I’m an absolutely hopeless fan of Splatoon, so this was only inevitable.
This is the “mini” version of the pattern. I’m also working on a larger, pillow sized one. Working this one in medium-weight yarn makes something palm-sized, or if using light yarn, it will be keychain sized.
This pattern is also written a little oddly. Each row isn’t written out to precise numbers, instead you just use one side of the squid to stay oriented with the start and end of rows. If you can wrap your head around this, this pattern is actually very nice to follow, since you don’t have to count very high. I hate counting.
Click here for an explanation of stitch abbreviations, and other tips for how to read my patterns. You need to be an expert on changing colors for this one. Scroll to the bottom for advice for selecting colors.
Yarn color A (main body color)
1. *Ch1 loosely. Triple into the ch on hook, into the loop underneath* Repeat * section 3 more times. (8)
It is very important to trpl into the bottom loop of the ch, not the front or back loops. You will need those for the next row. If done correctly, all 8 of your stitches will line up with each other very nicely, and will look like the top of single crochet stitches.
2. Ch1 to turn (not a real stitch). 8sc into front loop of previous chains and triples. At the end of the row, turn and 8sc into the remaining back loop (now the front loop). (16)
Find yarn color B (spot color) but don’t change colors yet.
3. Sc around(16). On every 3rd stitch, change to yarn color B for one stitch. (A, A, B, A, A, B) At the end of the row, add one extra sc, so you stay aligned with the side (assuming you’ve even been counting your total stitches). This extra stitch still counts for how you are adding the spot color every 3rd sc, so don’t lose track.
4, 5, 6. Repeat row 3, so 4 total rows have spots. You should notice how you are adding the colored stitch to the stitch immediately before the colored stitch of the previous row. Make sure you finish row 6 lined up perfectly with the side of your squid. This is likely the 3rd stitch of a your color-changing sequence, but in this case you can skip changing colors. You’re now done using Spot Color, so cut and tie off.
7. Ch4. Turn, skip a ch (this is a turning stitch), sc 3 back towards the body into underside loop. Sc along the previous row as normal, until you reach the other corner (8 stchs). Ch 4, skip a ch (turning stitch), and sc along the other side again. Sc along the rest of the row; 8sc. Again, it is very important to sc into the underside loop of your chains. The main loops of your chain stiches count as stiches, so you should have 28 total. (28)
8. Sc around. On each wing, you will sc into the sc of the previous row, and into the main loops of the ch of the previous row (but not the turning stitch). Each side should add 6 new stitches. (28)
9. Sc a couple times until you reach one side of the squid, then dec here. Continue around until you reach the other side, then dec there. (26)
10-17. From here I don’t bother counting rows. Simply continue around and around, and dec every time you reach the sides of the squid (so, that’s 2dec per row, 1 on each side). Stop when 12sc are remaining, then stuff the body.
18. Decx6, then sew closed and tie off.
You may as well use whatever color pairs make you happy, but if you’d like to select canon color schemes, I refer to these!
