Crocheted Cacti

I was in Fremantle over the weekend and saw these adorable handmade crocheted cacti, but I would never buy anything I could make and besides, they were $50! I've never understood why anyone would want a fake cactus, but they're just so cute!

I came up with my own pattern for them and they're pretty simple and only take a few hours to whip up. 

Materials

Small amounts of green, light brown and dark brown yarn

Small amount of pink crochet cotton/thread

3.50mm hook

2.50mm hook

Cactus

Using 3.50mm hook and green yarn;

Ch 16, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc 15. Ch 1, turn

Rows 2-15: Sc in back loops only, ch 1 turn

(note: I did 15 rows for the tall skinny one and 34 for the fat, round one)

Join to form tube by sc ch edge and last row of piece together.

You can either leave it showing and be another ridge, or turn it inside out and attach a branch instead. (Or both!)

Gather together the top edge of the cactus (do this at the bottom, as well, for the round cactus) and fasten so it makes a round-ish top. 

Branch (optional)

Using 3.50mm hook and green yarn;

Insert hook into side of cactus near seam and draw up loop. Sc 6 in a circle by drawing up loops through stitches on main part of cactus, join with ss to 1st sc and ch 1.

Making the starting round for the branch 

Rounds 2-3: sc 6, join with ss to 1st sc, ch 1

Round 4: *sc2tog. Rep from * around. Fill with stuffing/yarn scraps before binding off and sewing opening closed.

Flower

Using 2.50mm hook and pink crochet cotton;

Make magic loop, ch 1 and sc 10. Join with ss to 1st sc.

Round 2: *ch 1, 3 hdc in next sc, ch 1, ss in same sc, ss in next sc. Rep from * around and join with ss to first sc. Bind off and sew to cactus.

Pot

Using 3.50mm hook and light brown yarn;

Make magic loop, ch 1 and sc 6. Join with ss to 1st sc, ch 1.

Round 2: *sc inc. Rep from * around. Join with ss to first sc, ch 1. (12 sts)

Round 3: *sc in next 1, sc inc. Rep from * around. Join with ss to first sc, ch 1. (18 sts)

Round 4: In back loops only, sc around. Join with ss to first sc, ch 1. (18 sts)

Round 5: *sc in next 2, sc inc. Rep from * around. Join with ss to first sc, ch 1. (24 sts)

Round 6-7: sc around. Join with ss to first sc, ch 1. (24 sts)

Round 8: *sc in next 5, sc inc. Rep from * around. Join with ss to first sc, ch 1. (28 sts)

Round 9-11: sc around. Join with ss to first sc, ch 1. (28 sts)

Round 12: In front loops only, hdc around. Join with ss to first sc, ch 1. (28 sts)

Soil

Using 3.50mm hook and dark brown yarn;

Make magic loop, ch 1 and sc 6. Join with ss to 1st sc, ch 1.

Round 2: *sc inc. Rep from * around. Join with ss to first sc, ch 1. (12 sts)

Round 3: *sc in next 1, sc inc. Rep from * around. Join with ss to first sc, ch 1. (18 sts)

Round 4: *sc in next 2, sc inc. Rep from * around. Join with ss to first sc, ch 1. (24 sts)

Round 5: sc around. Join with ss to first sc, ch 1. (24 sts)

Bind off and sew to pot, stuffing well before closing to get a little mound. Attach cactus and there you have it!

Don't they look adorable on my bedside table? Love them!

Em x