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Octopus Surprise Amigurumi Pattern

Octopus Surprise Amigurumi Pattern
4.4★ Rating
8-10 Hours Time Needed
2.4K Made This
✂️

Intermediate Level

Ideal for those with basic knitting experience, featuring slightly more advanced stitches and techniques to expand your skills.

⏱️

All-Day Adventure

Requires 8-10 hours, ideal for a full day of immersive knitting.

🎁

Tiny Treasure

Small, sweet, and gift-worthy creations that fit perfectly in the palm of your hand with detailed charm.

About This Octopus Surprise Amigurumi Pattern

Octopus Surprise Amigurumi Pattern crochet pattern - detailed view of completed project

The finished big octopus measures approximately 10 cm (4 inches) while each mini octopus is about 3 cm (1 inch). A perfect size for little hands to explore and discover.

Why You'll Love This Octopus Surprise Amigurumi Pattern

I absolutely adore this pattern because it combines everything I love about amigurumi – cute characters, vibrant colors, and a clever twist that makes people gasp with delight. The moment you reveal those eight tiny octopuses hiding inside the big one, faces light up instantly. I find myself making these as gifts over and over because the reaction is always priceless. Plus, the color possibilities are endless, so you can customize each set to match someone's favorite palette.

Octopus Surprise Amigurumi Pattern step 1 - construction progress Octopus Surprise Amigurumi Pattern step 2 - assembly progress Octopus Surprise Amigurumi Pattern step 3 - details and accessories Octopus Surprise Amigurumi Pattern step 4 - final assembly and finishing

Switch Things Up

I stumbled upon this Octopus Surprise pattern when I was looking for something truly unique to make for my niece's birthday. The moment I saw those eight tiny octopuses hiding inside the big one, I knew this was going to be special. What drew me in was not just the adorable design but the clever engineering behind it – how everything fits together so perfectly.

Working through this pattern taught me so much about construction and color placement. I found myself completely absorbed in creating each little rainbow octopus, giving them their own personalities through my color choices. The satisfaction of revealing that surprise element to someone for the first time is honestly unmatched.

I've made this pattern multiple times now, and each time I discover something new to love about it. Sometimes I switch up the colors entirely – pastels for spring, bright neons for summer, or even monochromatic schemes for a more sophisticated look. The versatility keeps bringing me back to this design again and again.

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

✗ Forgetting to use stitch markers when placing the eight arms can lead to uneven spacing and a lopsided octopus appearance. ✗ Not stuffing the mini octopuses firmly enough before closing will result in floppy tentacles that lose their cute shape. ✗ Skipping the step to tuck colored arm piece ends between layers creates visible loose threads on your finished piece. ✗ Attaching safety eyes after completing too many rounds makes insertion difficult and may damage your careful stitchwork. ✗ Misaligning the inside piece with the outer shell during assembly causes bunching and prevents smooth closing of the octopus.

Octopus Surprise Amigurumi Pattern

Get ready to create the most delightful ocean-themed project you've ever made! This Octopus Surprise pattern features a charming big grey octopus that holds a secret inside – eight adorable mini octopuses in rainbow colors. Each tiny octopus nestles perfectly within the larger one's colorful arms, making this a wonderful interactive toy for kids or a stunning display piece for your craft shelf. The combination of textures, colors, and the hidden surprise element makes this pattern truly special and guaranteed to bring smiles to everyone who sees it.

Intermediate 8-10 Hours

Materials Needed for Octopus Surprise Amigurumi Pattern

— Main Fabric

  • 01
    8/4 cotton ply fingering weight yarn (170 m / 50 g)
  • 02
    36 g grey yarn for the big octopus
  • 03
    2 g each in 8 different colors for mini octopuses (red, orange, yellow, green, turquoise, blue, purple, pink)
  • 04
    1 g white yarn for the eyes

— Tools Required

  • 01
    Crochet hook 2.5 mm
  • 02
    Yarn needle
  • 03
    Stuffing
  • 04
    Stitch markers
  • 05
    16 x 6 mm safety eyes
  • 06
    2 x 8 mm safety eyes

Progress Tracker

0% Complete

— Colored Arm Piece (Make 8 - One in Each Mini Octopus Color) :

Info :

The colored arm piece is made in rows.

