by Cate Carter-Evans

Who doesn't need a life-sized, squishy, tentacled companion?

With his sleepy eyes and wonderfully squishable body, Opus the Octopus is equally at home perched on a sofa or at the head of a bed. He's a great decoration for a child's room, and would love to hang out with The Deadliest Crab.

Opus's design is inspired by the real thing (octopus vulgaris in particular), but minus the creepy parrot-like beak. Octopuses (not octopi) are members of the Cephalopod family, which also includes squid, cuttlefish, and chambered Nautiluses. They're highly intelligent, and able to unscrew jars, use tools, solve mazes, and, on occasion, accurately predict the outcome of Word Cup Soccer matches. They are masters of disguise, amazing escape artists, and exceedingly lovable -- possibly because they have three hearts.

Opus is worked in the round with intarsia tentacles worked flat.

SIZE
One

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Head diameter: 8.5 inches
Length: 36 inches

MATERIALS
Yarn
Infinite Twist Helix [100%wool; 200 yd/182 m per 70g skein];
[MC] Shreveport, 5 skeins
[CC] Ebi, 3 skeins

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #5/3.75mm needles for working in the round
16-inch US #5/3.75mm circular needle (optional; only needed if you're using DPNs for the body)
US #1/2.25mm needles

Notions
yarn needle
two 1-inch/24 mm safety eyes
10 yards wool roving to stuff tentacles
8 oz polyfil or wool to stuff body

GAUGE

PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

Yarn should be held double on Opus' body and tentacles. His eyelids are knitted with a single strand of yarn.

DIRECTIONS
The Bulbous Body
Holding your yarn double, cast on 4 stitches on larger needles for working in the round. Distribute sts across needles as you prefer and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist.

Round 1: Kfb 4 times. 8 st.
Round 2: Kfb 8 times. 16 st.
Round 3 and all odd-numbered rounds: Knit.
Round 4: [K1, kfb] 8 times. 24 sts.
Round 6: [K2, kfb] 8 times. 32 sts.
Round 8: [K3, kfb] 8 times. 40 sts.
Round 10: [K4, kfb] 8 times. 48 sts.
Round 12: [K5, kfb] 8 times. 56 sts.
Round 14: [K6, kfb] 8 times. 64 sts.
Round 16: Knit.
Round 18: [K7, kfb] 8 times. 72 sts.
Round 20: [K8, kfb] 8 times. 80 sts.
Round 22: Knit.
Round 24: [K9, kfb] 8 times. 88 sts.
Round 26: [K10, kfb] 8 times. 96 sts.
Round 28: Knit.
Round 30: [K11, kfb] 8 times. 104 sts.
Round 32: Knit.
Round 34: [K12, kfb] 8 times. 112 stitches (transfer all stitches to circular needle here if desired)

Work 21 rounds even.

Round 56: [Ssk, k24, k2tog] 4 times. 104 sts.
Work 5 rounds even.

Round 63: [Ssk, k22, k2tog] 4 times. 96 sts.
Work 4 rounds even.

Round 69: [Ssk, k20, k2tog] 4 times. 88 sts.
Work 3 rounds even.

Round 73: [Ssk, k18, k2tog] 4 times. 80 sts.
Work 4 rounds even
.
Round 78: [Ssk, k16, k2 tog] 4 times. 72 sts.
Work 4 rounds even.

Round 83: [Ssk, k14, k2tog] 4 times. 64 sts.
Work 4 rounds even.

Round 88: [Ssk, k12, k2tog] 4 times. 56 sts.
Work 3 rounds even.

If you haven't already, transfer all stitches to your circular needle. Leave sts on hold for now.

The Blinky Eyelids (make 4)
Using smaller needles and a single strand of yarn, CO 10 st using the long tail cast on. Leave 12 extra inches of tail. Do not join in the round.

Row 1 [RS]: Knit.
Row 2 [WS]: Purl.
Row 3 [RS]: Ssk, k6, k2tog. 8 sts.
Row 4 [WS]: Purl
Row 5 [RS]: Ssk, k4, k2tog. 6 sts.
Row 6 [WS]: Purl.

Cast off all stitches knitwise and break yarn, leaving a 12-inch tail.

Lay out the eyelid pieces with the cast-on edges facing each other so they form two halves of a circle. Starting from the outside corners, sew the corners of the eyelids to each other with 2-3 stitches (about a quarter inch on each side) using the tails from the cast-on. Leave all tails in place, and steam block.

