Free Pattern Step-by-Step Crochet
Amigurumi

Crochet octopus amigurumi with popcorn stitch tentacles

An amigurumi octopus pattern using popcorn stitch tentacles, worked in rounds from a magic ring.

Level
Intermediate
Time
4-6 hours
Yarn
Worsted
Crochet octopus amigurumi with popcorn stitch tentacles

Pattern highlights

  1. Begin the head at a magic ring and build it outward through a series of increase rounds.
  2. Continue the body in even rounds without further increases to set the shape.
  3. Shape the lower body and tentacle base through the later rounds before dividing for legs.
  4. Crochet each tentacle separately, working popcorn stitches along the edge for texture.
  5. Finish each leg and attach it to the body once all tentacles are complete.

About This Pattern

Every notebook needs an octopus eventually. Mine was missing one, and this pattern filled the gap nicely. It sits with the other amigurumi sea creatures, but the popcorn tentacles set it apart from the usual smooth-limbed versions I've logged before.

What comes out the other end is a round-headed, eight-legged plush with a bobbled, slightly bumpy look to its lower half. It reads as a toy, a sensory piece, or a shelf companion depending on where you set it down.

This octopus is both functional and customizable: choose your favorite yarn colors to personalize the creature, whether as a plush toy, a baby sensory item, or a cute desk companion.

Worth knowing

I like a pattern that teaches me something mid-project, and this one does. The head is a clean exercise in magic ring increases, predictable and meditative. Then the tentacles arrive with popcorn stitch, and suddenly I'm paying attention again. Popcorn bobbles give the legs a textured, almost suction-cup look without any extra appliqué or embroidery. It's a smart bit of design: one technique for the smooth body, another for the detail that actually reads as 'octopus' from across the room. The project moves fast too, which matters when you want a finished object, not a lingering UFO. By the end you've practiced two distinct skills in one sitting, and you have a plush to show for it.

Common mistakes

  • Losing count through the increase rounds Mark the start of each round with a stitch marker before working the increases. It's easy to drift a stitch or two without one.
  • Popcorn stitches look flat, not bobbled Pull the loop through firmly when closing each popcorn stitch so it pops outward. A loose closure just lies there.
  • Magic ring loosens after the first round Tug the tail tight before working into the ring's stitches. Check it again once round 1 is complete.
  • Tentacles attached unevenly around the body Lay all finished tentacles out together before sewing any on. Space them by eye against the body's base before stitching.
  • Stuffing too sparse at the head's widest point Add stuffing gradually through the increase rounds rather than all at once near the end. A dense head holds its round shape better.
Ruby

The story behind Stitch Obsession, and Ruby, who writes and tests every pattern on the shelf.

Intermediate

The kit

  1. Worsted weight yarn
  2. Crochet hook (size to suit your yarn)

R1

Round 1Magic ring with 6 single crochet (sc)

R2

Round 1Increase in each stitch (inc*6) to get 12 stitches (sts)

R3

Round 1(1sc, inc)*6 for 18 sts

R4

Round 1(inc, 2sc)*6 for 24 sts

R5

Round 1(3sc, inc)*6 for 30 sts

R6-R10

Rounds 6–101 sc in each st around (30 sts)

R11

Round 1(3sc, dec)*6 for 24 sts

R12

Round 1(2sc, dec)*6 for 18 sts

R13

Round 1(1sc, dec)*6 for 12 sts

R14

Round 1(dec)*6 to close with 6 sts

Tentacle Base and Popcorn Edge

Round 1Magic ring with 8 sc

Round 2Increase in each stitch (inc*8) for 16 sts

Round 3(Popcorn stitch, skip 1 st)*8

Tentacles

First TentacleChain 14, starting in 2nd chain from hook, make 13 sc

Second TentacleChain 18, make 17 sc

Third TentacleChain 17, make 16 sc

From the collection

Crochet octopus amigurumi with popcorn stitch tentacles — photo 2
Crochet octopus amigurumi with popcorn stitch tentacles — photo 3

Finishing

  1. Weave in the starting tail from the magic ring before stuffing the head.
  2. Stuff the body firmly as you close the later rounds so the shape holds.
  3. Attach each finished tentacle to the base of the body and secure every yarn end.

Why it works

Rounds 1 through 3 each add stitches in sequence, which is the standard way to flatten and widen a crocheted sphere from the top.

The pattern moves from steady increase rounds early on to rounds without increases later, marking the shift from shaping the head to building its depth.

The tentacle section is worked as its own named part with popcorn stitches along the edge, separating leg construction from the main body rounds entirely.

What it becomes

  • A soft plush for a child's shelf or play basket, alongside other amigurumi animals.
  • A sensory toy for a baby, paired with other textured handmade items in a basket.
  • A whimsical desk companion, sitting next to a mug or a small potted plant.

Original pattern: https://crocheteverything.com/crochet-octopus-amiguumi-pattern-with-popcorn-stitch-tentacles/

FAQ

Can I use a different yarn color for the tentacles than the head?

Yes, the pattern is built for customizing colors. A contrasting color on the tentacles actually shows off the popcorn texture more clearly.

Is popcorn stitch hard to learn for this pattern?

It's a technique, not a trick, and this pattern is a reasonable place to practice it. The tentacle section gives you repeated chances to get the tension right.

How much of the project is the head versus the tentacles?

The head takes the earlier rounds through the increase sequence and the straight rounds after. The tentacles are built separately afterward as their own section.

Do I stuff the head before or after finishing the increase rounds?

Stuff gradually as the later rounds close in, not all at once at the end. This keeps the shape even and avoids a lumpy head.

The next find, by post

One pattern from the collection when it is ready. Nothing else.