Sorry for the delay! I meant to post this earlier in the day, but I have been out running errands, which took a bit longer than planned...Are we ready for our third, and final part to this CAL?? THIS is the part where all the scraps come in!

Part 3: Octos (Make desired number, in as many colors as you like! It takes approximately 10 yds of scrap yarn per Octo.)
Rnd 1: ch 2. Work 8 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Join. (8 sts)
Rnd 2: ch 1. Work 2 sc in each st around. Join. (16 sts)
Rnds 3-5: ch 1. Sc in each st around. Join. (16 sts)
Rnd 6: ch 1. Sc2tog, 8 times. Join (8 sts) Stuff this part now.
Rnd 7: ch 1. Sc2tog, 4 times. Join. (4 sts)
Rnd 8: ch 1. Work 2 sc in each st around. Join. (8 sts)
Legs: *ch 6. Sl st in 2nd ch from hook, and each of the remaining 4 chs. Sl st in next st on body*. Repeat (*) 7 more times, for a total of 8 legs. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Make your Octos in lots of different colors, to teach young children their color wheels. Use Neons and Pastels, to teach differences. 
Make a desired number (say 10), and have the children count them as they remove them from the pool or return them to the pool. They can also count the legs of each Octo. 
You can even stitch numbers or letters on the Octo heads to teach number/letter recognition! Have them spell out their name? A fun and imaginative way for little children to learn the basics...the possibilities are endless!

That's it! We have completed all 3 steps, and now we have a fun new teaching tool for the kids...My 2 yr. old has been playing with his for the past couple of days, and is loving it...Of course, he's a boy...like his father...he says "One...Two....GO!" and throws the Octos at the ceiling...So, Mama is learning, too! Patience...

I hope you will join me again for another CAL soon...maybe I'll find something a little different...a little more challenging? Maybe I'll let YOU decide...

We are back, with Part 2! This section picks up right where Part 1 left off~Did I mention that I am a LEFTY? In the interest of keeping this VERY beginner friendly, I have included a couple of visual aid pictures, so if one of them looks funny to you, check the caption~it may be for those backward right handers :D I have labeled each "photo bar" for left or right hand...



Part 2: Sides
Rnd 9: ch 1, TURN. Bphdc in each st around. Join. (64 sts)

Rnd 10: ch 1, DO NOT TURN, from here on. *Work 3 hdc in next st. skip next st. Sc in next st. Skip next st*. Repeat (*) around. Join. (64 sts)
Rnd 11: ch 1. *Skip next hdc st. Sc in next hdc st. Skip next hdc st. Work 3 hdc in next sc st*. Repeat (*) around. Join. (64 sts)
Rnds 12-15: Repeat rnds 10 and 11, in order. Fasten off after rnd 15. Weave in ends.

Your learning pool is complete! I did change colors for the last 2 rnds of my pool, just for fun, but that is completely up to you...

Join us tomorrow, for the third, and final part to our exciting Crochet Trilogy!

Are you ready to crochet along with me? I am so ready to have a little fun with everyone! 
I posted the Materials List for this project the other day. I will include it again here, though :) The beauty of this project is it's a GREAT stash buster! If you have little balls of leftover yarn from other projects, you can use them up on this one, so go grab the scrap bag, and let's get going!



Materials Used:
Worsted weight yarn
Size H/8 (5.00mm) crochet hook
Small amount of stuffing

Size/Gauge:
Gauge is not important to this project.

Stitches Used/Abbreviations:
Ch-chain
Rnd-round
Sc-single crochet
Sc2tog-single crochet 2 stitches together
Hdc-half double crochet
Bphdc-back post half double crochet~half double crochet stitches are worked around the back of the post of indicated stitch(es)
Sl st-slip stitch

Part 1: Base
Rnd 1: ch 2. Work 8 hdc in 2nd ch from hook. Join. (8 sts)
Rnd 2: ch 1, TURN. Work 2 hdc in each st around. Join. (16 sts)
Rnd 3: ch 1, TURN. *Hdc in next st. Work 2 hdc in next st*. Repeat (*) around. Join. (24 sts)
Rnd 4: ch 1, TURN. *Hdc in each of the next 2 sts. Work 2 hdc in next st*. Repeat (*) around. Join. (32 sts)
Rnd 5: ch 1, TURN. *Hdc in each of the next 3 sts. Work 2 hdc in next st*. Repeat (*) around. Join. (40 sts)
Rnd 6: ch 1, TURN. *Hdc in each of the next 4 sts. Work 2 hdc in next st*. Repeat (*) around. Join. (48 sts)
Rnd 7: ch 1, TURN. *Hdc in each of the next 5 sts. Work 2 hdc in next st*. Repeat (*) around. Join. (56 sts)
Rnd 8: ch 1, TURN. *Hdc in each of the next 6 sts. Work 2 hdc in next st*. Repeat (*) around. Join. (64 sts) If you are changing colors for the next section, fasten off, and join new color now. Otherwise, continue on.

That's it for today! Part 2 will be posted tomorrow, so make sure you come back and join us...If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to leave them here, or on the Forum page! Happy Hooking! :)

Is anyone else getting excited about the Mystery CAL yet?  I am nearly ready to get it started, so I thought we needed our Materials List ahead of time~just to be sure we have everything ready...
There are 2 major components to the pattern we will be using. One part is large-ish...the other part is small, but you will be making multiples of that part. So~dust off your scrap bag~it's PERFECT for this!
I will simply list the materials here~



*Worsted weight yarn~1 skein is more than enough for the larger part.
*Scrap yarn~approximately 10 yds. of several different colors (You can theme them, if you like~Ex.-All primary/secondary colors, all pastels, all neons, or even tonal)
*Size H/8 (5.00mm) crochet hook
*Small amount of stuffing
*Scissors (of course!)
*Optional yarn needle, for weaving in ends
*Approximately 1 hour (or less!) of quiet time each day, to join in the fun...

That's it~This will be a great project for beginners, advanced crocheters, and anyone in between! Perfect for homeschoolers or educators, or anyone with young children to occupy, so make sure you invite your friends to join us~We'll be starting soon!

Teachers, educators, HOMESCHOOLERS like me~anyone who has young children, or knows someone who does~are you looking for a fun new teaching tool? Crochet enthusiasts~are you looking for a fun new pattern? Well, then, STAY TUNED here for details! I will be hosting my first ever Mystery Crochet-A-Long :)
I will have a fun, easy, and FREE new design coming soon. It will be posted here, in sections, so everyone can join in at their own pace. All it takes is some leftover yarn (this will be a GREAT stash buster!) and any size hook you desire. All sections should be easy to compete in an hour or less, too, so you won't have a huge investment in time.
As we get closer to the actual event, I will post a suggested materials list~I hope you will all join in!!