Progress: knit octopus

The octopus is off the needles!

Knitting stage: completed!

And the dreaded backwards loop cast-on technique?  Yeah, actually very simple! I was imagining something way more complex.

Here's what the underside looks like - there's a small knitted flap to be sewn closed after felting and stuffing are completed. 

Octopus sphincter.

I made a small change to the flap. The instructions said to decrease 18 stitches by half, and that this would give you 6 remaining stitches. Actually it gives you 9 stitches and I wasn't sure if 9 stitches pulled together would be a bit much, or if the flap would be too small so I added two rows after the 9 stitches. One row of knitting and one row of K1, K2 repeated - which results in the final 6 stitches.

The most tedious part of this project has been weaving in the three ends per leg after completing the knitting stage. If I had known how long a tail to leave for crocheting the legs onto the body, I would have only had one end per tail. I would recommend leaving a long tail when you cast on each leg so that you can avoid so many loose ends!

Felting and finished product coming soon to a blog near you!