Do you ever wish you could keep plants...without killing them? Wouldn't an immortal cactus look splendid on your (home) office desk or window ledge?

As someone who struggles with sustaining healthy house plants, I can appreciate a cute plant with a bit of resiliency. So if you're constantly wishing you could add a little green to your décor why not try an easy cactus crochet pattern? It will never need water, sunlight, or soil.

This would also make a great gift for plant lovers (and I mean real plants this time). You can even turn this into an amigurumi character and add a face and other details. When I got married I made a crochet gift for each of my bridesmaids. One of my bridesmaids got a cactus with a squinting face, inspired by the expression on my face captured in a photo of me trying to smile while getting hit by direct sunlight. Hey, gifts are unique and very special 🤷🏻‍♀️😂

Cactus Crochet Pattern

This pattern will show you how to make a round, tubular cactus of any height, but there is nothing stopping you from making a giant Saguaro with multiple, more narrow arms, or a flatter cactus, like a Prickly Pear. Any respectable garden will be vibrant with color, a crochet succulent garden is no different. Try making your crochet cacti with different colored yarns and embellishments!

Materials

• Worsted weight (4) yarn – I’m using Bernat Super Value in Fern, Tan, small amounts of Yellow, and Hot Pink acrylic yarn

• 3.75mm crochet hook

• Yarn needle for sewing

• Polyester fiberfill for stuffing

• 2.5” diameter flower pot

• Stitch marker

• Scissors

Abbreviations (US Terminology)

St(s) – Stitch(es)

Ch – chain

Sc – single crochet

Inc – increase (2sc in same stitch)

Dec – decrease (sc 2 sts together)

Sl st – slip stitch

BLO – sc in back loop only

Pattern Notes

The main cactus is worked flat in rows.

The cactus soil is worked in rounds - do not join with a slipstitch or turn at the end of each round.

The height of the cactus can be adjusted by starting with more or fewer chains.

The starting chain does not count as a stitch.

You can either make the base first and then sew the cactus after or make the cactus first and sew to the base at Round 7 or 8.

Cactus

Row 1: ch 16, sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across, turn.

Row 2: ch 1, sc in BLO in each st across to end, turn.

Repeat Row 2 for 30 rows or until you’re happy with the width of your cactus.

Forming the Cactus

Fold the cactus rectangle piece in half with the first and last rows together and join to form a tube. Here are two options to join the seam:

Option 1: Cut the yarn and sew the seams together with a yarn needle

Option 2: Do not cut the yarn and single crochet or slip stitch the seams together

Once the seam is joined and you have a tube you will close one end. Use a yarn needle and a length of yarn to thread in and out of the row edges from one end of the tube. Imagine a drawstring purse. When you have threaded the yarn all the way around, pull the yarn tails to close the opening.

Make a couple of stitches to secure in place and then cut the yarn.

Repeat with the opposite end but don’t close the opening all the way because this will be the bottom of the cactus that will sit on top of the soil. Or you can omit this step and leave the bottom open to get a different cactus shape.

Cactus Soil

Round 1: make 6 sc in magic ring or ch 2 and make 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook.

Round 2: inc in each st (12 sts)

Round 3: [sc in next st, inc in next st] repeat 6 times around (18 sts)

Round 4: [sc in next 2 sts, inc in next st] repeat 6 times around (24 sts)

Round 5: [sc in next 3 sts, inc in next st] repeat 6 times around (30 sts)

Round 6: [sc in next 4 sts, inc in next st] repeat 6 times around (36 sts)

Round 7: [sc in next 4 sts, dec] repeat 6 times around (30 sts)

Round 8: sc around (30 sts)

Round 9: [sc in next 3 sts, dec] repeat 6 times around (24 sts)

Rounds 10-11: sc around (24 sts)

Round 12: [sc in next 2 sts, dec] repeat 6 times around (18 sts)

Round 13: [sc in next st, dec] repeat 6 times around (12 sts)

Begin to stuff with fiberfill and make sure you can still fit the base inside the flower pot.

Round 14: dec around (6 sts)

Cut the yarn and sew any gaps if needed.

Cactus Flower

Starting with yellow yarn.

Round 1: make 4 sc in magic ring or ch 2 and make 4 sc in 2nd ch from hook.

Switch to Pink yarn.

Round 2: [sc in next st, ch 2, sl st in same st as sc] repeat in each st.

Cut the yarn and sew it to the cactus top.

Sew the cactus bottom to the base, making sure to stuff with fiberfill as you sew. Sew the cactus flower on top and your cactus is done!

There are many variations you can make with this crochet pattern. Experiment and see what you come up with!

If you make this crochet cactus pattern I'd love to see your creation, just tag me on Instagram @popsdemilk_crochet and use the hashtag #popsdemilk

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This pattern is for personal use only. The pattern and its photos may not be reproduced, distributed or resold, translated, published, altered, shared or posted in any way over the internet or offline.

You may sell finished items made from this pattern as long as it is handmade by you, not mass produced, giving the credit to Pops de Milk / Patricia Castillo as the designer. If you have any questions, you can email me at patricia@popsdemilk.com