bad metaphor

Just for Faye…sorry this has been a long time coming! Please refer back to Octopus Garden for further details.

This pattern will make the blue octopus posted on that page, which is kind of short and squat and looks like a blueberry. The finished dimensions are something like 3.5″ or 4″ in diameter, I believe (I gifted it before measuring).

Requirements:
Sport weight yarn
Size 6 dpns
Tapestry needle
Polyfill fiber (or the stuffing of your choice)
Embroidery floss / contrasting color yarn for face

Code translation:
Sts = stitches
Kfb = knit into the front and back of each stitch! See Knitting Help under “Bar Increase.” Alternately, if you have trouble doing this, you could substitute this with the ‘M1′ increase.
K2tog = knit two together. Again, you can substitute some of these on the left side of the octopus body with the ‘SSK’ decrease, for a more cleanly knit octopus.
( )* = repeat whatever is inside the parentheses, however many number of times

Body:
CO 6 sts. Place a stitch marker and begin:

1: Kfb all sts. (12 sts)
2: K all sts.
3: Kfb all sts. (24 sts)
4: K all sts.
5: Kfb all sts. (48 sts)
6: K all sts.
7: Kfb one stitch, then knit the next 2 stitches. Repeat till end of the round. (64 sts)

Now just knit straight for two inches and begin the crown shaping.

Crown shaping:
1: (K2tog, k6)* 8 times. (56 sts)
2: K all sts
3: (K2tog, K5)* 8 times. (48 sts)
4: K all sts
5: (K2tog, K4)* 8 times. (40 sts)
6: K all sts
7: (K2tog, K3)* 8 times. (32 sts)
8: K all sts
9: (K2tog, K2)* 8 times. (24 sts)
10: K all sts
11: (K2tog, K1)* 8 times. (16 sts)
12: K all sts
13: K2tog all sts (8 sts).

Break yarn, leaving a long tail at least 5 inches or so. Draw tail end loosely through the remaining 8 stitches. Start stuffing the octopus. Once the octopus begins to fill out a little, use embroidery floss or alternate yarn to begin stitching the face. Once finished, stuff the octopus until it is full, draw the yarn end taught and weave in the ends.

Tentacles:
I-cord is the best way to make these tentacles! See the instructions at knittinghelp.com, towards the bottom of that page. You could also knit them flat and stuff them; you could even make your octopus proper by crocheting sucker cups on the bottoms like this craftster.

Keep in mind that this pattern is very adaptable, and forgiving – if you miss a decrease or so, just do it on the next row! The octopus won’t mind, and neither will the lucky recipient.

Put out of sorts at having been dredged from the sea, in the very midst of tea time, no less!

I made this grumpy dandy octopus for my friend Louise, who is a big fan of grumpy dandies. Since I can’t seem to be bothered to follow a pattern (not even my own!), I made adjustments for the particular yarn and for the size – this octopus turned out a bit bigger (and grumpier) than its octo-brethren.

(p.s. – snuck another template change in there! As always, let me know what you think.)

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