Yeehaw! If you are looking for a free cactus crochet pattern then you have come to the right place. This little fellow is quick, simple and would make a fun addition to your desk or last minute gift for a friend.
Best of all, it is a plant that even I can’t kill. 😉
To make your crochet cactus you will need:
- Green, sand and blue (or your choice) yarn of all the same weight. I used a DK / light worsted weight cotton.
- 2.5mm crochet hook or size appropriate to your yarn choice.
- Toy stuffing
- Yarn needle
- Pair of tights (optional)
- Gravel, rice, glass beads etc to weight the base (optional)
Free Cactus Crochet Pattern
Main stem
Using green yarn.
Round 1: Ch 2, 6 sc in 1st ch. (6sc)
Round 2 : [inc in next st] 6 times (12 sc)
Round 3: [sc in next sc, inc in next st] 6 times (18 sc)
Rounds 4-28: sc in each st around (18 sc)
Round 29: [sc in next sc, sc2tog] 6 times (12 sc)
Round 30: sc around, changing to sand coloured yarn on last sc (12 sc)
Round 31: [sc in next sc, inc in next st] 6 times (18 sc)
Round 32: [sc in next 2 sc, inc in next sc] 6 times (24 sc)
Round 33: [sc in next 3 sc, inc in next sc] 6 times (30 sc)
Round 34: [sc in next 4 sc, inc in next sc] 6 times (36 sc)
Round 35: [sc in next 5 sc, inc in next sc] 6 times (42 sc)
Round 36: [sc in next 6 sc, inc in next sc] 6 times (48 sc)
Round 37: sc around (48 sc)
Fasten off, leaving a long sewing length.
Stuff firmly.
Arms (Make 2)
Using green yarn.
Round 1: Ch 2, 6 sc in 1st ch. (6sc)
Round 2 : [inc in next st] 6 times (12 sc)
Rounds 3-10: sc around (12sc)
Rounds 11-15: Front loop sc in next 6 sc, sc in next 6 sc
Fasten off, leaving a long sewing length.
Stuff, making sure you can still bend the arms into shape. The front loop sc should be at the bottom of the arms, allowing you to curve the piece.
Pot
Using blue yarn (or colour of your choice)
Round 1: Ch 2, 6 sc in 1st ch. (6sc)
Round 2 : [inc in next st] 6 times (12 sc)
Round 3: [sc in next sc, inc in next st] 6 times (18 sc)
Round 4: [sc in next 2 sc, inc in next sc] 6 times (24 sc)
Round 5: [sc in next 3 sc, inc in next sc] 6 times (30 sc)
Round 6: sc in back loop only of each st around (30 sc)
Rounds 7-9: sc around (30 sc)
Round 10: [sc in next 4 sc, inc in next sc] 6 times (36 sc)
Rounds 11-12: sc around (36 sc)
Round 13: [sc in next 5 sc, inc in next sc] 6 times (42 sc)
Rounds 14-15: sc around (42 sc)
Round 16: [sc in next 6 sc, inc in next sc] 6 times (48 sc)
Rounds 17-18: sc around (48 sc)
Finish the pot with three slip stitches in first three sc of previous round. Fasten off and weave in loose ends.
Assembly
Pin arms to the main stem and sew in place.
If you want to weight the bottom of your pot, cut a foot of a pair of tights, place some gravel, uncooked rice or glass beads inside, check it fits the pot and tie securely. Place in bottom of pot and begin to sew the stem piece to round 17 of pot, stuffing firmly with wadding before you sew closed. Weave in ends and enjoy!
As an alternative idea, you could use a terracotta pot or teacup as the base for your crochet cactus. Simply complete the stem and arms as above, increasing or decreasing the sand base to fit your pot as necessary. stuff and glue the rim of base to your pot. A glue gun or an all-purpose adhesive like UHU works well.
Copyright Notice
This pattern, its illustrations and images are copyright ©2014 Tracy Braybrook
You are welcome to sell any items you make from this pattern but please do not copy or post this pattern on another blog, website or in printed format without prior written permission from me. You are welcome to link to this site or pin images directly from it as long as you credit me as the author.
Please feel free to share you makes with me via social media or leave your link in the comments below.
Enjoy your crocheting! 🙂
How do you make your increase in the round? I’m new to making cacti and want to figure it out do it’s easier for a beginner.
Hi Hannah,
Increases in the round are done by making two (or more) stitches in the same place. So say for example you want to go from having 6 stitches to having 12. you simply make 2 stitches in each stitch. Does that make sense? Let me know if you have any other questions 🙂