HOW TO CROCHET THE PERFECT STUDY BUDDY
BY ALEXIS KY PHOTOS BY GRACE AUBLE
As college students, stress is almost always at an all-time high, whether it be from projects, tuition, or exams. Fortunately, there are many ways to combat this feeling! While studying, holding something soft and squishy and letting your stress go as you squeeze it is a great way to cope. Below you will find steps on how to crochet your own study buddy octopus. You will need the following:
Yarn of your choice
Crochet needle (you can find the size you need on the label of your yarn)
Any type of filling, like polyester or cotton
Scissors
Sewing needle and thread
Yarn needle
Two buttons
To create the body of the octopus:
Step 1: Create a “magic circle” to start a ring
Step 2: Chain one, then add six single crochet stitches into the center of your circle. Make a slip stitch to join the ends once you have gone once around the ring
Step 3: Now you are ready to add more rows, also known as “increase rows.” You will need to chain one then add six more single crochet stitches in each row as you go around. To do this, you will add two single crochet stitches into the same stitch. Again, join the end of the row with a slip stitch and move to the next row.
Pro tip: Make sure you keep track of where the start of each row is. It helps to mark the start with a safety pin.
Step 4: Once you have reached the halfway mark of the ball, you are going to work in even, single crochet rounds. If your last increase row has 24 stitches, then do 24 stitches and join with a slip stitch at the end. Chain one and repeat. Do this until you have your desired number of rows.
Step 5: Now it's time to make the “decrease rows.” Move on to the next row, chain one and decrease by six single crochets then join with a slip stitch. Continue to decrease until you have an opening that is still big enough to put your filling in.
Step 6: Fill!
Step 7: Continue with the decrease rows until you have six stitches left. Leave an eight-inch tail of yarn and cut. Then use your yarn needle to feed it through the six stitches and pull tight to close up the ball and knot it.
Now that the ball is done, you are going to make the legs.
Step 1: Chain however long you want the legs to be.
Step 2: Once you have reached the length, chain one and then add a single crochet stitch to the previous chain and continue down the line. You will continue until the leg is as thick as you want it.
Step 3: Once at the desired thickness, leave an eight-inch tail and cut. This tail will be how you attach the leg to the body of the octopus.
Step 4: Repeat seven more times
Once you have all nine parts of the body, it’s time to assemble.
Step 1: Take your yarn needle and with the eight-inch tail of the leg, sew it to the bottom of the ball and then tie off. Make sure you have enough room to fit all eight legs.
Step 2: Repeat with the remaining seven legs.
Almost done! Now that the body is assembled, all that’s left to do is add the two button eyes.
Step 1: Using the sewing needle and thread, sew the buttons onto the desired area and you’re done!
Now you have a completed study buddy to squeeze the stress away. Happy studying!
