Crocheted squids for preemies

[Learner quilter]

Not sure if this is going to work, but here is the translation from the blog. It takes a second to translate once you open the link.
Lundabo i hjärtat: Tutorial Bläckfiskar

Yes, it works . Thank you ..

[HandsOffItsMine]

Posted English PDF Instructions in a separate Thread, that way it could be attached.

Amigurumi Octopus Crochet Pattern in English from Swedish Blog

[goofyizzy]

Thanks for sharing this heart-warming story.

[Musical_Starling]

What an adorable idea! Thanks for sharing Anna, this would be an awesome idea for anyone who crochets I am just learning, but I find it much easier to read a standard short-hand pattern than trying to read each step explained in detail. So I looked at their "tutorial" and figured out that LM (Luftmaska) is a chain stitch and FM (Fastmaska) is a single crochet. So I used google translate a little and my new knowledge that LM = ch and FM = sc and typed out the pattern just in case anyone like myself got totally confused trying to read the whole page from start to finish lol I think I may have ADD, because I just can't concentrate enough to understand what in the heck is going on

This is the pattern for the little green one, which is slightly different than the one Ruby posted but still turns out quite similar. For any newbies (like me) who don't quite have the acronyms down, ch = chain, sc = single crochet, inc=increase, dc = decrease, sl st = slip stitch. The number of stitches you should have after each step is written in brackets. And if you haven't done a magic ring before, there are a bunch of videos on youtube. SO simple once you get the hang of it!

Instructions:

*Use a G hook (4)*

1: 6 sc in magic ring
2: 2 sc in each stitch (12)
3: 1 sc, 2 sc (inc) in every second stitch (18)
4: 2 sc, 2 sc in every third stitch (24)
5: 3 sc, 2 sc in every fourth stitch (30)
6: 4 sc, 2 sc in every fifth stitch (36)
7-14: 1 sc in each stitch (36)
15: 4 sc, 2 sc together (dc) (30)
16-17: 1 sc in each stitch (30)
18: 3 sc, 2 sc together (dc) (24)
19-20: 1 sc in each stitch (24)
21: 2 sc, 2 sc together (dc) (18)
22: 1 sc in each stitch (18)
23: 7 sc, 2 sc together (16)
24: 1 sc in each stitch (16)
25: Arms:

Start with 1 sc then ch until it measures up to 22cm, taking note of how many chain stitches you have. 2 sc in each ch (starting at second ch from hook), ending with a sc. Check that your tentacle is a maximum of 22cm before continuing. Repeat 7 times so you have eight arms. End with sl st and pull yarn through.
*If you have trouble getting your arms to twist, crochet 3 or 4 sc in each ch instead

**If anyone else got confused at this step, don't worry, I did too. But after watching the video tutorial (which is also in Swedish but can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuDKbMZn7Uc and here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxnmRYm7B_c) I realized that you just keep going as a 25th row. So you basically do a sc, then chain however many (the other tutorial used 40, but however many it takes you to get to 22cm) then make your way back toward the body with those doubled sc stitches, do another sc to attach that arm to the body, then make another arm. **

Bottom:

1: 5 sc in magic ring
2: 2 sc in each stitch (10)
3: 1 sc, double sc (inc) in next stitch (15)
End with sl st and pull yarn through, leaving a long tail for assembly.

Eyes (make two):

1: 4 sc in magic ring
2: 2 sc in each stitch (8)
3: 1 sc, 2 sc (inc) in next stitch (12)
End with sl st and pull yarn through, leaving a long tail. Use black embroidery floss for the pupil

Sew on the eyes, then fill the body and attach the bottom securely so it does not come off in the wash. You can also attach a loop to the top so it can hang in an incubator.

The octopus MUST be washable in hot water and the yarn can't be fuzzy because the fibers may get in their lungs. Acrylic yarn may cause lung inflammation, so we recommend cotton yarn.

Hope this helps someone

[bdmsmith]

Has anyone else made one of these? I had a hard time finding the 100% cotton yarn---everytime I picked some up that I thought would be cotton it turned out to be acrylic or a mixture. I finally did find some at Joann's. I want to try this so bad but it's been forever since I crocheted so I would need to watch the youtube video on getting started and it would take me a bit to figure out the different stitch types. I'm hoping within the week I'll be able to get started.

[toggpine]

I think Sugar'n'Cream is cotton. I can't knit or crochet, but this is an adorable project!

[Musical_Starling]

Has anyone else made one of these? I had a hard time finding the 100% cotton yarn---everytime I picked some up that I thought would be cotton it turned out to be acrylic or a mixture. I finally did find some at Joann's. I want to try this so bad but it's been forever since I crocheted so I would need to watch the youtube video on getting started and it would take me a bit to figure out the different stitch types. I'm hoping within the week I'll be able to get started.

I find my Bernat Handicrafter Cotton at Walmart. It's what I use to make dishcloths (although MIL insists that they're too pretty to be dishcloths so uses them as pot holders instead, but that's a totally different issue lol)

[MayinJerset]

Thanks for sharing such a heart warming story. One of my DGDaughters is a RN who works with preemies and maybe she would like some. Haven't crocheted in years so I better try to make a trial squid to figure out the pattern before saying anything to her.

[krissyg]

Here is a link to a pattern for a knitted octopus: mysweetoldetcetera: Octopus. I got that from ravelry.com - lots of crochet and knit patterns for octopi. You have to sign up, but it's a great resource for knitting and crochet.

[Wwena]

I'm so happy this thread is still alive! Maybe we'll see some octopusses (octopy?!?) soon?