Step-by-Step Instructions to Crochet Inky

A slipknot makes a loop you can pull bigger or smaller. It’s the first loop you’ll put on your hook. Let’s make one together!

A slipknot makes a loop you can pull bigger or smaller. It’s the first loop you’ll put on your hook. Let’s make one together!

Learn how to hold your yarn so it can slide through your fingers without getting too loose or too tight. Try a few simple tricks to keep your fingers relaxed.

🪝 More help holding your yarn and hook

Learn how to hold your yarn so it can slide through your fingers without getting too loose or too tight. Try a few simple tricks to keep your fingers relaxed.

🪝 More help holding your yarn and hook

Get to know the parts of your crochet hook, then try holding it like a knife or a pencil. Choose the hold that feels comfortable in your hand.

🪝 More help holding your yarn and hook

Get to know the parts of your crochet hook, then try holding it like a knife or a pencil. Choose the hold that feels comfortable in your hand.

🪝 More help holding your yarn and hook

Learn to make a chain stitch, then make two chains to create a chain-2 start for your plushie’s first round. Keep these two chains, or make extras for practice—the next lesson shows how to undo the extras.

🧶 Written pattern:
- Foundation: Chain-2 Start

🪝 Alternative: a magic ring is an adjustable starting loop you can pull closed to avoid a hole in the center.

Learn to make a chain stitch, then make two chains to create a chain-2 start for your plushie’s first round. Keep these two chains, or make extras for practice—the next lesson shows how to undo the extras.

🧶 Written pattern:
- Foundation: Chain-2 Start

🪝 Alternative: a magic ring is an adjustable starting loop you can pull closed to avoid a hole in the center.

Learn to undo stitches, called frogging, so you can fix mistakes. If you made extra practice chains, undo the extras and keep your first two for the first round.

Learn to undo stitches, called frogging, so you can fix mistakes. If you made extra practice chains, undo the extras and keep your first two for the first round.

Learn to make a single crochet stitch and find the little V at its top to count your stitches. Use six single crochets to make your first round.

🧶 Written pattern:
Round 1: 6 sc (6)

🧶 Found a knot or need to join a new yarn strand?

Learn to make a single crochet stitch and find the little V at its top to count your stitches. Use six single crochets to make your first round.

🧶 Written pattern:
Round 1: 6 sc (6)

🧶 Found a knot or need to join a new yarn strand?

Learn to make an increase (inc): two single crochet stitches in the same stitch. Each increase adds one stitch to your round, helping your plushie grow wider.

Learn to make an increase (inc): two single crochet stitches in the same stitch. Each increase adds one stitch to your round, helping your plushie grow wider.

Use increases and single crochet to widen Inky’s body, following the rounds below.

🧶 Written pattern:
Round 2: 6 inc (12)
Round 3: [sc, inc] x 6 (18)
Round 4: [2 sc, inc] x 6 (24)
Round 5: [3 sc, inc] x 6 (30)
Round 6: [4 sc, inc] x 6 (36)
Round 7-9: 36 sc (36)
Round 10: [5 sc, inc] x 6 (42)

Use increases and single crochet to widen Inky’s body, following the rounds below.

🧶 Written pattern:
Round 2: 6 inc (12)
Round 3: [sc, inc] x 6 (18)
Round 4: [2 sc, inc] x 6 (24)
Round 5: [3 sc, inc] x 6 (30)
Round 6: [4 sc, inc] x 6 (36)
Round 7-9: 36 sc (36)
Round 10: [5 sc, inc] x 6 (42)

Learn how skipping groups of stitches creates the openings for Inky’s fins as you continue crocheting the body.

🧶 Written pattern:
Round 11: skip 6 stitches, crochet 15 sc, skip another 6 stitches, crochet 15 sc (30)
Round 12-13: 30 sc (30)

Learn how skipping groups of stitches creates the openings for Inky’s fins as you continue crocheting the body.

🧶 Written pattern:
Round 11: skip 6 stitches, crochet 15 sc, skip another 6 stitches, crochet 15 sc (30)
Round 12-13: 30 sc (30)

Learn to make a decrease (dec), turning two stitches into one. Each decrease removes one stitch from your round, making your crochet narrower.