Find the marker you placed at round 99 for eye placement. This marks the horizontal placement for the eyes. Place the eyes directly across from each other, about three quarters of an inch below the eyebrow bulges (the four symmetrical bumps created by the Eyeball Bulge shaping).

Affix safety eyes, making sure to follow eye manufacturer's instructions and warnings.

Using the remaining tails on the eyelids, stitch them over the safety eyes and hide any remaining ends inside.

Round 1: Kfb 4 times. 8 st.
Round 2: Kfb 8 times. 16 st.
Round 3: Knit.
Round 4: [K1, kfb] 8 times. 24 sts.
Round 5: [K2, kfb] 8 times. 32 sts
Round 6: Knit.
Round 7: [K3, kfb] 8 times. 40 sts.
Round 8: [K4, kfb] 8 times. 48 sts.
Round 9: Knit.
Round 10: [K5, kfb] 8 times. 56 sts.
Round 11: [K6, kfb] 8 times. 64 sts.
Round 12: Knit.
Round 13: [K7, kfb] 8 times. 72 sts.
Round 14: [K8, kfb] 8 times. 80 sts.
Round 15: Knit.
Round 16: [K9, kfb] 8 times 88 sts.
Round 17: [K10, kfb] 8 times. 96 sts.
Round 18: Knit.
Round 19: [K11, kfb] 8 times. 104 sts.
Round 20: Knit.
Round 21: [K12, kfb] 8 times. 112 sts.
Round 22: Knit.
Leave sts on needles.

Tentacles
Make 1 butterfly of yarn in each color (MC and CC), approximately 60yds in length.

Using larger needles, slip the first 14 sts of the underbelly to a single needle; slip the first 14 sts of the body onto the sample needle, to the right of the underbelly sts. 28 sts. Do not join for working in the round.

*With RS facing, join MC yarn butterfly at start of row.

Row 1 [RS]: Knit 14 MC st, placing a marker to indicate row 1. Join CC yarn butterfly, and knit 14 CC stitches.

Row 2 [WS]: Purl 14 in CC, twist yarn butterflies over each other (intarsia method), purl 14 in MC.

Row 3-22: Work in stockinette as set, working the first half of each RS row in MC, and the second half in CC; and working the first half of each WS row in CC, and the second half in MC. Twist the yarns around each other when you change color, to prevent a hole.

Row 23 [RS]: [Ssk, k10, k2tog] twice. 24 sts, 12 each in MC and CC.
Work 21 rows even, twisting yarns where colors meet.

Row 45 [RS]: [Ssk, k8, k2tog] twice. 20 sts.
Work 21 rows even, twisting yarns where colors meet.

Row 67 [RS]: [Ssk, k6, k2tog] twice. 16 sts.
Work 21 rows even, twisting yarns where colors meet.

Row 89 [RS]: [Ssk, k4, k2tog]. Repeat with CC. 12 sts.
Work 21 rows even, twisting yarns where colors meet.

Row 111 [RS]: [Ssk, k2, k2tog] twice. 8 sts.
Work 21 rows even, twisting yarns where colors meet.

Row 133 [RS]: Ssk, k2tog twice. 4 sts.
Row 134 [WS]: [P2tog, break yarn, and pull through] twice.

Move to next set of 14 sts on body and underbelly, and repeat from *, for 7 remaining tentacles.

FINISHING
Block, if desired.

Fill the body with polyfil or wool, being careful not to overstuff. Opus looks best when he's a bit floppy.

Prepare to fill tentacles by tearing off three roving pieces in lengths of 20, 14, and 10 inches Do not cut -- tearing the roving gives you nice tapered ends. Place the roving pieces inside the tentacle with the ends together at the top. Only the 20 inch length should reach the end of the tentacle, and you should have at least 2 inches extending into Opus' body. Sew up the open side of the tentacle using the mattress stitch.

Repeat for remaining tentacles, and snuggle your new buddy!

Legal disclaimer: Opus is intended as a decorative item only. Plastic eyes are small parts, and could pose a choking hazard to small children. Follow safety eye manufacturer's instructions and product warnings.

Cate Carter-Evans is an American dyer and multi-crafter living in Shanghai, China. She runs Infinite Twist, a yarn company specializing in hand-spun and hand-dyed yarns.

Opus the Octopus is Cate's first submission to Knitty, and as far as she's concerned, the best thing she's ever made. Find her here on Ravelry.