Let's talk about how easy (or hard) it is to knit a tentacle

My coffee table, where my knitted tentacle is currently living (and helpfully holding my favorite crochet hook for fixing dropped stitches).

If you’ve been on the fence about whether you can knit a Gripping tentacle, I’d like to share this:

Knitting toys or small(ish) three-dimensional items is not hard. Sometimes, it can be fiddly, especially if you’re not used to working with double-pointed needles. But it’s rarely difficult. And, if something is fiddly, it’s usually over in a short period of time.

I knit my first tentacle, pictured above, in an evening’s worth of knitting time, or about two hours. I had to rip out my cast-on and first couple of rows a few times because I don’t like reading patterns and want to dive right in. So, of course, I skimmed through Hunter’s instruction (that’s Hunter Hammersen, who wrote the pattern in wonderful detail complete with pictures).

Even with my propensity to dive in and skim over vital instructions, I was still able to get things rolling pretty quickly. The knitting itself, once established, was super easy.

And, I’ve put some extra help into my kits

I discovered in my last collaboration with Hunter, for Bookmarked tiny knitted books, that I actually really love a guided knitalong. I’m not a teacher, but I love being your big sister or mom when it comes to knitting. I’ll tell you everything that was tricky for me, how I resolved it, and I’ll root for you and encourage you! My favorite thing to tell you is: you can do it!

If you have an interest in making tentacles and are worried that your knitting isn’t up to it, I’m here to say: you can do it!

My kit has a lot of support for you built in:

• Everything you need is in the kit, so you don’t have to hunt for anything

• Hunter’s pattern is amazing with lots of detail, hand-holding, and pictures

• I will host a live session where you can ask questions and hear my tips and tricks (and a recording will be available afterwards)

Kits are available now through next Wednesday, October 4th. (Some variations are sold out, and the ones that are sold out are available to preorder. I will happily make kits for whoever wants one—preorders, of course, will take a few weeks to ship.) But the message here is: There’s enough for everyone!