Row 1 :

7 ch - inc in 2nd ch from hook - 5 sc - ch - turn (7)

Row 2 :

skip ch - 7 sc - 2 ch - turn (7)

Row 3 :

skip 1 ch - inc - 7 sc - ch - turn (9)

Row 4 :

skip ch - 6 sc - dec - turn (7)

Row 5 :

skip 1 st - 6 sc (6)

Info :

Fasten off

— Inside of Big Octopus (Grey) :

Round 1 :

6 sc in mr (6)

Round 2 :

6 inc (12)

Round 3 :

(inc - sc) x 6 (18)

Round 4 :

(inc - 2 sc) x 6 (24)

Round 5 :

(inc - 3 sc) x 6 (30)

Round 6 :

(inc - 4 sc) x 6 (36)

Round 7 :

(inc - 5 sc) x 6 (42)

Round 8 :

(inc - 6 sc) x 6 (48)

Round 9 :

(inc - 7 sc) x 6 (54)

Round 10 :

(inc - 8 sc) x 6 (60)

Round 11-21 :

60 sc (60)

Round 22 :

(dec - 8 sc) x 6 (54)

Round 23 :

54 sc (54)

Round 24 :

(dec - 7 sc) x 6 (48)

Round 25-26 :

48 sc (48)

Info :

Fasten off. Put a stitch marker in 8 sts with 5 sts between each.

— Big Octopus (Grey) :

Round 1 :

6 sc in mr (6)

Round 2 :

6 inc (12)

Round 3 :

(inc - sc) x 6 (18)

Round 4 :

(inc - 2 sc) x 6 (24)

Round 5 :

(inc - 3 sc) x 6 (30)

Round 6 :

(inc - 4 sc) x 6 (36)

Round 7 :

(inc - 5 sc) x 6 (42)

Round 8 :

(inc - 6 sc) x 6 (48)

Round 9 :

(inc - 7 sc) x 6 (54)

Round 10 :

(inc - 8 sc) x 6 (60)

Round 11 :

(inc - 9 sc) x 6 (66)

Round 12-23 :

66 sc (66)

Round 24 :

(dec - 9 sc) x 6 (60)

Round 25 :

60 sc (60)

Round 26 :

(dec - 8 sc) x 6 (54)

Round 27 :

(dec - 7 sc) x 6 (48)

Round 28-29 :

48 sc (48)

— Arms (Made in Rows) :

Row 1 :

Slst in flo of the next st of R29 - 7 ch - inc in 2nd ch from hook - 5 sc - slst in flo of the next 2 sts of R29 - turn (7)

Row 2 :

Skip 2 slst - 7 sc - 2 ch - turn (7)

Row 3 :

Skip 1 ch - inc - 7 sc - slst in flo the next 2 sts of R29 - turn (9)

Row 4 :

Skip 2 slst - 6 sc - dec - turn (8)

Row 5 :

Skip 1 st - 6 sc - slst in flo of the next st of R29

Info :

Repeat RW1-RW5 8 times

— Attaching Colored Arm Pieces :

Info :

Now crochet the colored arm pieces onto the octopus. Attach them in this order: red - orange - yellow - green - turquoise - blue - purple - pink. Put the colored arm piece on top of the octopus arm. RW1 of the arm piece should be on top of RW1 of the octopus.

Round 30 :

(Slst in next st - sc around the arm through both the octopus arm and the colored arm piece and make [3 sc] in the tip of the arm - slst in next st) Repeat everything in the parenthesis 8 times.

Info :

Insert the inside of the octopus. The marked sts should be between the arms. Tug in the colored arm piece ends between the octopus and the inside. Crochet the colored arm pieces, the inside of the octopus and the octopus together in the next round.

