AMIGURUMI CACTI
Quite possibly the cutest amigurumi pincushion duo in all existence. Designed by Ilaria Caliri.
YOU WILL NEED
DK yarn from your stash, 1 ball of each: Yarn A Green Yarn B Yellow Yarn C Brown Yarn D Pink A 3mm (US C/2 or D/3) hook Black thread for eyes Polyester toy stuffing Stitch markers
TENSION
Tension is not critical for this project. You can use any yarn to make this amigurumi. If you use a larger hook and a suitable yarn, the amigurumi will be larger whilst maintaining the same proportions.
MEASUREMENTS
Round Cactus measures 9x15cm (3 x6in) using a 3mm hook Tall Cactus measures 9x16cm (3 x6 in) using a 3mm hook
ABBREVIATIONS
Spike st Work a standard dc stitch into the corresponding stitch that is 2 rows below Succulent trend? Check. Desk plant you can’t kill? Check. Pick your favourite, or hook two of these prickly peeps to keep your pins firmly in one place. And they’re as friendly as they look – both designs are suitable for amigurumi newbies.
NOTES
The pattern is worked using the amigurumi method. Work in a continuous spiral without closing off the round with a ss. It may help to use a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round, moving it up as you work.
ROUND CACTUS
Using Green yarn, make a magic loop.
Round 1 (RS) Ch1 (does not count as st), 6dc into the loop. [6 sts] Round 2 2dc in each st around. [12 sts] Round 3 (2dc in next st, dc in next st) 6 times. [18 sts]
Round 4 (2dc in next st, dc in each of next 2 sts) 6 times. [24 sts]
Round 5 (2dc in next st, dc in each of next 3 sts) 6 times. [30 sts]
Round 6 (2dc in next st, dc in each of next 4 sts) 6 times. [36 sts]
Rounds 7-12 Dc in each st around. Round 13 (Dc in each of next 4 sts, dc2tog) 6 times. [30 sts]
Round 14 (Dc in each of next 3 sts, dc2tog) 6 times. [24 sts]
Round 15 (Dc in each of next 2 sts, dc2tog) 6 times. [18 sts]
Round 16 (Dc in next st, dc2tog) 6 times, changing to Yellow during the last yrh of the last dc2tog, do not fasten off. [12 sts] Stuff the cactus with toy stuffing. Next, continue to work the Cactus Sand.
TALL CACTUS
Using Green yarn, make a magic loop.
Round 1 (RS) Ch1 (does not count as st), 5dc into the loop. [5 sts] Round 2 2dc in each st around. [10 sts] Round 3 (2dc in next st, dc in next st) 5 times. [15 sts]
Round 4 (2dc in next st, dc in each of next 2 sts) 5 times. [20 sts]
Rounds 5-16 Dc in each st around. Round 17 (Dc2tog, dc in each of next 2 sts), 5 times. [15 sts]
Round 18 (Dc2tog, dc in each of next 3 sts) 3 times, changing to Yellow during the last yrh of the last dc, do not fasten off. [12 sts] Stuff cactus with toy stuffing.
Next, continue to work the Cactus Sand.
CACTUS SAND
Using Yellow yarn, continue after Round 16 of the Round Cactus or Round 18 of the Tall Cactus.
Round 1 (RS) (2dcfl in next st, dcfl in next st) 6 times. [18 sts]
Round 2 (2dc in next st, dc in each of next 2 sts) 6 times. [24 sts]
Rounds 3- 4 Dc in each st around. Round 5 (Dc in each of next 6 sts, dc2tog) 3 times. [21 sts]
Rounds 6-7 Dc in each st around. Round 8 (Dc in each of next 5 sts, dc2tog) 3 times. [18 sts]
Round 9 Dc in each st around. Stuff with toy stuffing and continue to stuff as you crochet.
Round 10 (Dc in each of next 4 sts, dc2tog) 3 times. [15 sts]
Round 11 (Dc in each of next 3 sts, dc2tog) 3 times. [12 sts]
Round 12 (Dc2tog) 6 times. [6 sts] Fasten off.
TALL CACTUS ARMS
Using Green yarn, make a magic loop. Round 1 (RS) Ch1 (does not count as st), 7dc into the loop. [7 sts] Rounds 2- 4 Dc in each st around. Rounds 5- 6 Ss in front loop only of each of next 3 sts, dc in next st, htr in each of next 2 sts, dc in next st. Round 7 Ss in front loop only of each of next 3 sts, dc in each of next 4 sts. Stuff the cactus arms with toy stuffing. Fasten off leaving a tail for sewing the arms on to the cactus (sew right arm between Rounds 11 and 13; left arm between Rounds 13 and 15).
POT
Using Brown yarn, make a magic loop. Round 1 (RS) Ch1 (does not count as st), 6dc into the loop. [6 sts] Round 2 2dc in each st around. [12 sts] Round 3 (2dc in next st, dc in next st) 6 times. [18 sts] Round 4 Dcbl in each st around. Round 5 Dc in each st around. Round 6 (2dc in next st, dc in each of next 5 sts) 3 times. [21 sts] Rounds 7- 8 Dc in each st around. Round 9 (2dc in next st, dc in each of next 6 sts) 3 times. [24 sts] Round 10 Dc in each st around. Round 11 (2dc in next st, dc in each of next 7 sts) 3 times. [27 sts] Rounds 12-13 Dc in each st around. Round 14 Spike st in each st around, inserting the crochet hook 2 rounds below in each dc. Fasten off.
FLOWER
Using Pink yarn, make a magic loop.
Round 1 (RS) Ch1 (does not count as st), 5dc into the loop. [5 sts] Round 2 2dc in each st around. [10 sts] Round 3 Work in front loop only for this round; (ss in next st, ch3, 2tr in next st, ch3, ss into same st) 5 times. [5 petals]
Round 4 Work in remaining loop of Round 2, (ss in next st, ch3, 2tr in next st, ch3, ss into same st) 5 times. [5 petals] Fasten off.
TO MAKE UP
Make a very loose pompom using Yellow yarn and sew it to the middle of the flower. Using black thread, embroider the eyes as a couple of long stitches across Round 11 or 15, the eyes are approx 8 or 4 stitches apart. Embroider the mouth by stitching a V-shape on the round below the eyes.