Amigurumino sew crochet octopus pattern

No-Sew Crochet Octopus

Clara Hartwell, Wavode pattern designer
By Clara Hartwell
8 min read
Free pattern · Step by stepJump to the crochet steps
No-sew crochet octopus pattern: three small amigurumi octopuses in heather grey, butter yellow and baby pink, each with a round head in tight single crochet, two small black safety eyes set low on the face and eight short curly tentacles rolled into spirals, sitting in a row on an oatmeal linen cloth next to a blush pink mug

This no-sew crochet octopus is one round piece with eight curly tentacles crocheted straight onto the body. There's nothing to sew on and no seams to hide: you work the head from the top down, add the tentacles in the front loops, then close the bottom in the back loops. You'll need about 45 yards of worsted yarn, a 3.5 mm hook and about 1½ hours.

Key Takeaways

  • One piece, zero sewing: the head, body, tentacles and bottom are all worked in the same continuous rounds.
  • The front-loop trick: the tentacles grow from the front loops of one round, and the bottom closes in the back loops of that same round.
  • Three single crochet in each chain is what rolls each tentacle into a tight curl.
  • About 45 yd of worsted yarn per octopus.

Why I love this little octopus

I make these in batches. Once you've done one, the second takes barely an hour, and a row of them in different colors is the cutest thing on a shelf.

What I like most is the construction. Sewing tentacles on one by one is the part everybody dreads, and it's where most octopuses end up lopsided. Here the tentacles are spaced by the stitch count itself, so all eight land evenly, every time.

So where do they come from? One round near the bottom of the body is worked only in the front loops. Each tentacle is a short chain that you crochet back down with three stitches in every chain, so it curls up like a ribbon. The back loops of that round stay free, and that's where you close the bottom.

Skill level. Easy. You need a magic ring, sc, inc and dec in the round, and front-loop / back-loop stitches. If you can make an amigurumi ball, you can make this octopus.

Love no-sew projects? My Piko the pond turtle is built the same way, with no sewing at all.

What you'll need

Yarn: about 45 yd of worsted #4 yarn per octopus. I like a soft acrylic such as Red Heart Super Saver or Lion Brand Basic Stitch: the curls hold their spiral well and the colors stay bright. Cotton works too, with crisper but slightly looser curls.

I worked that amount out from the stitch counts: about 470 sc in the body (Rnds 1–15 plus the 3 closing rounds) and 216 sc in the tentacles, at about 2.2 in of worsted each, plus the chains and the tails.

Hook and notions

  • 3.5 mm (US E/4) hook. Smaller than the yarn label suggests, so the fabric is tight.
  • Two 6 mm black safety eyes, or black yarn to embroider them.
  • A little polyester fiberfill.
  • A tapestry needle, a stitch marker and scissors.

Gauge and finished size

Gauge isn't critical, but tension is. Work tightly, so the stuffing doesn't show through. As a check, Rnd 6 (36 sts) should be about 2¼ in (5.5 cm) across when you lay it flat.

Finished octopus, approximately: about 2½ in (6.5 cm) tall and about 3½ in (9 cm) across the curled tentacles. These are guide sizes: your yarn and tension change them, so measure your first one.

Abbreviations (US crochet terms)

  • MR = magic ring
  • ch = chain
  • sl st = slip stitch
  • sc = single crochet
  • inc = 2 sc in the same st
  • dec = single crochet two together (I use the invisible decrease through the front loops)
  • FLO / BLO = front loop only / back loop only
  • st(s) = stitch(es)
  • rnd(s) = round(s)

Work in continuous rounds, without joining. Move your stitch marker up at the start of every round.

The pattern — step by step

The magic ring is the top of the head. You work down the head, then the body, and the last round closes the bottom center, under the tentacles.

Part 1 — The head

  • Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc in the ring. (6)
  • Rnd 2: Inc × 6. (12)
  • Rnd 3: (Sc, inc) × 6. (18)
  • Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) × 6. (24)
  • Rnd 5: (3 sc, inc) × 6. (30)
  • Rnd 6: (4 sc, inc) × 6. (36)
  • Rnds 7–13: Sc in each st around. (36) That's 7 plain rounds, which turn the circle into a tall, round head.

Step 1 of the no-sew crochet octopus: a baby pink magic ring of 6 single crochet on a 3.5 mm hook, the circle growing in spiral rounds to 36 stitches, then seven plain rounds turning it into a tall rounded head shape

Part 2 — Eyes and the curly tentacles

Shape the body.

