Ella the Octopus is a fun pattern, originally designed for a friend who wanted to knit realistic sea creatures to decorate her first grandson’s nursery.

The head/body/webbing is knit as one piece and the 8 arms are knit separately and then joined to the webbing. The pattern includes several options for knitting - from the top of the head down to the webbing or from the webbing up to the top of the head.

Each arm can be knit on straight needles (which may be easier for beginning knitters) or in the round on two and then on four dp needles.

The eyes are knit separately as i-cords and sewn around a purchased eyeball. They are then sewn into place at a location indicated by the increases/decreases at the base of the head.

Beads are knit into the underside of the arms to indicate suckers. This is an easy technique (described in the pattern) in which a crochet hook is used to bring the current stitch through the bead …no bead stringing is involved.

While this is a multi-page pattern with each step illustrated, it is not technically difficult. The basic skills needed are the knit and purl stitches, increasing and decreasing stitches, and knitting in the round. My hope is that knitters will have as much fun creating Ella as they will when she decorates their space.