Crochet octopus patterns are so fun to stitch and are a popular choice for gifts for babies and others. These adorable little guys will steal your heart right out of the ocean. An octopus is a great project for a beginner and mastering the octopus can be the foundation for more complex projects.
Whether you’re a nautical crafter or just want to add a little cephalopod cuteness to your room, these free crochet octopus patterns are for you!
What is Amigurumi?
Amigurumi is a special term for crocheting or knitting dolls or toys, although crocheting them is more popular. This post is for you if you’re new to amigurumi and want to start your first project. In this case, we’ve rounded up several crochet octopus patterns for different purposes, giving you lots to choose from.
If you’d like to learn even more about how to make all sorts of amigurumi characters, check out our Amigurumi workshop. Here you’ll learn all the skills you need to make your own stitched creatures, plus get seven free patterns to get you started.
Best Yarn for a Crochet Octopus
You can use any type of yarn that you like for your crochet octopus projects. Most projects use yarn in the 3-5 or DK to the bulky range, and they also may use a crochet hook that is smaller than the one typically used with that weight of yarn.
Both cotton and acrylic yarns are good choices for amigurumi projects, especially those going to children because they are washable. Both types of yarns come in a wide range of colors and are affordable and easy to work with.
If you or the recipient plan to snuggle with your new octopus friend, make sure the yarn you choose is soft.
Amigurumi Safety
If you are making a toy for an infant or baby, please make sure to use embroidery for the eyes instead of using safety eyes. Make sure there aren’t any small parts that can be pulled off and put in the mouth, and that the fabric is firm enough that the stuffing won’t poke through.
Make eyes and a mouth, if desired, using french knots and back stitches or embroidery needles, floss, and contrasting or dark yarn. Or use basic straight stitches to create sleepy eyes.
Tips for Crocheting Octopus Amigurumi
Most octopus patterns start with the magic ring or magic circle and are worked from the top of the head down. This helps keep the top stitches of your octopus tight. You may also opt to chain 3 and join in the round instead.
The majority of the octopus patterns here are completed with single crochet (sc). You should also be familiar with the chain stitch (ch) and the slip stitch (sl st).
If you know how to single crochet and chain stitch you’ll be well on your way to making this octopus toy. Amigurumi are usually worked in continuous rounds which can sometimes make it hard to keep track of which row you’re on. Using stitch markers on the last stitch of the round is a great way to help you stay on track and count your rounds.
Supplies Needed for an Amigurumi Octopus
Crochet hook: typically, most amigurumi patterns use a smaller crochet hook than the yarn they are using calls for. This is because it will create a tighter single crochet stitch in the pattern, which makes the finished product look cleaner with no holes where the fiberfill can peek through.
Stitch Markers: a stitch marker is important to keep track of the rounds you are working in the octopus patterns. Most designs are worked continuously in the round instead of joining them after each round. Therefore, it is critical to keep track of which round you’re on with these markers.
Scissors: scissors are also a handy tool to have around to cut the yarn when you are finished crocheting your octopus. Having a pair on hand helps get the work done quickly.
Yarn needle: a yarn needle or tapestry needle is essential for weaving in ends and sewing pieces of your project together.
Safety eyes: you’ll need safety eyes for most crocheted octopus toys. They are usually plastic pieces that snap together to form the eyes of the amigurumi. A safer option if you’re making the toy for a child can also be embroidering the eyes with yarn.
Stuffing: most crochet octopus toys will have stuffing or fiberfill, so this is an important material to have on hand. It is also best to use hypoallergenic fiberfill for babies.
Small stick: a Popsicle stick (or a pencil, or the tool that comes with your stuffing) is helpful for getting your stuffing in all the right places as you finish your project.
Free Crochet Octopus Patterns
Ready to crochet an octopus? These fun free crochet patterns for octopus are sure to keep you entertained and make great gifts or decor. Let’s get stitching!
