Making octopuses is a popular crochet activity. They are fun to make, recipients love them and are affectionately known as octopals. Such an appropriate name.
There is a lot of research associated with the stuffed octopus toy. One international project which started in Denmark in 2013, is known as the Octo Project where volunteers made octopus for premature babies. The view was that the tentacles were like the umbilical cord and reminded the babies of being in the womb. These premature babies had improved respiratory rates, heart rates, and oxygenation. Stress was reduced and babies were calmer. Research has shown that premature babies that have an octopus progress better than those who don’t. The tentacles can deter preemies from pulling on their monitoring tubes and equipment, which is crucial for their care.
The research findings can be applied to dementia patients too. While there is less research, feedback from medical staff is similar when patients are given octopals: reduction in stress, tentacles and the soft head provide a focus for restless fingers, less removal of tubes.
The tentacles are fun to create and provide opportunities for recipients to run their fingers through them. Usually tentacles are no longer than 8 inches(20cm) to avoid any dangers. This is about 30 to 40 chains. But you can make them smaller. The trick is the same as the twiddle twirls, make the chain turn, put 2 2 single crochet (sc) stitches into the 3rd chain from the hook and in each chain stitch back to where you started. Repeat 7 times. Magic. You can use this twirl in a number of different ways to create twiddle items.
Twiddle maker, Maia, loves making octopuses and recently received feedback about the octopuses from a Social Worker at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. He liked how they could be held, squeezed and pulled in different ways and would be perfect for aged residents care.
Isn’t the octopus beautiful. Ready to become someone’s octopal. Maia has supplied us with a link to the pattern online she uses: https://www.crochet365knittoo.com/crochet-octopus-preemies
The octopus is ideal to put on a twiddle mat, cuff or muff. Just make half the head and stuff it as you attach it to the twiddle mat.
For the head:
With 2 strand of double knit yarn or 1 strand of aran, chain 6, in the 2nd chain from the hook make 1 half double crochet(hdc) and then in each chain.
Row 2 and every subsequent row, chain 2, place 2 hdc in first stitch, hdc to the end of the row, then 2 hdc in the final stitch.
Keep going until you have reached the width you want for half the head. Usually for me, that is 12 stitches. Then begin the decreasing, 1 stitch at every end until you have 4 left. Crochet single stitches right around the head. Now you are ready to make your tentacles in the first row as in the picture below.
Christmas is around the corner. Maybe you have family and friends who would love getting an octopal. Have fun.
Happy creating everyone!
Sandra @ Project Twiddles