How to make a woolly octopus

I'm not sure where I learned how to make these but it's something I really enjoyed to do as a child.


These are great to make with a class... or else, keep it a secret and make some to use as rewards for positive behaviour.



What you need:

• Scissors
• Wool
• Book
• Googly eyes (and glue if they're not self-adhesive)
• An elastic band

Step 1:
Wrap the wool around the book 60 times.

Step 2:

Put and elastic band tightly around the wool, about a third of the way down. Then tightly tie some wool (of the same colour) just above the band. Remove the elastic band. Do the same a few centimetres from the top. 

Step 3:
Snip the loops at the top and bottom. (You should now have 120 strands of wool at the bottom.)

 Step 4:
Take 15 strands of wool and plait to form a leg. Repeat this to create 7 more legs.


Step 5:
Add the eyes et voilà!

There are plenty of ways to make different versions of these. You could sew on different facial expressions with another colour of wool or felt, make them with two or more colours of wool make mini ones or HUGE ones... the possibilities are endless!