Kawaii Octopus Pattern
Designer: Cutiepie Crochet
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice
Check out this cute and squishy octopus amigurumi! The pattern includes instructions for how to create the hat and mustache so you can decorate your own creation. Hope you enjoy making your new plushy friend!
Sir Tentacles the Crochet Octopus Pattern
Designer: Oombawka Design Crochet
Yarn weight: (3) DK & (2) Spor
Suggested yarn: Premier Yarns Premier DK & Scheepjes Stone Washed
Sir Tentacles makes the perfect traveling companion. Your little ones can bring this squiggly friend to bed and to sleepovers in case they get lonely. This project is great for using leftover scrap yarn from other projects too!
Cute Octopus Free Crochet Pattern
Designer: Crochet Penguin
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Lily Sugar‘n Cream
This dashing little octopus is so cute with its little top hat and tie! It would definitely make a great new friend to any kid and can be easily crocheted by just knowing how to single crochet and double crochet.
Baby Octopus Amigurumi
Designer: Whistle & Ivy
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Knit Picks Brava
This simple crochet octopus can be made with just single crochet stitches. So easy! This pattern also features step-by-step instruction photos to guide you when attaching the tentacles to the head of the octopus.
Mini Crochet Octopus Patterns
Pocket-sized plushies can be utilized as a sensory fidget toy or stress ball. They are wonderful companions, and great for selling at craft fairs. They can be entertaining children’s toys or nursery decorations. These crochet patterns for octopus are super-fast to stitch, too.
Crochet Amigurumi Octopus
Designer: Croby Patterns
Yarn weight: (3) DK
Suggested yarn: Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton DK
If you’re looking for a quick and easy octopus pattern to follow, this crochet pattern fits the bill. It also comes with a video tutorial for the visual learner.
Party Octopus
Designer: Erin Mae Crochet, via LoveCraft
Yarn weight: (1) Super fine
Suggested yarn: Knit Picks Comfy Fingering
This little octopus is ready to celebrate! He’s already looking snazzy in his favorite party hat to pump up the party. There are several options if you want to make something for your octopus to hold with one of its legs.
Octopus Amigurumi with Costumes
Designer: Club Crochet
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Lily Sugar‘n Cream
Dress up your octopus with different kinds of accessories featured in this pattern! Along with the written pattern, there is also a video tutorial for beginners and visual learners. And the best part, there’s no sewing needed!
Mini Amigurumi Octopus
Designer: The Friendly Red Fox
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice
This crochet octopus is such a sweet little toy with so much personality! It’s small in size, which makes this the perfect project for stash-busting. All you need to know is how to single and half double crochet and you’re good to go!
Octopus Cupcake Amigurumi Pattern
Designer: A Little Love Everyday
Yarn weight: (3) Sport
Suggested yarn: Knit Picks Brava Sport
This next mini octopus project is as cute as a cupcake, literally! You could easily whip up a bunch of these in different colors and give them as a gift for someone’s birthday.
Mini Octopus Pattern
Designer: Mohu
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice
If you can crochet in the round, single crochet, and half double crochet, you know everything you need to make this tiny project. You can make your mini octopus with a plain face or add a little mouth if you’d like. I personally think the mouth makes them look extra cute!
No Sew Amigurumi Octopus
Designer: Knits and Knots by Ame
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice
Here’s another no-sew amigurumi octopus pattern that’s easy and quick to make. They make great items to sell at a craft fair. You’ll have no trouble in prepping as you could probably crochet three or four of these in an hour!
The Color Octopus Free Pattern
Designer: Khuccay
Yarn weight: (3) DK
Suggested yarn: Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton DK
These cute little octopi can be made in less than an hour each. You can totally customize the colors and embroider their faces differently to represent different emotions.