Round 31 :

(Crochet 1 sc through both the remaining back loop of R29 and the marked st between the arms - crochet 5 sc through both the colored arm piece and the inside of the octopus) Repeat everything in the parentheses 8 times (48)

Round 32 :

(dec - 4 sc) x 8 (40)

Round 33 :

(dec - 3 sc) x 8 (32)

Round 34 :

(dec - 2 sc) x 8 (24)

Round 35 :

24 slst (24)

Info :

Fasten off and weave in end. You may have to pull some of the colored ends in with your hook again.

— Eye (Make 2 - White) :

Round 1 :

6 sc in mr (6)

Round 2 :

6 inc (12)

Round 3 :

(inc - sc) x 6 (18)

Info :

Fasten off leaving a long end for sewing the eye onto the octopus. Attach 8 mm safety eye between R1 and R2. Sew the eyes onto the octopus.

— Mini Octopus (Make 8 in Different Colors) :

Round 1 :

6 sc in mr (6)

Round 2 :

6 inc (12)

Round 3 :

(inc - sc) x 6 (18)

Round 4 :

(inc - 2 sc) x 6 (24)

Round 5-7 :

24 sc (24)

Round 8 :

(dec - 4 sc) x 4 (20)

Round 9 :

(dec - 3 sc) x 4 (16)

Info :

Pause here to attach 6 mm safety eyes. They should be between R7 and R8 with 3 sts between them.

Round 10 :

(5 ch - slst in 2nd ch from hook - sc - 2 hdc - 2 slst in flo of the next sts in R9) x 8

Info :

The next round is crocheted entirely in the remaining backloops of R9 that are visible on the inside. Fill with stuffing.

Round 11 :

8 dec in blo of R9 (8)

Info :

Close off and weave in yarn end.

Assembly Instructions

  • Create all 8 colored arm pieces first, one in each rainbow color before starting the main octopus body.
  • Insert the inside piece into the big octopus carefully, aligning the marked stitches between each arm.
  • Tuck all colored arm piece yarn ends between the octopus outer shell and the inside piece to hide them completely.
  • Sew the white eye pieces onto the big octopus face securely after attaching the 8mm safety eyes.
  • Stuff each mini octopus firmly before closing to maintain their round shape and cute appearance.
  • Stack all 8 mini octopuses inside the big octopus through the bottom opening for the surprise reveal.

Important Notes

  • 💡Use stitch markers consistently to track your rounds, especially when placing the 8 arms evenly around the body
  • 💡Work in a spiral without joining rounds unless the pattern specifically instructs you to do so
  • 💡Do not stuff any pieces until the pattern explicitly tells you to add stuffing
  • 💡The total stitch count is always shown in parentheses at the end of each round for easy reference
  • 💡Attach safety eyes before closing the pieces as they cannot be inserted after the opening is too small

This magical Octopus Surprise pattern was designed to bring joy and wonder to crafters of all ages! The clever combination of one big friendly octopus holding eight colorful mini octopuses creates an interactive toy that sparks imagination and delight. Whether you're making this for a child's birthday, a baby shower gift, or simply to brighten someone's day, the surprise element never fails to amaze. 🧶 Happy crocheting and enjoy your new ocean friends! 🐙✨

You ask,

we answer.

FAQs

Can I use different yarn weights for this pattern?

Yes, you can use different yarn weights, but your finished octopus sizes will change accordingly. A thicker yarn will create larger octopuses while a thinner yarn will make smaller ones. Just remember to adjust your hook size to match your yarn choice.

How do I keep track of the 8 arm positions on the big octopus?

Place stitch markers in 8 stitches with 5 stitches between each marker around the inside piece. This ensures even spacing for all arms and makes assembly much easier.

What's the best way to attach the colored arm pieces?

Layer the colored arm piece directly on top of the grey octopus arm, aligning Row 1 of both pieces. Then crochet through both layers simultaneously to join them securely while creating a clean finish.

Can I make more or fewer mini octopuses?

The pattern is designed for 8 mini octopuses to match the 8 arms, but you can certainly make fewer if you prefer. Just keep in mind the color coordination with the arm tips won't be complete with fewer minis.

Why are rounds worked in a spiral instead of being joined?

Working in a spiral creates a seamless look without visible seam lines. This technique is common in amigurumi and gives your octopuses a smooth, professional appearance.