Crochet octopi program
Babies in the NICU may have an unlikely companion... but the magic is in the tentacles!
why an octopus?
The tentacles often resemble a babies umbilical cord, and often stops them from pulling at their tubes and their wires.
With the octopi, some babies in the NICU experienced better breathing and more regular heartbeats, leading to higher levels of oxygen in their blood.
you can make them too!
If you are interested in making crotchet octopi, please reach out to us! We will provide all the materials if you are local to us and will supply the pattern.
We have made them in a variety of different sizes from the smallest of preemies, all the way to full-term NICU babies like Jackson.
OCTOPI PATTERN
MATERIALS
- 1 Ball of cotton yarn (hospital requirements state it must be cotton)
- Size G or H Crochet Hook
- Hypoallergenic Fiberfill (MUST be hypoallergenic!)
- Stitch Marker
- Yarn Needle for weaving in ends
STITCHES USED
- Ch - chain
- Sc - single crochet
- Slst - slip stitch
- St(s) - stitch(es)
- Sc2tog - single crochet two together
NOTE: This pattern is worked in the round continuously without joining at the end of each round. Instead, place a stitch marker and move it up as you go to mark the first stitch of each round.
PATTERN
Create a magic ring.
Round 1: Ch 1 and 8 sc into ring.
Round 2: 2 sc in every st around. (16 sts)
Round 3: *2 sc in the next st. 1 sc in the next st. Repeat from * around. (24 sts)
Round 4: *2 sc in the next st. 1 sc in the next 2 sts. Repeat from * around (32 sts)
Rounds 5-10: Sc in every st around. (32 sts)
Round 11: *Sc in the next 2 sts. Sc2tog. Repeat from * around. (24 sts)
Round 12: Sc in every st around. (24 sts)
Round 13: *Sc in the next st. Sc2tog. Repeat from * around. (16 sts)
Round 14: Sc in every st around. Stuff the head of your octopus. (16 sts)
Round 15: Sc2tog around. Slst into the first st of this round to join. Add more stuffing if you need to. You're now done using your stitch marker. (8 sts)
Time for 8 tentacles!
Ch 35. 2 sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each of the next 33 chs. Slst into the next st on the body of the octopus. Repeat this 7 more times. After the last tentacle, you'll slst into the same stitch that your first tentacle is coming out of.
Fasten off leaving a long enough tail to sew shut round 15 of the body. Sew it shut. Weave in end, and .......
Ta-da!!!
