In this 4 part mini series I will be giving you 4 detailed posts on how to make your own variations of Cacti.

This pattern is for the Desert Cactus.

These cacti patterns are also incredibly adaptive and you can use the basic parts to create hundreds of unique cacti, you can even combine the different variations in the same pot.

This mini series include 4 variations of basic Cacti:

1. Prickly Pear Cactus
2. Round Barrel Cactus
3. Tall Cactus
4. Dessert Cactus

Each pattern has the exact same “soil” pattern and the same mini plant pot.

Difficulty: Beginner

Time to create: 1-2 hours per cactus

Please feel free to sell what you make but please reference me and this pattern if you do. Do not sell this pattern or redistribute as your own. If you want to share this pattern, send a link to this page

What you’ll need:

• US 4 (3.5mm) Crochet Hook
• Yarn A: 20g brown yarn
• Yarn B: 20g green yarn
• Stitch marker
• Sewing Needle
• Acrylic toy stuffing – I get mine here
• Small Terracotta Plant Pot – 6cm x 6.8cm x 4cm
• Pipe cleaner (optional)

Abbreviations:

• MR – Magic ring
• CH – Chain
• SS – Slip Stitch
• SC – Single crochet
• SC Inc – Two single crochet stitches in the same stitch
• SC2tog – Single Crochet two stitches together in the front loop only.
• * – Repeat from star to end
• FO – Fasten off

Soil

Using yarn A:

Round 1: MR 6 (6)

Round 2: *SC Inc (12)

Round 3: *1 SC, SC Inc (18)

Round 4: 1 SC, *SC Inc, 2 SC until last stitch, 1 SC (24)

Round 5: *3 SC, SC Inc (30)

Round 6: 2 SC, *SC Inc, 4 SC until last 2 stitches, 2 SC (36)

Note: If your pot is larger continue increasing in this way until the circumference of the soil fits just inside the pot as pictured below.

At round 7:

Round 7- 15: SC around (36)

Note: If your pot is larger continue until soil fits just inside the pot as pictured below.

Round 16: 2 SC, *SC2tog, 4 SC until last 2 stitches, 2 SC (30)

Round 17: *3 SC, SC2tog (24)

Round 18: 1 SC *SC2tog, 2 SC until last stitch, 1 SC (18)

Round 19: *1 SC, SCtog (12)

Round 20:  *SCtog (6)

FO.

Cactus

Body

Using Yarn B:

Round 1: MR 6 (6)

Round 2: *SC Inc (12)

Round 3: *1 SC, SC Inc (18)

Round 4: 1 SC, *SC Inc, 2 SC until last stitch, 1 SC (24)

Rounds 5-19: SC around (24)

Round 20: 1 SC *SC2tog, 2 SC until last stitch, 1 SC (18)

FO – leave tail for sewing.

Stuff firmly.

Arms (Make 2)

Using Yarn B:

Round 1: MR 6 (6)

Round 2: *SC Inc (12)

Rounds 3-8: SC around (12)

Rounds 9: (for this last row stop working in rounds) turn and do not CH, SC 8.

FO – leave tail for sewing

Lightly stuff.

If you want the arms to have more of a bend, fold a short piece of pipe cleaner so it is the length of the arm. Place inside with the stuffing.

Assembly

Sew the body of the cactus to the soil at approximately round three of the soil pattern.

To sew the arms to the cactus. Place the arms with pins to the body approximately 6 rounds up from the bottom of the body of the cactus and on opposite sides.

Place the arms facing upwards, so row 9 is facing downwards.

Sew the arm of the cactus to the body of the cactus. If you have used pipe cleaner, once sewn in place bend the pipe cleaner to create an upwards curve.

Don’t forget to make a little crocheted cactus family!

If you make your own miniature cactus plants with this pattern, I would love to see them! You can share your photos on my Facebook page, tag me on Twitter (@zocreates) or Instagram (@zoe.creates) and you can use the hashtag #zoecreates.

And don’t forget to like and follow my social media or you can sign up to my mailing list if you’d like to see more patterns like this one!

Happy Making!

Zoe