Meet your next favorite crochet creation—an adorable octopus keychain! With its tiny, cheerful design and charming details, this crochet piece brings life and fun to your everyday essentials. Whether you’re sprucing up your keys or adding a cute charm to a bag, this little octopus will bring a smile to anyone’s face. Perfect to use as a special gift or a personal accessory, it’s the kind of creation that instantly spreads joy.
What truly makes this crochet design special is its simplicity. The entire process is beginner-friendly, with no sewing involved! Its delicate tentacles and customizable features—such as the eyes, blush, and color choices—make it easy to add your unique touch. The detailed instructions make it easy for even first-time crocheters to create something not only practical but visually delightful. Add a key ring, and you've got yourself a playful, homemade charm that’s as functional as it is fun to create.
Credit Divine Crochets
Required Materials
- Yarn:
- Body: Weight 4 yarn (color of your choice, e.g., pink for the body).
- Face: Small amounts of black and pink yarn (for the eyes and blush).
- Crochet Hook: 3.5 mm.
- Stuffing: Polyester fiberfill or yarn scraps for stuffing inside.
- Stitch Marker: Can use a bobby pin, paper clip, or actual stitch marker.
- Yarn Needle: For sewing details and weaving ends.
- Key Ring or Chain: To attach to the top of the octopus.
- Scissors: For cutting yarn.
Important Notes
- Skill Level: Beginner-friendly.
- Slip Knot & Yarn Holding: Practice making a slip knot and holding the yarn with tension before you start.
- Stitching Terms: Chain (ch), Single Crochet (sc), Double Crochet (dc), Increase (inc), Decrease (dec), Slip Stitch (sl st).
- Magic Ring Alternative: The pattern uses a "chain 4 and slip stitch" as a beginner-friendly alternative to the magic ring.
- Stitch Marker Tip: Always mark the first stitch of each round to help keep track of your work.
- Stuffing: Stuff the octopus gradually as you proceed through the decreasing rounds.
Step-by-Step Crochet Instructions
Base and Body: Rounds 1–9
- Slip Knot and Chain Foundation:
- Create a slip knot and chain 4.
- Slip stitch into the first chain to form a circle.
- Round 1: Starting the Magic Ring Alternative
- Chain 1.
- Inside the circle, work 6 sc. (Stitch Count: 6)
- Slip stitch into the first sc to close the round.
- Round 2: Increasing
- Chain 1.
- Work 2 sc in each stitch (an increase in each stitch).
- Mark the first stitch of this round. (Stitch Count: 12)
- Round 3: Single and Increase
- Chain 1.
- Alternate 1 sc in first stitch and 2 sc in the next stitch (inc) around the round.
- (Stitch Count: 18)
- Round 4: Expanding the Base
- Chain 1.
- Follow the pattern: 1 sc, 1 sc, 2 sc (inc), repeat around.
- (Stitch Count: 24)
- Round 5: Final Base Expansion
- Chain 1.
- Follow the pattern: 1 sc, 1 sc, 1 sc, 2 sc (inc), repeat around.
- (Stitch Count: 30)
- Rounds 6–9: Building the Body
- Chain 1.
- Work 1 sc in each stitch around for 4 rounds.
- Keep the stitch count consistent across all 4 rounds. (Stitch Count: 30)
Tentacles: Round 10
This section creates the signature tentacles of the octopus. You’ll work in the front loops only for this round.
- Pattern:
- Start with 1 sc, mark this stitch.
- In the next front loop, work 3 dc (all in the same front loop).
- On the next front loop, work 1 slip stitch (sl st).
- Repeat this pattern around: sc → 3 dc → sl st.
- Finish the Round: When you’ve completed the tentacles for all stitches, slip stitch into the back loop of the first stitch to begin Round 11.
Bottom Closure: Rounds 11–14
- Round 11: Back Loops Only Decrease
- Work in the back loops only from the previous round of stitches.
- Follow the pattern: 1 sc, 1 sc, dec (decrease by combining two stitches into one).
- (Stitch Count: 24)
- Round 12: Continue Decreasing
- Work 1 sc, dec around.
- (Stitch Count: 18)
- Round 13: Close the Shape
- Work dec in every stitch around.
- (Stitch Count: 12)
- Stuff the octopus as tightly as desired at this point before fully closing the bottom.
- Round 14: Final Closure
- Work dec all the way around to reduce to 6 stitches left.
- Cut the yarn, leaving a tail.
- Use the yarn needle to sew through the front loops of the remaining stitches and pull tight to close the hole.
- Secure the yarn and hide it by threading it through the body, then trimming any excess.
Details: Face and Key Ring
- Eyes:
- Use black yarn to embroider small lines or almond-shaped eyes between Rounds 8 and 9.
- Place the eyes approximately 4 stitches apart.
- Follow the pattern: come from inside, embroider the eye by stitching back and forth twice for boldness, and secure the yarn inside the octopus.
- Blush:
- Use pink yarn to create a small stitch below the eyes for blush.
- Place the blush stitch 1 stitch below and slightly to the side of each eye.
- Attach the Key Ring:
- Cut a small piece of yarn (matching the body) and thread it through the center top (Round 1) of the octopus.
- Loop it around your keychain or ring and tie it securely with double knots.
- Tuck the remaining ends back into the body with your yarn needle.
Finishing Touches
- Attach the key ring firmly and lightly fluff or adjust the stuffing if needed.
- Double-check that all yarn tails are securely hidden.
- Feel free to embellish with tiny accessories or playful details like bows.
