Lion Brand^® Vanna's Choice^® Baby

GAUGE:

Exact gauge is not essential to this project.

STITCH EXPLANATION:

M1 (make 1) An increase worked by lifting the horizontal thread lying between the needles and placing it onto left needle. Knit this new stitch through the back loop.

OCTOPUS
BODY
Cast on 60 sts. Divide sts onto 3 double-pointed needles. Join, being careful not to twist sts, place marker for beg of rnd.
Rnd 1: Knit.
Rnd 2: *K2tog, k16, k2tog; rep from * around – 54 sts.
Rnd 3: Knit.
Rnd 4: *K2tog, k14, k2tog; rep from * around – 48 sts.
Rnd 5 and 6: Knit.
Rnd 7: *K2tog, k12, k2tog; rep from * around – 42 sts.
Rnds 8–11: Knit.
Rnd 12: *K1, M1, k12, M1, k1; rep from * around – 48 sts.
Rnd 13: Knit.
Rnd 14: *K1, M1, k14, M1, k1; rep from * around – 54 sts.
Rnd 15: Knit.
Rnd 16: *K1, M1, k16, M1, k1; rep from * around – 60 sts.
Rnd 17: Knit.
Rnd 18: *K1, M1, k18, M1, k1; rep from * around – 66 sts.
Rnd 19: Knit.
Rnd 20: *K1, M1, k20, M1, k1; rep from * around – 72 sts.
Rnd 21: Knit.
Rnd 22: *K1, M1, k22, M1, k1; rep from * around – 78 sts.
Rnd 23: Knit.
Rnd 24: *K1, M1, k24, M1, k1; rep from * around – 84 sts.
Rnds 25–34: Knit.
Rnd 35: *K2tog, k24, k2tog; rep from * around – 78 sts.
Rnd 36: Knit.
Rnd 37: *K2tog, k22, k2tog; rep from * around – 72 sts.
Rnd 38: Knit.
Rnd 39: *K2tog, k20, k2tog; rep from * around – 66 sts.
Rnd 40: *K2tog, k18, k2tog; rep from * around – 60 sts.
Rnd 41: *K2tog, k16, k2tog; rep from * around – 54 sts.
Rnd 42: *K2tog, k14, k2tog; rep from * around – 48 sts.
Rnd 43: *K2tog, k12, k2tog; rep from * around – 42 sts.
Rnd 44: *K2tog, k10, k2tog; rep from * around – 36 sts.
Rnd 45: *K2tog, k8, k2tog; rep from * around – 30 sts.
Rnd 46: *K2tog, k6, k2tog; rep from * around – 24 sts.
Rnd 47: *K2tog, k4, k2tog; rep from * around – 18 sts.
Rnd 48: *K2tog, k2, k2tog; rep from * around – 12 sts.
Rnd 49: *K2tog, rep from * around – 6 sts.
Cut yarn, leaving a long end. Thread end through remaining sts, pull tightly tog and tie off.

Legs
From RS, pick up and k8 sts along cast-on edge of Body, then cast on 5 sts.
Divide sts onto 3 needles. Join, being careful not to twist sts, place marker for beg of rnd.
Rnds 1–5: Knit.
Rnd 6 (Decrease): K3, k2tog, k to end of rnd – 12 sts.
Rnds 7–11: Knit.
Rnd 12 (Decrease): Rep Rnd 6 – 11 sts.
Rep last 6 rnds 3 times – 8 sts.
Stuff leg lightly.
Rep last 6 rnds 4 times – 4 sts.
Cut yarn, leaving a long end. Thread end through remaining sts, pull tightly tog and tie off.
Second, Fourth, Sixth, and Eighth Legs: Beg in same cast-on st as last picked up st of previous leg, pick up and k8 sts, then cast on 5 sts, complete leg in same manner as first.
Third, Fifth, and Seventh Leg: Beg in next cast-on st following previous leg, pick up and k8 sts, then cast on 5 sts, complete leg in same manner as first.

UNDERSIDE OF BODY
From RS, working along cast-on edge of legs (underside of body), pick up and k48 sts as follows: 5 sts along top of each cast on leg, and 1 st between each leg. Divide sts onto double-pointed needles. Join, being careful not to twist sts, place marker for beg of rnd.
Rnd 1: Knit.
Rnd 2: *K4, k2tog; rep from * around – 40 sts.
Finish stuffing piece.
Rnd 3: *K3, k2tog; rep from * around – 32 sts.
Rnd 4: *K2, k2tog; rep from * around – 24 sts.
Rnd 5: Knit.
Rnd 6: *K2, k2tog; rep from * around – 18 sts.
Rnd 7: *K2tog; rep from * around – 9 sts.
Rnd 8: Knit.
Rnd 9: *K2tog; rep from * around, end k1 – 5 sts.
Cut yarn, leaving a long end. Thread end through remaining sts, pull tight and secure. Fasten off.

EYES (make 2)
With black yarn and crochet hook, ch 4; join with slip st to form a ring.
Ch 1, work 8 sc in ring; join with slip st in first sc. Fasten off. With rust yarn, embroider a French knot in center of each eye.

FINISHING
Sew Eyes to Body. Weave in ends.

  Learn to Knit instructions:  http://learnToKnit.LionBrand.com