
Free octopus knitting pattern
Volunteer for a local baby charity for premature babies
Research from Denmark has found that preemie babies enjoy holding the tentacles of these octopus toys which resemble the feel of the umbilical cord. It appears that the babies are soothed by this activity and the nursing team at The Simpson Neonatal Unit would like some for the babies in their care.
It is very important that the octopus toys are knitted in a smoke and pet free environment and that newly purchased acrylic or cotton yarn is used. They must be filled with new polyester stuffing and the tentacles must be sewn on very securely.
Please put each octopus in a sealed plastic bag and mail them to our PO Box and NOT to the Unit as they will not be accepted by the staff.
Please also do not hand them to the reception desk or put them in internal mail as we have no access to this service.
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Requirements
• Please use new yarn.
• While we appreciate that knitters have different abilities and as these are gifts for babies and families who have gone through so much, we would appreciate a high quality of knitting and sewing up.
• All sewing MUST be fastened securely.

Where to donate your knitted Ollie the Octopus
Please ONLY donate if you have used our free knitting patterns and adhere to our requirements. Please enclose with your package your name, email address and/or home address with the quantity made. This will allow us to contact you with our thanks:
Simpsons Special Care Babies
PO Box 12258
North West DO
Comely Bank Road
Edinburgh
EH4 1YB
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We often receive large amounts of items, please allow several weeks for our volunteers to reply.
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Thank You

Ollie the Octopus
To make you will need:
Materials
• Acrylic DK or cotton DK yarn
• Polyester stuffing
• 3.75mm knitting needles;
The knitting has to be tight and without holes for tiny fingers.
Please check and reduce needle size if you are a loose knitter.
• Embroidery floss for facial features
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How to make the body
Cast on 9 sts
Row 1 and alt rows purl
Row 2 Increase in every stitch (18 sts)
Row 4 *K1, increase in next stitch, repeat from * to end (27sts)
Row 6 *K2, increase in next stitch, repeat from * to end (36sts)
Row 8 *K3, increase in next stitch, repeat from * to end (45sts)
Row 9 Purl
Rows 10 to 17 Work 8 rows in stocking stitch
Row 18 *K3, slip 1, K1, pass slip stitch over, repeat from * to end (36sts)
Row 20 *K2, slip 1, K1, PSSO, repeat from * to end (27sts)
Row 22 *K1, slip 1, PSSO, repeat from * to end (18sts)
Row 24 *K 2 tog, repeat from * to end (9sts)
Draw up stitches and sew back seam. Do not finish off
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How to make the 8 tentacles
Cast on 40 stitches
Knit into the front and back of every stitch (80 sts)
Cast off
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How to make up
Stuff the head and embroider on the eyes and smiley mouth.
Sew together the tentacles, push into the cast on edge of body and fasten very securely.
Place in a sealed plastic bag and mail to our PO Box.