How to Make an Octopus With Yarn

Keeping your kids active can be a chore in itself at times. But, you can use crafting materials found around your home to create some of the cutest projects. Take your kids on a colorful sea adventure by telling stories and facts about octopi while making a yarn octopus. Help smaller and younger children develop motor coordination by letting them work on this craft; they will need assistance, but it is safe and hazard free.

Things You'll Need

• 2 different colors of yarn 2 or 3 cotton balls White craft glue Ruler Scissors 2 wiggly eyes (medium)

Instructions

1. Choose one of the yarn colors to be the primary, dominant one. Cut the dominant color yarn into 24 individual pieces that measure at least 12-inches long.

2. Place the pieces on a flat work surface, in a specific order. Lay the first piece straight out then lay the next piece across it to form a cross shape. Continue to lay the pieces across each other, eventually forming something of a spoked-wheel shape. All the 24 pieces should intersect with one another in the center of the spread.

3. Roll 2 or 3 cotton balls in your hand gently to create a larger cotton ball. Roll them until they are the approximate size of a ping-pong ball.

4. Lay the cotton ball in the center of the separate pieces of yarn, and gather up the ends. They should all wrap closely around the cotton ball to form a "head" for the octopus.

5. Cut a piece of yarn, approximately 6 inches in length, from the secondary color of yarn chosen. Use this strand to tie a knot around all the strands of yarn under the "head." Tie a bow after the knot and trim the ends to match. Place the octopus onto a flat workspace again and separate the yarn into groups of 6 strands (for a total of 8 groups).

6. Braid each group (3 sub groups consisting of 2 strands each). There should be 8 braids when you have finished.

7. Tie each braid with a strand of coordinating yarn to keep it from unbraiding, and again, trim the ends of the strands.

8. Apply 2 small dots of crafting glue and stick 2 wiggly eyes on. Add a smile by gluing a short piece of the different colored yarn to the face.