Tiny Crocheted Octopi Are Spreading Kindness at CSU

At Colorado State University, students have spent years searching library shelves, gardens, and hidden corners of campus for tiny crocheted octopi left behind as random acts of kindness.

Now, the student behind much of the movement is preparing to graduate—but hopes the kindness will continue.

A Small Octopus with a Big Purpose

The initiative, known as “Octopi of CSU,” was created to “spread kindness through creativity,” according to student leader Melanie Matthews.

Over the past three years, Matthews has crocheted nearly 3,000 miniature octopi by hand, quietly hiding them around campus for strangers to discover.

Each tiny octopus comes with a simple message encouraging students to either keep it or leave it behind for someone else to find.

Sometimes the notes are tailored to specific moments, especially during stressful times like finals week.

“Keep going; you’re almost done!” one note reads.

Finding Connection Through Creativity

Matthews says the project became much more than a hobby.

“Even the smallest things can make a world of a difference in someone’s life,” she said.

The octopi brought students together, sparked friendships, and offered moments of encouragement during difficult days.

Matthews and other group members would occasionally stay nearby after hiding the crocheted creatures—just to watch someone’s face light up upon finding one.

Kindness During a Difficult Year

The project also helped Matthews through one of the most challenging periods of her life.

During her senior year, she experienced a serious health crisis that caused partial loss of function in her left leg, leading to surgery and months of physical therapy.

Despite the setbacks, she stayed committed to both her studies and the kindness initiative.

Whenever she found even 15 spare minutes between classes, jobs, or therapy appointments, she would crochet another octopus.

More Than Just Yarn

Matthews graduates this month with a degree in human dimensions of natural resources and plans to begin working as an environmental educator in Aspen.

But before leaving campus, she’s hoping others will continue the tradition.

The group recently revealed its leadership publicly and began searching for new students willing to keep the crochet hooks moving.

The mission, Matthews says, has always been simple:

Bring people joy.

And in a world that often feels overwhelming, a tiny crocheted octopus hidden between bookshelves may be exactly the reminder someone needs.