R1with coral: 6 sc in MR(6)
R2inc ×6(12)
R3(1 sc, inc) ×6(18)
R41 sc, (inc, 2 sc) ×5, inc, 1 sc(24)
R5(3 sc, inc) ×6(30)
R62 sc, (inc, 4 sc) ×5, inc, 2 sc(36)
R7(5 sc, inc) ×6(42)
R83 sc, (inc, 6 sc) ×5, inc, 3 sc(48)
R9(7 sc, inc) ×6(54)
R1054 sc(54)
R11(8 sc, inc) ×6(60)
R12–1960 sc(60)
R204 sc, (dec, 8 sc) ×5, dec, 4 sc(54)
R2154 sc(54)
R224 sc, (dec, 7 sc) ×5, dec, 3 sc(48)
R23(6 sc, dec) ×6(42)
R243 sc, (dec, 5 sc) ×5, dec, 2 sc(36)
R25(4 sc, dec) ×6(30)
R262 sc, (dec, 3 sc) ×5, dec, 1 sc(24)
R27(2 sc, dec) ×6(18)
R28(1 sc, dec) ×6(12)
R29dec ×6(6)
Size before assembly: about 8.5 cm at the widest, 7.3 cm long; 29 rounds.
→ Insert the safety eyes now (positions: see “Face”) and fix the backs. Start stuffing (firmly) and keep adding as you decrease.
Top up the stuffing if needed. Fasten off leaving a 15 cm tail; with the needle weave it through the front loops of all 6 stitches of the last round, pull tight and hide the end inside.

R1with coral: 4 sc in MR(4)
R2(1 sc, inc) ×2(6)
R3(2 sc, inc) ×2(8)
R44 sc, inc, 3 sc(9)
R5–199 sc(9)
Size before assembly: about 1.2 cm at the widest, 6.7 cm long; 19 rounds.
Fasten off leaving a long tail (30–40 cm) for sewing. Stuff lightly just before sewing it on; a little less near the edge, then add a pinch when the seam is nearly done. Bend ≈ 230° around round 7. The piece rolls up into a spiral (about 0.6 turns) from round 7 to its tip: after stuffing, roll it up starting from the tip (round 1) toward the side that faces up on the finished toy; the turns lie close, each wider than the last. From the tip to round 7 tack neighbouring turns together with 2–3 stitches of matching yarn every 3–4 rounds and hide the yarn inside.

Safety eyes and noses go in before the piece is stuffed and closed (see the pieces above); embroidery is easier before the piece is sewn on.

Safety eyes with a printed glint 14 mm (on the head body): between rounds 17 and 18, 8 st apart (count along round 17: about 3.8 st each side of the centre front line).
Embroidery in cocoa thread (on the head body), straight stitches through: (between rounds 19 and 20, 1.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ) → (in round 20, 0.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ) → (between rounds 20 and 21, on the centre front line ) → (in round 20, 0.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ) → (between rounds 19 and 20, 1.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ).

Octopus in a Beanie

What you'll need