  • Rnd 14: (4 sc, dec) × 6. (30)
  • Rnd 15: (3 sc, dec) × 6. (24)

Eyes. Insert the safety eyes any time after Rnd 13, and no later than now, while the opening is still wide. Place them between Rnds 10 and 11, with 5 sts between them. Setting them low on the face is what gives the octopus its sweet look. Snap the washers on firmly from the inside.

Rnd 16 — the tentacle round (FLO). Work this whole round into the front loops only of Rnd 15. Repeat these 3 steps 8 times in all, once per tentacle:

  1. Sl st in the front loop of the next st.
  2. Ch 10. Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook, work 3 sc in each ch across. (27 sc)
  3. Sl st in the front loop of each of the next 2 sts.

Each tentacle uses 3 front loops of Rnd 15, so the 8 tentacles use exactly 24. Leave the back loops untouched: you'll close the bottom in them. As you work the 3 sc in each chain, the tentacle twists into a spiral on its own. Give it a gentle roll between your fingers to tighten the curl.

Curl tighter or looser. For a looser, wavier tentacle, work 2 sc in each ch instead of 3. For longer tentacles, ch 12 instead of 10. Keep all eight the same.

Step 2 of the no-sew crochet octopus: the pink head decreased to 24 stitches, two black safety eyes set low on the face 5 stitches apart, a chain of 10 growing from the front loops, the chain worked back with 3 single crochet in each chain so it rolls into a curl, and all eight curly tentacles evenly spaced around the body

Part 3 — Closing the bottom

Fold the tentacles up and out of the way. Look inside the bottom edge: the back loops of Rnd 15 are still free, in a neat ring. That's where you finish.

  • Rnd 17 (BLO of Rnd 15): (2 sc, dec) × 6. (18)

Stuff the head firmly, pushing the stuffing well up into the top so the head stays round.

  • Rnd 18: (Sc, dec) × 6. (12)

Top up the stuffing.

  • Rnd 19: Dec × 6. (6)

Fasten off, leaving a 6-in (15 cm) tail. Thread it through the front loops of the last 6 sts, pull tight to close the hole, and push the needle up through the body and out the top of the head. Pull gently and trim, so the tail vanishes inside.

Fluff the tentacles out and roll each one once more between your fingers. Done: no sewing at all.

Step 3 of the no-sew crochet octopus: the free back loops of the tentacle round, the bottom decreased to 18 and 12 stitches, the head stuffed firmly, the last 6 stitches pulled closed, and the finished pink octopus sitting on its eight curly tentacles

Safety. Safety eyes are not suitable for children under 3. For a baby or toddler, embroider the eyes with black yarn instead, and check that the closing is pulled tight and the tail is well hidden.

Make it yours — quick variations

Variation Change from base pattern
Octopus trio Make one in heather grey, one in butter yellow and one in baby pink, and line them up.
Two-tone Work Rnds 1–15 in one color, then switch for the tentacle round and the bottom.
Sleepy face Skip the safety eyes and embroider two curved lines for closed eyes.
Rosy cheeks Add a short pink stitch under each eye, or a touch of blush.
Plush octopus Use super bulky chenille and a 5 mm hook for a palm-sized cuddle toy.

Troubleshooting the three things that go wrong

The tentacles don't curl

You probably worked 1 or 2 sc in some chains. It's the 3 sc in each ch that forces the spiral. Also make sure you started in the 2nd ch from the hook, not the first.

The tentacles are uneven around the body

Count the sl sts between them. Each repeat is 1 sl st (where the tentacle starts) plus 2 sl sts. If you skipped or added one, the last tentacle crowds the first.

I can't find the back loops for Rnd 17

Turn the octopus upside down and fold every tentacle up. The free back loops sit just inside the edge, under the tentacles. Insert the hook under that loop only.

Frequently asked questions

Is this octopus really no-sew? Yes. The tentacles are crocheted right onto the body, and the only needle work is pulling the last 6 sts closed and hiding the tail.

How long does it take? About 1½ hours. The head takes about 40 minutes, the tentacles about 30 and the closing about 15.

How much yarn do I need? About 45 yd of worsted yarn per octopus.

Can I use a bigger hook? Yes, but the octopus gets bigger and the stitches open up, so the stuffing can show. With worsted, stay at 3.5 to 4 mm and work tightly.

Can I sell octopuses made from this pattern? Yes, you're welcome to sell finished octopuses made from this free pattern at markets, on Etsy or as gifts. Please credit "Pattern by Wavode" in your listing and link back to this page. What you can't do is republish this write-up or my photos as your own pattern.

Related patterns on Wavode

Made an octopus? Tag #wavodecrochet on Pinterest. I re-pin every finished make and credit the maker.

Pattern by Clara Hartwell for Wavode. Questions? Email me at support@wavode.com.

Keep hooking

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