Why does the pattern use Back Loop Only on the base?

Working in Back Loop Only on rounds 3 through 5 of the base leaves the front loops free and unused. Those free front loops are exactly where you later join yarn to begin working all eighteen tentacles, so this step sets up the attachment point in advance.

Do I need to stuff the tentacles on this jellyfish pattern?

No, the tentacles are left unstuffed. They are simply chains worked back into themselves with slip stitches, which is what gives them their soft, natural curl. Stuffing them would make them stiff and prevent that characteristic wavy look.

What yarn works best for this crochet jellyfish?

A soft, plush chenille or velvet-style yarn in a worsted to bulky weight gives the best results and matches the fuzzy texture shown in the photos. Standard worsted-weight cotton or acrylic will also work, though the finished piece will look slightly less plush and the tentacles may curl less dramatically.

How many tentacles does this pattern make?

This pattern makes eighteen tentacles in total, each worked as a chain of thirty-one stitches with thirty slip stitches worked back along it. They are spaced evenly around the joined edge between the base and the body.

Fluffy crochet jellyfish with eighteen trailing tentacles

About This Pattern

This jellyfish is a small, soft thing for a quiet evening. It needs plush yarn, a stuffed body, and eighteen patient chains for tentacles. The body builds fast in a spiral. The tentacles ask for more time, one by one. It sits well on a shelf or in small hands, no batteries, no fuss. Make it when you want texture under your fingers and something fuzzy to show for an hour of sitting still.

In the basket

Yarn

a soft, plush yarn (chenille or velvet-style, worsted to bulky weight works beautifully for that fuzzy amigurumi look) in teal/turquoise for the head, body, and tentacles, plus a small amount of pink for the cheeks

Hook

sized to suit your yarn weight — for plush worsted/bulky yarn, a US G-6 (4.0mm) to H-8 (5.0mm) hook is a good starting point; check your yarn label for a recommended size
Embroidery thread or matching yarn for the eyebrows and mouth
A note on materials: this pattern doesn’t specify an exact yarn brand, weight, or gauge, so the suggestions above are general guidance — choose what feels good in your hands and matches the plush look in the photos.

Tools

Polyester fiberfill stuffing
Stitch marker
Yarn needle (tapestry needle)
Scissors
Safety eyes or small beads, sized to suit the scale of the head (or embroider the eyes if you prefer)

Abbreviations

ch: Chain
dc: Double Crochet
dec: Decrease
inc: Increase
MR: Magic Ring
sc: Single Crochet
sl st: Slip Stitch
st(s): Stitch(es)

Joining up

Step 1 Confirm the Base and Body are securely joined along the 30-sc seam, with the head firmly stuffed and the Skirt frill flowing freely below the tentacle line.
Step 2 Position the two Cheeks just below and slightly outside the safety eyes, on the lower half of the face. Pin or hold them in place before sewing.
Step 3 Using the yarn tail left on each Cheek, whipstitch them securely to the head.
Step 4 Using embroidery thread or matching yarn, embroider a small curved smile beneath the eyes, and add two short eyebrow lines above them for expression.
Step 5 Check that all 18 tentacles are evenly distributed around the base of the Skirt and lying naturally; gently re-shape any tentacle that curls awkwardly by re-blocking it with your fingers.
Step 6 Weave in all remaining yarn ends through the Body and Base, trimming any excess close to the fabric.

Small notes

Gauge isn't critical for this project — work at a tension that creates a fabric tight enough to keep stuffing from showing through. Use a G-6 to H-8 hook depending on how thick your plush yarn is.
Work the Base, Body, and Cheeks in continuous spiral rounds. Only the Skirt is joined, so don't slip stitch the others by habit.
Mind the Back Loop Only instruction on Base Rnds 3 through 5. The front loops you skip are exactly where you'll join yarn for the tentacles later.
This pattern is written in US crochet terminology.
Tentacles are not stuffed — they're simply chains worked back along themselves, which gives them their natural curl.
The join between Base and Body is the trickiest part of this pattern — use stitch markers to mark matching points on both pieces before you start the 30-sc join, so the two circles line up evenly all the way around instead of twisting partway through.

Little questions

Why does the pattern use Back Loop Only on the base?
Working in Back Loop Only on rounds 3 through 5 of the base leaves the front loops free and unused. Those free front loops are exactly where you later join yarn to begin working all eighteen tentacles, so this step sets up the attachment point in advance.
Do I need to stuff the tentacles on this jellyfish pattern?
No, the tentacles are left unstuffed. They are simply chains worked back into themselves with slip stitches, which is what gives them their soft, natural curl. Stuffing them would make them stiff and prevent that characteristic wavy look.
What yarn works best for this crochet jellyfish?
A soft, plush chenille or velvet-style yarn in a worsted to bulky weight gives the best results and matches the fuzzy texture shown in the photos. Standard worsted-weight cotton or acrylic will also work, though the finished piece will look slightly less plush and the tentacles may curl less dramatically.
How many tentacles does this pattern make?
This pattern makes eighteen tentacles in total, each worked as a chain of thirty-one stitches with thirty slip stitches worked back along it. They are spaced evenly around the joined edge between the base and the body.

Original pattern: https://amigurumicorner.com/crochet-jellyfish-pattern-amigurumi/

About the Author

Tamsin Okoro Who writes the patterns at Yarn Gallery, how a pattern gets from the hook to the page, and what this site will never do.