Have you ever wanted your very own squishy, eight-legged denizen of the deep? Do you like fun, easy crafts? Is the ocean floor an underwater beach? Are you tired of rhetorical questions yet? If so, pull up a chair and whip out some materials — let’s get kraken.

I’ll be using three very basic stitches for this project: the chain stitch, slip stitch and single stitch. If you don’t know how to do these and want to learn, http://www.dummies.com/how-to/crafts-hobbies/Crocheting/Stitches.html is a great resource.

Fun fact: The word “yarn” comes from the Old English word “gearn” which means “spun fiber.” Gearn, in turn, comes from the Proto-Germanic “garnan,” which comes from the root “ghere-,” meaning “intestine.”

Materials:

Yarn

Crochet hook

Stuffing (or cotton balls, or strips of Kleenex)

Black felt

Googly eyes

Needle and thread

Hot glue

Level one: The Body

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1) Crochet four chain stitches

Congratulations! You have completed level one of “Crochet an Octopus!” Your body should look sort of like a party-popper.

Level two: The Tentacles

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1) Select the side of the octopus you wish to be the bottom (I recommend the side that is less pretty, usually the side you started with).

Congratulations! You have completed level two of “Crochet an Octopus!”

Level three: The Eyes

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1) Cut two circles of felt and sew them just above the tentacles.

Congratulations! You have completed your octopus! Take pride in your creation.

Don’t forget to accessorize! Give it a little beanie, or a bow! Sew a flower on its head! The octopus is a very fashion-conscious creature after all. Last of all, be creative! Use different color yarns for the body and tentacles, replace googly eyes with buttons, sequins or sewed-on eyes. The possibilities are endless! Have fun!