Crochet Cactus Pattern

Add a touch of greenery to your home decor with this fun crochet cactus pattern.

Two crochet cacti against a white background.

Are cacti still popular? I’m always behind on trends but regardless, I thought it would be fun to take my crochet flower pot pattern and make a cactus version.

I know cacti are pretty low maintenance to begin with but I still feel bad when I forget to water them for ages, but now I no longer have to worry.

This little crochet cactus is the perfect size for displaying on a shelf or desk and would make a lovely gift for a cactus lover or for those of us who are plant challenged.

The pattern is low-sew and I’ve tried to keep it as simple as possible.

Crochet cactus sitting on a wood round against a white background.

The pot and soil are worked in one piece with the cactus being crocheted directly onto the soil. The only sewing required is for the green detailing and securing the flower to the top.

If you don’t already have one, I highly recommend getting some sharp needles. They are my go-to for amigurumi and make all the difference when it comes to sewing details.

The addition of the dark green is a bit finicky but it takes it from being a weird green ball to a cactus as well as giving it interest and an additional pop of colour.

If you love this crochet cactus pattern, you might also like to check out these other plant inspired patterns: Tulip Amigurumi, Sunflower Coaster and Poinsettia Ornament.

Crochet cactus being held up.

Crochet Cactus Pattern

Purchase an ad-free PDF on Etsy or Ravelry. The PDF includes detailed instructions and photos as well as easy print pages.

Materials

  • DK weight yarn in pot colour, brown, light green, dark green and flower colour (I used Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK in Vintage Pink, Coffee Bean, Spearmint Green, Racing Green, Mustard Yellow/Bubblegum Pink)
  • 2.5mm crochet hook
  • Card (tissue box, cereal box, etc)
  • Polyester fiberfill
  • Optional: toy pellets
  • Stitch marker
  • Yarn needle
  • Scissors

Abbreviations (US Terms)

  • ch – chain
  • sc – single crochet
  • inc – increase
  • BLO – back loop only
  • FLO – front loop only
  • invdec – invisible decrease
  • dec – decrease
  • hdc – half double crochet
  • dc – double crochet
  • sl st – slip stitch
  • st/s – stitch/es
  • […] – repeat the instructions in brackets
  • (…) – indicates stitch count at end of round

Useful Links

Notes

  • The finished item measures approximately 3.5″ (9cm) tall when using the materials listed.
  • Pieces are worked in a continuous spiral starting with a magic ring unless otherwise specified. Mark the first stitch of each round with a removable stitch marker.
  • Gauge is not important in this pattern. Use a hook size to match your chosen yarn. Make sure that your stitches are tight enough to prevent stuffing showing through and adjust hook size if necessary.

LET’S GET STARTED!

Pot (pot colour)

R1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)

R2: [Inc] x6 (12)

R3: [Sc, inc] x6 (18)

R4: Sc, inc, [2 sc, inc] x5, inc (24)

R5: [3 sc, inc] x6 (30)

R6: BLO [sc] x30 (30)

R7: [9 sc, inc] x3 (33)

R8-9: [Sc] x33 (33) 2 rounds

R10: 5 sc, inc, [10 sc,inc] x2, 5 sc (36)

R11-12: [Sc] x36 (36) 2 rounds

R13: [11 sc, inc] x3 (39)

R14-15: [Sc] x39 (39) 2 rounds

R16: 6 sc, inc, [12 sc, inc] x2, 6 sc (42)

R17: FLO [sc] x42 (42)

R18: [Sc] x42 (42)

Note: Work the entire round of R19 in the back loop only.

R19: Ch 1, turn. BLO hdc in first st, [dc] x41 (42)

Fold down the rim of the pot to the round of leftover back loops from R17.
Fasten off invisibly to first hdc. Weave in ends.

Measure the base of the pot and cut a circle out of card. Place in bottom of pot.

Soil (brown)

Join brown yarn in the first leftover back loop from R17 of the pot.

R1: Ch 1, sc in same st and in each st around (42)

R2: [5 sc, invdec] x6 (36)

R3: Sc, invdec, [2 sc, invdec] x8, sc (27)

R4: [Sc, invdec] x9 (18)

If using, fill 1/4 of the pot with toy pellets. Start stuffing and continue to stuff as you go.

Tip: Focus stuffing towards the outer edges to create a flatter top.

R5: BLO [sc, dec] x6 (12)

R6: [Invdec] x6 (6)

Cut the yarn leaving a tail and pull through last st. Weave the yarn tail through the front loops only of the final round and pull to close. Hide the end inside the pot.

Cactus (light green)

Join light green yarn in the first leftover front loop from R5 of the soil.

R1: Ch 1, sc in same st, inc, [sc, inc] x8 (27)

R2: Sc, inc, [2 sc, inc] x8, sc (36)

R3: [5 sc, inc] x6 (42)

R4-10: [Sc] x42 (42) 7 rounds

R11: [5 sc, invdec] x6 (36)

R12: 2 sc, invdec, [4 sc, invdec] x5, 2 sc (30)

R13: [Sc, invdec] x10 (20)

Start stuffing and continue to stuff as you go.

R14: [Invdec] x10 (10)

R15: [3 sc, invdec] x2 (8)

Cut the yarn leaving a tail and pull through last st. Weave the yarn tail through the front loops only of the final round and pull to close. Hide the end inside the cactus.

Flower (flower colour)

Ch 9, sl st into starting ch. [Ch 8, sl st into same ch as previous sl st] x4 (5 petals)

Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.

Finishing

  • Using dark green yarn, sew lines from the base of the cactus to the top. You will be dividing it into 8 even sections. Start by dividing into quarters and then divide each quarter in half again as evenly as possible. Use pins as a guide.
  • Sew flower to the top of the cactus.
Crochet cactus shown after green lines have been added.
Finished crochet cactus.

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Happy Crocheting x

This pattern is for personal use only and may not be copied, reproduced, altered, published or distributed in any way. If you wish to share this pattern, you may link to this pattern but please do not reprint it on your site. You can sell finished products made from this pattern in small quantities. Do NOT use our photos as your sale photos.

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2 Comments

  1. I think they’re still popular! I made some crochet cactus and succulents for two markets at my local university this spring and the college students loved them, they sold me out of plants both times!