This crochet pattern aims for a somewhat realistic octopus shape while keeping the pattern quick and simple!

The pattern includes written and charted (left and right handed) instructions for two sizes of octopus, including lots of pictures and tips from the very start to the finishing steps.
The instructions advise how to install safety eyes, but also offer a guide on alternatives such as crochet eyes or french knot eyes (for example to make the octopus baby-safe)

The listed yarn, hook, and gauge are just a suggestion and reflect the red octopi pictured - as you can see from other photos this pattern is suitable for making crochet octopi in all kinds of sizes and colours with any weight of yarn (with suitable hook).

They use relatively little yarn, making them a great stashbuster! The exact amount will depend on your yarn, but with the suggested yarn and hook the small and large octopus need about 20 and 40g of yarn respectively. Scraps (matching in yarn weight) could also be used to make a colourful patchwork octopus if you don’t have enough of any single colour!

The pattern and chart pages are photo-free and can be printed in black and white. In all my patterns I use minimal colour coding, and always include other tells (usually shapes or symbols) so that colour is not vital to the pattern, to make it colour-blind friendly and easy to follow in black and white.