hook, and significantly more increase rounds. We’ve planned a separate, detailed tutorial for this: Crochet an XXL Octopus (coming soon).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How long does it take to crochet an octopus?
For beginners, about 1.5 hours for the small version and up to 3 hours for the large version. Since the arms are formed directly on the body, the time-consuming sewing process is completely eliminated.
How much yarn does an octopus need?
That depends on the chosen size: The small version (~6.5 cm) only requires a small amount of chunky yarn, while the large version (~11 cm) needs correspondingly more super chunky yarn. Both sizes use the same stitch sequence.
Which crochet hook should I use for this amigurumi octopus?
5 mm for the small version, 9 mm for the large version. Both hook sizes are intentionally thicker than those used in classic amigurumi patterns – thicker yarn is also used accordingly.
Is the octopus suitable for beginners?
Yes – it is considered one of the simplest amigurumi figures ever: only single crochet stitches, no complicated shapes, ideal as a first project from our beginner section .
