Halloween Octopus Crochet Pattern (Free)

Meet Frankie, a little green monster octopus with stitched scars, gray neck bolts and eight curly tentacles. The head is one piece, the tentacles are crocheted right onto it, and they curl up all by themselves.

Pattern Highlights

The tentacles are worked straight onto the head, so there's no sewing them on.
The double crochet tentacles curl up on their own.
Only two small pieces to sew on, the neck bolts.
Every round is written out with a stitch count, so you can check as you go.

Materials

Light worsted (#3) yarn in green, charcoal and light gray
2.75 mm (C-2) crochet hook
1 pair of 7 mm safety eyes
Black embroidery thread
Polyester fiberfill stuffing
Pins, yarn needle, stitch marker and scissors

Abbreviations used

This pattern uses US crochet terms. Tap any abbreviation for a full explanation, or see the complete crochet abbreviations list.

MR – magic ring
ch – chain
sc – single crochet (UK: double crochet (dc))
dc – double crochet (UK: treble crochet (tr))
inc – increase
dec – decrease
sl st – slip stitch (UK: slip stitch (ss))
BLO – back loop only
FLO – front loop only
rnd(s) – round(s)
st(s) – stitch(es)
FO – fasten off

The crocheted Halloween octopus seen from above, showing its stitched scars and eight curly tentacles

About Frankie

Frankie is a Halloween octopus dressed up as a little Frankenstein monster. The green head is one round piece, worked from the top down. The eight charcoal tentacles are crocheted right onto it, and two gray bolts are sewn on the sides. The face is a pair of safety eyes, a stitched smile and a few stitched scars.

The crocheted Halloween octopus from behind, showing the round green head, gray bolts and curly tentacles

You’ll need green, charcoal and light gray yarn, plus black embroidery thread for the face.

Before you start

This one is rated intermediate. The head is all single crochet, but the tentacles use double crochet worked along a chain, and they go into front loops you left on purpose.

It’s worked in a spiral. Don’t join your rounds. A stitch marker in the first stitch of each round keeps your place.
It starts with a magic ring. If you’re new to it, my magic ring tutorial walks you through it step by step.
Add the face early. The eyes, smile and scars go on after round 16, while the opening is still wide enough to reach inside.

How the tentacles work

Round 15 is worked in back loops only. That leaves a ring of 32 unused front loops near the bottom of the head, like a little ledge.

Each tentacle is a chain of 10 with 7 double crochets worked back along it. Then you skip 2 loops on the ledge and slip stitch into the next 2. That’s 4 loops per tentacle, and 8 tentacles fit exactly around the 32 loops.

The double crochets make the strip curl up into a spiral all on its own.

Tips for success

Keep your stitches tight. Tight stitches hide the stuffing and make curlier tentacles.
Space the eyes evenly. Count about 10 stitches between them, and look from the front before snapping the backs on.
Keep the scars simple. A short straight stitch with two or three little stitches across it reads as a scar from a distance.
Pin the bolts first. Pin both bolts level on the sides of the head and look from the front before sewing.

Skills you’ll use

How to crochet a magic ring, to start the head and bolts
How to single crochet, for the head
How to double crochet, for the curly tentacles
How to weave in ends, including hiding ends inside stuffed pieces

Make one for a Halloween shelf, or a whole little family of monster octopuses. 🎃

The crocheted Halloween octopus from the side, with a gray bolt and curly tentacles

The Pattern

Skill level: Intermediate
Yarn: Light worsted / DK (#3) yarn
Yarn amount: Green 10 g, charcoal 10 g and light gray 5 g
Hook: 2.75 mm (US C-2)
Gauge: Not critical. Work tightly so the stuffing doesn't show.
Finished size: About 2.5 in (6 cm) tall, with tentacles spreading to about 4 in (10 cm) (an estimate; it depends on your yarn and tension)
Time: Varies with experience

Head (green)

Worked from the top of the head down. Rnd 15 is worked in back loops only, so the tentacles can go into its front loops later.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR. (6)
Rnd 2: Inc 6 times. (12)
Rnd 3: [Sc in next st, inc] 6 times. (18)
Rnd 4: [Sc in next 2 sts, inc] 6 times. (24)
Rnd 5: [Sc in next 3 sts, inc] 6 times. (30)
Rnd 6: Sc in next 2 sts, inc, [sc in next 4 sts, inc] 5 times, sc in next 2 sts. (36)
Rnds 7–9: Sc in each st around. (36)
Rnd 10: [Sc in next 5 sts, inc] 6 times. (42)
Rnds 11–12: Sc in each st around. (42)
Rnd 13: [Sc in next 19 sts, dec] 2 times. (40)
Rnd 14: [Sc in next 3 sts, dec] 8 times. (32)
Rnd 15: Working in back loops only, sc in each st around. (32)
Rnd 16: [Sc in next 2 sts, dec] 8 times. (24)
Add the face now, while the opening is wide. Insert the 7 mm safety eyes between rnds 11 and 12, about 10 stitches apart. With black embroidery thread, stitch a small smile between and just below the eyes, and a few stitched scars on the forehead (a short line with little cross stitches over it).
Start stuffing, and keep stuffing as you go.
Rnd 17: [Sc in next 2 sts, dec] 6 times. (18)
Rnd 18: [Sc in next st, dec] 6 times. (12)
Rnd 19: Dec 6 times. (6)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Thread it through the front loops of the last 6 sts, pull tight to close, and weave in the end.

Tentacles (charcoal)

Hold the head with the top facing you. Near the bottom of the head, you'll see a ring of unused front loops from rnd 15 (32 loops).
Join charcoal with a sl st in any front loop of rnd 15.
[Ch 10. Starting in the 4th ch from the hook, dc in each of the next 7 ch. Skip the next 2 front loops, sl st in each of the next 2 front loops] 8 times. The last sl st lands in the joining stitch. (8 tentacles)
Fasten off and weave in the end. The tentacles curl up on their own.

Bolts (make 2, gray)

Rnd 1: 8 sc in MR. (8)
Rnds 2–3: Working in back loops only, sc in each st around. (8)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Sew one bolt to each side of the head, level with the scars.

Pattern notes

Work the head and bolts in a continuous spiral. Don't join the rounds. A stitch marker in the first stitch of each round helps.
For "dec," an invisible decrease through the front loops gives the neatest finish.
Safety eyes aren't suitable for children under 3. For a baby-safe version, embroider the eyes with black yarn.

Keep this pattern handy

Print it now, or get the free PDF to save on your phone or tablet.

Free Halloween Octopus Crochet Pattern (Frankie the Monster) · Pattern by mycrochetmakes · mycrochetmakes.com/halloween-octopus-crochet-pattern/
Free for personal use. Please don't sell or redistribute this pattern.

Frequently asked questions

Why do the tentacles curl?

Working several double crochets along a short chain makes one side longer than the other, so the strip twists into a curl. The tighter you crochet, the curlier they get.

Do I need to stuff the tentacles?

No. They're flat strips of stitches and curl up nicely without any stuffing.

Can I make it in other colors?

Of course. Purple or orange heads make fun Halloween octopuses, and a pink or blue one with no scars makes a sweet everyday octopus.

Is this octopus safe for babies?

No. Safety eyes aren't suitable for children under 3. For a baby-safe version, embroider the eyes with black yarn.

How big is it?

With light worsted yarn and a 2.75 mm hook, Frankie is about 2.5 in (6 cm) tall, with the tentacles spreading out to about 4 in (10 cm). Your size may vary a little.