Ice Cream Octopus Amigurumi
Designer: Crafty Kitty Crochet
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Red Heart Super Saver
Did anyone order an ice cream octopus with extra sprinkles? This free crochet pattern for octopus is so adorable and looks good enough to eat! What a great gift for someone whose birthday is in the summer!
Giant Crochet Octopus Patterns
Don’t you just love hugging a large soft toy? They can be very comforting and sometimes you can also use them as pillows. Here are some of our favorite giant crochet octopus patterns for you to choose from.
Giant Squishy Octopus
Designer: Left Handed Crocheter
Yarn weight: (6) Super bulky
Suggested yarn: Bernat Blanket
This giant octopus plush is made using super bulky blanket yarn, making it extra squishy and huggable. You’ll need two different colors of yarn for the body and the tips of the tentacles as well as big safety eyes for this project.
Giant Plush Octopus
Designer: Rebeka Novák-Szabó, via Ravelry
Yarn weight: (6) Super bulky
Suggested yarn: Bernat Blanket Yarn
This easy-to-follow crochet pattern is great for beginner crocheters. You’ll love just how soft this plushie is! The embroidered eyes are super cute and great if you want to gift this one to a baby.
Octavia the Octopus
Designer: Yarnspirations
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Lily Sugar‘n Cream
Looking for a great gift for a baby shower? Why not give this octopus pattern a try? Customize it in any color you’d like or to match the recipient’s nursery. This one is great if you want a more realistic octopus pattern.
Octopus Squish
Designer: Moogly
Yarn weight: (6) Super bulky
Suggested yarn: Bernat Blanket
This big octopus is so cute and cuddly, you’d want to hug it all day! It works up fast in two colors of super bulky yarn. You have the option of stuffing it with either a microbead pillow ball or with fiberfill.
Reversible Crochet Octopus Patterns
Reversible octopus toys have been trending these days and they are so fun to flip inside out to display a different color or facial expression. They are small enough to sit on your bedside table or display in a baby’s nursery. Here are some reversible octopus patterns for you to try!
Reversible Octopus 2-in-1
Designer: Katia Glebiva, via Ravelry
Yarn weight: (2) Sport
Suggested yarn: Knit Picks Brava Sport
This unique octopus pattern can be turned inside out to switch colors. It’s a fun toy for kids (and adults!) and isn’t too difficult to make. The little bow is optional but adds a lot of cuteness.
Crochet Reversible Octopus Free Pattern
Designer: Rose and Lily Amigurumi
Yarn weight: (6) Super bulky
Suggested yarn: Bernat Blanket
Here’s another reversible octopus that uses soft and smooth yarn. You can also choose to make one side happy, the other sad, or even have both sides happy! There are lots of great color options possible with this adorable project.
No Sew Crochet Reversible Octopus
Designer: Crafting Happiness
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Caron Simply Soft
Most of the crochet reversible octopus patterns we’ve seen so far require you to sew the pieces together, which may seem tedious if you’re looking for a quick project. This pattern is constructed such that it doesn’t require sewing (aside from facial expressions). How great is that!
Reversible Octopus Free Crochet Pattern
Designer: Abigurumii
Yarn weight: (5) Bulky
Suggested yarn: Bernat Softee Baby Chunky
This octopus is a great soft toy to use to express your emotions (or for your kids to use) by showing the happy side or the frowning side. It’s made of soft chunky yarn. It can help relieve your stress by squishing it from time to time.
Reversible Octopus Amigurumi
Designer: Dalai Lana, via LoveCrafts
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice
This reversible octopus is a trendy and cute way to show your mood. The finished product is about four inches, so it can sit nicely on your desk or your bedside table.
Crochet Octopus Patterns for Preemie Babies
Did you know that some hospitals accept octopus toy donations for preemies in the NICU? These toys provide great opportunities to support vulnerable babies who need extra love and care. The curly tentacles mimic an umbilical cord and provide comfort to them.