Learn to make a decrease (dec), turning two stitches into one. Each decrease removes one stitch from your round, making your crochet narrower.

Follow Inky’s pattern to use decreases and single crochet in Rounds 14–18 of the body.

🧶 Written pattern:
Round 14: [3 sc, dec] x 6 (24)
Round 15-18: 24 sc (24)

Follow Inky’s pattern to use decreases and single crochet in Rounds 14–18 of the body.

🧶 Written pattern:
Round 14: [3 sc, dec] x 6 (24)
Round 15-18: 24 sc (24)

Sew the fin openings closed, add the eyes and stuffing, then work the final two body rounds.

🧶 Written pattern:
- TIP: For sewing the fins shut use a separate strand of hot pink yarn, do not cut the working yarn yet.
- 1. Start at the bottom of the first fin.
- 2. Stitch in a straight line up to the top.
- 3. Then cross over and go down the second fin.
- Insert the eyes, between rounds 12 and 13, 5 stitches apart.
- Start stuffing the plushie before the opening becomes too narrow. Add more stuffing as you go.
Round 19: 12 dec (12)
Round 20: 6 dec (6)
- Cut the yarn, leaving a 4-inch tail for sewing.

Sew the fin openings closed, add the eyes and stuffing, then work the final two body rounds.

🧶 Written pattern:
- TIP: For sewing the fins shut use a separate strand of hot pink yarn, do not cut the working yarn yet.
- 1. Start at the bottom of the first fin.
- 2. Stitch in a straight line up to the top.
- 3. Then cross over and go down the second fin.
- Insert the eyes, between rounds 12 and 13, 5 stitches apart.
- Start stuffing the plushie before the opening becomes too narrow. Add more stuffing as you go.
Round 19: 12 dec (12)
Round 20: 6 dec (6)
- Cut the yarn, leaving a 4-inch tail for sewing.

Thread the yarn tail through the front loop of each stitch around the opening and gently pull it closed. Hide the yarn tail inside your plushie.

Thread the yarn tail through the front loop of each stitch around the opening and gently pull it closed. Hide the yarn tail inside your plushie.

Use chain stitches and single crochet in rows to make eight tentacles. Learn how to curl them and attach them to Inky’s body.

🧶 Written pattern:
Tentacles ×8
- Now crochet 4 hot pink and 4 light pink tentacles, using all the techniques you already know, now in a row!
- Start with a Slipknot
Row 1: 16 ch, turn
Row 2: 15 sc
- Cut the yarn, leaving a 4-inch yarn tail for sewing.

- Attach the tentacles to the bottom of the body, evenly spreading them out.

🪝 Chain-stitch refresher

Use chain stitches and single crochet in rows to make eight tentacles. Learn how to curl them and attach them to Inky’s body.

🧶 Written pattern:
Tentacles ×8
- Now crochet 4 hot pink and 4 light pink tentacles, using all the techniques you already know, now in a row!
- Start with a Slipknot
Row 1: 16 ch, turn
Row 2: 15 sc
- Cut the yarn, leaving a 4-inch yarn tail for sewing.

- Attach the tentacles to the bottom of the body, evenly spreading them out.

🪝 Chain-stitch refresher

Follow the video to add Inky’s smile. Then use the written instructions below to sew the spots beside the eyes.

🧶 Written pattern:
- Using a 4-inch piece of yarn, insert the needle at the point where the smile should begin and bring it out at the point where the smile should end.
- Pull both yarn tails, tie a knot close to one exit point, then using the needle push the knot inside to finish the smile.

🪡 Sewing Instructions:
- Create the face spots near the eyes by laying several horizontal stitches 2–3 stitches away from each eye.

Inky, made by you. A finished plushie, and new skills to take into your next project.

Follow the video to add Inky’s smile. Then use the written instructions below to sew the spots beside the eyes.

🧶 Written pattern:
- Using a 4-inch piece of yarn, insert the needle at the point where the smile should begin and bring it out at the point where the smile should end.
- Pull both yarn tails, tie a knot close to one exit point, then using the needle push the knot inside to finish the smile.

🪡 Sewing Instructions:
- Create the face spots near the eyes by laying several horizontal stitches 2–3 stitches away from each eye.

Inky, made by you. A finished plushie, and new skills to take into your next project.