National Zoo & Aquarium Month Blog Hop, Day 1 World Reef Awareness Day

June is going to be amazing! Join me every day this month for free animal patterns – 16 indie designers offering over 80 patterns for your summer crochet pleasure. Each day will feature at least one free (and up to 8) animal crochet pattern. Thanks to all these talented designers for joining me this month.

https://youtu.be/gEhfBrIQQm4

Since June 1 is National Reef Awareness Day, we’re starting off with animals that would inhabit a coral reef.

Clarence Clownfish from Crochet Wizzard

Fish Amigurumi from Loops and Love Crochet

Fish Towel from My Fingers Fly

Octopus Eyeglass Holder Crochet Pattern

YouTube tutorial now available

Materials:

Worsted weight yarn:

3.5 oz. MC

0.5 oz. CC

12 yards yellow

1 yard black

Size G (4.0 mm) crochet hook

Yarn needle

Fiberfill

Directions:

HEAD:

Rnd 1: With MC yarn, ch 2 (or magic ring), 6 sc in 2^nd ch from hook. Do not join.

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st (12 sc).

Rnd 3: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, repeat around (18 sc).

Rnd 4: *Sc in each of next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, * repeat around (24 sc).

Rnd 5: *Sc in each of next 3 sc, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (30 sc).

Rnd 6: *Sc in each of next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (36 sc).

Rnd 7: *Sc in each of next 5 sc, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (42 sc).

Rnd 8: *Sc in each of next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (48 sc).

Rnd 9: *Sc in each of next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (54 sc).

Rnd 10: *Sc in each of next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (60 sc).

Rnd 11: *Sc in each of next 9 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (66 sc).

Rnds 12-15: Sc in each st.

Rnd 16: *Dec, sc in next 9 sts,* repeat around (60 sc).

Rnds 17-20: Sc in each st.

Rnd 21: *Dec, sc in next 8 sts,* repeat around (54 sc).

Rnds 22-25: Sc in each st.

Rnd 26: *Dec, sc in next 7 sts,* repeat around (48 sc).

Rnds 27-30: Sc in each st.

Tentacles:

Row 1: Sc in next 6 sts.

Rows 2-3: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st.

Row 4: Ch 1, turn, dec, sc in next 4 sts (5 sc).

Rows 5-6: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st.

Row 7: Dec, sc in next 3 sts (4 sc).

Rows 8-9: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st.

Row 10: Ch 1, turn, dec, sc in next 2 sts (3 sc).

Rows 11-12: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st.

Row 13: Ch 1, turn, dec, sc in last st (2 sc).

Rows 14-15: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st.

Row 15: Dec (1 sc). Fasten off MC.

*Return to Rnd 30 of octopus body and attach MC yarn. Repeat Rows 1-14.* Repeat 6 times (8 tentacles).

BOTTOM:

Rnd 1: With CC yarn, ch 2 (or magic ring), 6 sc in 2^nd ch from hook. Do not join.

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st (12 sc).

Rnd 3: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, repeat around (18 sc).

Rnd 4: *Sc in each of next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, * repeat around (24 sc).

Rnd 5: *Sc in each of next 3 sc, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (30 sc).

Rnd 6: *Sc in each of next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (36 sc).

Rnd 7: *Sc in each of next 5 sc, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (42 sc).

Rnd 8: *Sc in each of next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (48 sc).

Repeat tentacles 8 times.

Pin tentacle bottoms to tentacle tops.

Attach MC yarn between 2 tentacles, *sc through both layers down the side of the tentacle, work 2 sc in tip, then sc up the other side, sl st in body between 2 tentacles,* repeat for each tentacle. Begin stuffing body after 4 tentacles are complete, and continue stuffing as you go.

Fold up 1 tentacle on each side and sew to Rnd 20 of body to create a spot for the frame of the eyeglasses to sit.

EYES:

Rnd 1: With yellow yarn, ch 2 (or magic ring), 6 sc in 2^nd ch from hook. Do not join.

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st (12 sc).

Rnd 3: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, repeat around (18 sc).

Rnd 4: Sc in each st.

Rnd 5: *Dec over next 2 sts, sc in next st,* repeat around (12 sc).

Rnd 6: Repeat round (6 sc). Stuff and close Rnd 6.

Use black yarn with straight st to make pupil across eyeball.

Rnd 1: With MC yarn, ch 2 (or magic ring), 6 sc in 2^nd ch from hook. Do not join.

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st (12 sc).

Rnd 3: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, repeat around (18 sc).

Rnds 4-12: Sc in each st.

Rnd 13: *Dec over next 2 sts, sc in next st,* repeat around (12 sc).

Rnd 14: Repeat round (6 sc). Stuff and close Rnd 14. Fold eyelid inside itself and sew Rnd 1 to Rnd 14. Insert eyeball and sew in place. Sew eyes to front of octopus just above the tentacles.