It was noted in a hospital in Denmark the babies who held an octopus saw improvements in their general health, including improved breathing, more regular heartbeats, higher blood oxygen levels, and reduced discomfort from the different monitoring and IVs.
Crochet Octopus for a Preemie
Designer: Handy Little Me
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Lily Sugar‘n Cream
If you’re feeling inspired to make an octopus for a preemie in need, or if you know someone whose premature baby might need a comforting friend in the NICU, check out this pattern. It tells you everything you need to know about crocheting an octopus for preemies.
NICU Octopus Free Crochet Pattern
Designer: Serendipity as Always
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Lily Sugar‘n Cream
Here’s another preemie octopus pattern for a little one in the NICU. This pattern is worked continuously in the round without joining. It’s really quick and easy and the color combination of the yarn looks beautiful if you choose a multicolored ball of yarn.
Red Heart Preemie Crochet Octopus
Designer: Yarnspirations
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Red Heart Bunches of Hugs
In addition to being quite adorable, these octopi offer preemies a lot of comfort. Double crochet is used to make adorable tentacles that are softly filled and crocheted in the round. One ball of the suggested yarn makes five huggable octopi, making it the ideal project to donate to your neighborhood NICU.
Octopus for a Preemie
Designer: Fluffy Stitches
Yarn weight: (2) Sport
Suggested yarn: DROPS Safran
These sweet little octopi have bulb-shaped heads and super curly tentacles. They’re easy and fun to stitch and a great way to use up little bits of yarn to help little bitty babies!
Crochet Octopus Toys for Babies
Octopus toys also make fun gifts for babies and infants. Some of these patterns have teething rings added, and the octopus’ tentacles are also fun for the baby’s hands to explore and play with.
Nora Crochet Octopus
Designer: Halime Özel, via Ravelry
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Premier Yarns Premier Home Cotton
This amigurumi octopus baby toy is made with just basic stitches like single and double crochet. It’s super simple and easy to make. Babies will love their new octopus friend and there’s even a wooden ring attached for when they start teething.
Amigurumi Octopus Baby Toy Free Pattern
Designer: The Friendly Red Fox
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Red Heart With Love
This fun soft toy is perfect for children of any age! Having an octopus companion is a great way for little hands to explore and have fun with the octopus’ tentacles. The designer even opted to add a rattle inside the head to add more entertainment for their child.
Osmond the Octopus Free Pattern
Designer: Coastal Crochet
Yarn weight: (3) DK
Suggested yarn: Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton DK
Here’s another pattern that’s great for welcoming a new member into the family. This octopus lovey makes a nice gift for any newborn baby and the twisty tentacles also give it great texture.
Crochet Oceanic Lovey Octopus Blanket
Designer: Be a Crafter
Yarn weight: (3) DK
Suggested yarn: Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton DK
Here’s another little security blanket pattern made with soft cotton yarn. The blue chevron design represents ocean waves and the cute little octopus on top is perfect for when the baby starts teething. Make it as a gift or for a new member in the family.
Want to Learn How to Make More Fun Amigurumi Animals?
If these octopus crochet patterns have increased your interest in making soft crochet toys, our Amigurumi workshop is a great place to learn more.
This course includes all the information you need to get started making your own amigurumi creations, plus free patterns you can use or modify to make other kinds of creatures as you like.
Are You New to Crochet and Need More Help with the Basics?
Crochet octopus projects are pretty easy because they use simple stitches, but if you need a refresher or want to learn more of the basics of crochet, you need our Crochet Fundamentals course.
This collection of quick videos will increase your crochet skills quickly. They cover everything from how to hold your yarn and needles to basic stitches, shaping projects (so helpful for amigurumi!), finishing skills, and so much more!
I need a giant reversible octopus free crochet pattern, hope you can ablize me with the pattern
Hi Renee, we currently don’t have one on the list for a giant size but we found one on Etsy that you might be interested in, https://www.etsy.com/listing/910324973/jumbo-reversible-octopus-crochet-pattern