Who can resist a tiny, adorable octopus? Today, I will show you how I crochet a cute mini octopus keychain. It’s small, easy to make, and perfect as a keychain or little gift.
I use bright colors and simple stitches, and I’ll walk you through every step. Let’s dive into this fun crochet project together!
Contents
Materials You’ll Need
Let me show you what I use to make this cute little octopus.
For the yarn, I choose milk cotton. It’s soft and easy to work with. I use three colors:
- Sky blue
- Pink
- Black
For the tools, I use:
- A 2.5 mm crochet hook
- A bit of stuffing
- A stitch marker
- A yarn needle
- Scissors
- And, of course, a metal keychain ring
Crocheting the Octopus Body
Let’s start with the body using sky-blue yarn. This part builds the head and shape of the octopus.
Step 1: Make a Magic Ring with 6 Stitches
To begin, I create a magic ring.
Then I chain 1 and make 6 single crochet (SC) stitches into the ring. I use X-shaped stitches, which give the octopus a nice texture.
Once I have 6 stitches, I pull the ring tight to close the circle. That’s round 1 done!
Step 2: Round 2 – V Stitch Increases
Now, we move on to round 2. I crochet in a spiral, which means no slip-stitch joins. In the first stitch, I make 2 single crochets—this is called a V stitch.
I mark this first stitch with a stitch marker, then crochet another SC into the same space to complete the V.
Next, I do a V stitch in the second stitch as well.
For this round, I place a V stitch in every stitch around. This increases the total number of stitches.
Step 3: Round 3 – 1 SC, 1 V Stitch
For round 3, I follow a simple pattern:
- 1 single crochet in the first stitch
- Then a V stitch in the next
I keep repeating this pattern all the way around the circle. This helps the shape grow gradually.
Step 4: Round 4 – 2 SC, 1 V Stitch
Now, onto round 4. I make:
- 1 single crochet in the first stitch
- 1 single crochet in the second
- Then, a V stitch in the third
The pattern is now: 2 SC, 1 V, repeat until the end of the round. I love how the shape slowly takes form at this stage!
Step 5: Rounds 5 to 9 – Maintain the Shape
Here’s where it gets easy. From round 5 to round 9, there are no increases. I simply make 1 single crochet in every stitch.
That’s it! Just repeat the same stitch around and around. I’ll see you again at the end of round 9.
Shaping the Bottom of the Octopus
After building the body, it’s time to shape the bottom and prepare for the tentacles.
Step 6: Round 10 – 2 SC, 1 Invisible Decrease
In round 10, I begin decreasing. The pattern is:
- 1 SC in the first stitch
- 1 SC in the second
- Then, an invisible decrease, which I’ll call A
So the pattern goes: 2 SC, 1 A, and repeat until the end of the round. The shape starts to close up now.
Step 7: Round 11 – BLO + 1 SC, 1 A
Round 11 is special! I crochet into the back loops only (BLO). This leaves the front loops free; we’ll use them for the tentacles later.
In this round:
- 1 SC in the first back loop
- Then, an invisible decrease (A) in the next
Repeat this pattern: 1 SC, 1 A using only the back loops. I remove the stitch marker when I finish.
Step 8: Stuff the Body
Time to stuff the octopus! I use some soft stuffing and gently push it into the body. I even use scissors to help pack it in.
After stuffing, the body feels round and soft, just like a plushie. So cute already!
Step 9: Round 12 – Final Decreases and Sewing
For round 12, I make 6 invisible decreases all the way around.
When that’s done, I cut the yarn, leaving a long tail for sewing.
I take a yarn needle and sew the bottom closed. I only stitch through the outer loops and gently pull it tight to seal it. Apply the technique of hiding the yarn after sewing and remember to cut off the excess yarn.
Adding the Tentacles
This part is so much fun! The tentacles bring the octopus to life.
Step 10: Find the Loops from BLO
I use the loops left from round 11—they stick out nicely after the BLO round.
I insert my hook into one of these loops and pull through sky-blue yarn.
Step 11: Make a Tentacle
Now, I create the first tentacle:
- Chain 2
- In the next stitch, make 2 half-double crochets (HDC)
- Chain 2 again
- Then slip stitch into the next stitch
That’s one tentacle done!
Step 12: Repeat for All Tentacles
I repeat this same pattern all the way around:
- Chain 2
- 2 HDC in the next stitch
- Chain 2
- Slip stitch into the next
At the final stitch, I repeat the steps and then slip the stitch into the first stitch to close the round.
I chain 1, cut the yarn, and leave a tail for sewing in.
I use a needle to neatly hide the tail and trim any extra yarn.
Now, the tentacles are done. They curl a little and look super adorable!
Adding the Face
The face gives this mini octopus its personality!
Step 13: Sew on the Eyes
I count up to round 6 and use black yarn to sew on the eyes.
I space them two stitches apart, right on that round.
Just a few tiny stitches for each eye, and they’re in place.
Step 14: Add Blush Cheeks
With pink yarn, I add blush cheeks beside each eye. They sit perfectly on either side, making the octopus look extra sweet.
Attaching the Keychain
Almost done! Let’s turn this plushie into a keychain.
Step 15: Add the Metal Ring
I take a metal ring and attach it to the top of the head using pliers. I make sure it’s secure, so it won’t fall off.
Step 16: Loop the Keychain
Once the ring is in place, I loop the keychain through it.
And just like that, I have a mini octopus keychain ready to go!
Wrapping Up
That’s how I make this super cute octopus keychain from start to finish. It’s small, fun, and easy to crochet! You can try different colors and even add tiny accessories. If you make one, too, I’d love to hear how it turned out!