Mini Octopus Hat Knitting Pattern

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Knit your little one this fun mini octopus hat with my free knitting pattern!

Did you guys see recently in the news that scientists caught a cute little purple octopus on film and people on the internet were going crazy for it? Well, I’ve had an octopus hat on my list for a while but when I was looking at my yarn stash, I thought of that adorable little guy and grabbed some purple yarns. But you could totally make your octopus shades of blue or pink or orange. It’ll be cute in any color! And of course, the most fun part is the curly tentacles. I actually had never knit a curly i-cord before this project but it was so fun and easy that I made a video for you. I promise, it’s not hard!

Looking for the pattern? Here's how it works: This pattern is available for free in one size right here on my site (keep scrolling down). Or you can purchase an upgraded PDF pattern that is ad-free and easy to print in just one or two nicely formatted pages. The PDF printable also contains instructions for additional sizes including 0-3 months, 6 months, 12 months and 2T+! You can purchase the PDF patterns either via Etsy or Ravelry. There is a very small fee for the PDF version and this helps me keep Little Red Window running! Thank you so much for loving my patterns!

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Mini Octopus Hat Knitting Pattern (6 mo. size, see PDF for other sizes)

This pattern is copyright Little Red Window Design 2017 and is intended for personal use. You may not not distribute, reproduce or sell this pattern either physically or digitally.

Gauge: 20 st. = 4 inches

Worsted weight yarn in dark purple, white, black and light purple

US 7 16″ circular knitting needles

US 7 double pointed needles

Yarn needle

(If you need help, my favorite knitting reference book for everyone from beginners to advanced knitters is THIS ONE!)

Using long-tail cast on, cast on 64 stitches onto your circular needles with the dark purple yarn color. Join to knit in the round and k2, p2 in a rib stitch for 1 3/4 inches. Switch to light purple yarn.

Round 1: (k3, kfb) repeat to the end of the round.

Knit all rows until the hat is about 5 inches long.

Decrease (divide the stitches evenly between 3 double pointed needles and knit with the 4th):

Round 1: (k8, k2tog) and repeat to the end of the round.

Round 2: Knit all stitches

Round 3: (k7, k2tog) and repeat to the end of the round.

Round 4: Knit all stitches

Round 1: (k6, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round

Round 2: Knit all stitches

Round 3: (k5, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round

Round 4: Knit all stitches

Round 5: (k4, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round

Round 6: Knit all stitches to the end of the round.

Round 7: (k3, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round

Round 8: Knit all stitches to the end of the round

Round 9: (k2, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round

Rounds 10: Knit all stitches

Round 11: (k1, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round

Rounds 12: Knit all stitches

Round 13: k2tog repeat to the end of the round

Cut yarn, pull through loops and close. Weave in ends.

To knit the eyes (make 2 of each):

Using double pointed needles as straight needles, cast on 3 stitches with white yarn, leave a long cast-on tail to stitch the eye to the hat.

Row 1: kfb, k1, kfb

Row 2: Purl all stitches

Row 3: kfb, k3, kfb

Rows 4 -10: Purl even rows, knit odd rows

Row 11: k2tog, k3, k2tog

Row 12: Purl all stitches

Row 13:k2tog, k1, k2tog

Bind off and weave in that end.

Using double pointed needles as straight needles, cast on 2 stitches with black yarn, leave a long cast-on tail to stitch the black pupil to the white eye.

Row 1: kfb, kfb

Row 2 – 4: Purl even rows, knit odd rows

Row 5: k2tog, k2tog

Bind off and weave in that end.

Tentacles (make 8):

To make the tentacles, you will knit 8 curly i-cords. I kept mine fairly short, 8 repeats each, but it’s up to you how long to make yours. Scroll down to see a video of this stitch!

Using double pointed needles as straight needles, cast on 3 stitches with light purple yarn, leave a long cast-on tail to stitch the tentacle to the hat.

Row 1: k3, slide stitches down to the other end of the needle without turning your work.

Row 2:k1, sl1 purlwise, k1, slide stitches down to the other end of the needle without turning your work.

Row 3: k1, sl1 purlwise, k1, slide stitches down to the other end of the needle without turning your work.

Repeat rows 1-3 until your tentacles are as long as you want. Then bind off and weave in that end.

To assemble the hat:

Using its long cast-on tail, stitch one black pupil to one white eye. Repeat with the other eye. Then using the white cast-on tail, stitch each eye to the front of the hat. Using the long cast-on tail from each tentacle, stitch each one to the hat, 4 on each side, just above where you switch colors from dark purple to light purple. And that’s it! Enjoy your octopus hat!