Crochet Cactus Pin Cushion

We are finally getting our basement “yarn room” renovated into an actual craft room/office instead of the disastrous state it is currently in. Of course, this means unearthing yarn previously forgotten about and rather than roll bits of yarn into balls and tuck them away and forget about them, I decided to start a new project – a blanket – that would help with my clean up efforts. I can truthfully say that I have spent more time on this blanket than I have on cleaning out the room, but I still feel accomplished just the same.

 

So now I have accumulated a large pile of scraps that also need to be put into a project because they are just too pretty to throw away…. Now we have a collection of super cute scrap yarn stuffed cactus pin cushion complete with a terracotta pot!

 

Materials
4 mm Crochet hook
15g Worsted weight yarn – Green (I used Vanna’s Choice Kelly Green)

15g Worsted weight yarn – Beige ( I used Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice Beige)
Mini Clay Pot 2.5″
18-20g of scrap yarn pieces or Polyfill
Tapestry Needle & Scissors
Glue Gun *optional

 

 

Abbreviations
Ch – Chain
HDC – Half Double Crochet
SC – Single Crochet
SC3LP – Single Crochet in the third loop of hdc in the previous row
SC2tog – Single Crochet 2 stitches together
SCBL – Single Crochet in back loop
SlSt – Slip Stitch
SlStBL – Slip Stitch in Back Loops
 
Pattern
Ch 13
Row 1 – Using Green 1 hdc in next chain from the hook and in each chain to the end. Ch 1 and turn (12)
Row 2 – SC3LP in each of the next 10 Stitches, SlSt in the last 2 Stitches. Ch 1 turn (12)
Rows 3-18 Repeat Rows 1 and 2
Fold work in half, wrong sides together and SlSt to form a tube

 

  • Right Side (Ridges)

  •  

    Wrong Side (Flat)

  •  

    Tube

Now you will start working in a round for the rest of the pattern
Round 1 Ch 1 SC into each stitch around the base join to first Ch with a SlSt (18)
Round 2 Ch 1 SC2tog in each stitch all the way around (decreasing the number of stitches in half (9) Change color to beige and join with a SlSt
Round 3 Ch 1 2 SC in each stitch around (18) SlSt to the first chain
Round 4 Ch 1 *2 SC in first Stitch 1 SC in next stitch* Repeat from * around join to first chain with a SlSt (24)
Round 5 SlStBl in each stitch around (24)
Round 6 SC into the back loops of round 4 over the entire SlSt. Join with a SlSt
Round 7 SC in Each St around cut and tie off ends

 

Bottom
Using your beige yarn, make a magic circle make 6 SC into your magic circle
Round 2 2 SC in each stitch around. Join with SlSt Ch 1 (12)
Round 3 *2 SC 1SC* repeat around. Join with SlSt Ch 1 (18)
Round 4 *2 SC 1Sc 1 SC* repeat around, join with SlSt (24) Cut 12″ tail and tie off

 

Cut an 8″ piece of green yarn turn cactus inside out and using a running stitch sew the top of the cactus closed.
Turn right did out and stuff your cactus with either your yarn scraps or polyfill.
Line your bottom circle up to the bottom of the cactus piece and SlSt together

Sew in any loose ends, if you want to use your glue gun to secure the bottom of your cactus to the bottom of the clay pot.