This pattern is modeled off of the prickly pear cactus we have been seeing all over the Southwest. I love the idea of creating a Christmas decoration that mirrors the native cactus we see on our travels. I was also interested in making a more “crafty” design that employs more than just yarn and a hook. I love using other materials in my crocheting and was happy to discover how well pipe cleaners worked for creating a no-sew cactus!
I also love all things tiny. As someone who is currently traveling a lot and moving locations often I do not have room in our truck for boxes of seasonal holiday decorations! But we do have room for a tiny potted Christmas cactus and I bet you do too!
No one could say no to a tiny Christmas cactus that can fit anywhere! Stick it on your desk at work, the cup holder in your car, your mantle, counter, or side table!
Hate weaving in loose ends? Find the sewing part of amigurumi to be a deal breaker? Have no fear! There is honestly no sewing for this whole project – that’s what makes it so quick and easy! The secret to the no-sew part of the pattern is using pipe cleaners! By threading pipe cleaners between all the pieces (check out the photo tutorial below) you can simply slide on your crocheted discs together and bend them into any position you wish!
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Looking for more cute crochet projects? Check out these adorable free chalk bag patterns!
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DESCRIPTION
This adorable Christmas cactus decoration stands just 6 inches high and 6 inches wide. The cactus sits in a tiny 2 inch terra cotta pot and is held together by pipe cleaners – that means NO sewing! Whip one up with some leftover worsted weight green yarn for your own home, or make a dozen to give away as gifts. They are the perfect size for traveling and for those who live in small spaces.
MATERIALS
- Worsted weight green yarn (Weight: 4/medium): ~50 g of yarn needed for one cactus. HINT: Using a mohair yarn like Lion Brand Yarn’s Touch of Mohair will make your cactus look prickly and even more cactus-like without any extra effort!
- Lightweight colorful yarn scraps, including silver, for the Christmas light strand. Lion Brand Yarn has gorgeous variety packs of lightweight yarn in great colors called Bonbons that I love using.
- Size G (4 mm) crochet hook
- Size E (3.5 mm) crochet hook
- Stitch marker (I often use a safety pin, but these are so cute!)
- Green Pipe Cleaners
- 2″ Terra Cotta Pot – available at most craft stores including Hobby Lobby, JOANN Fabrics, and Michaels.
- Optional: Floral Foam Brick – also available at most craft stores.
ABBREVIATIONS
- ch: chain
- st: stitch
- sc: single crochet
- sc2tog: single crochet two stitches together
- hdc: half-double crochet
- dc: double crochet
DIRECTIONS
LARGE PIECE (MAKE 1)
This piece is worked in the round with no joining. Use a stitch marker to keep track of your rows. Use size G (4 mm) crochet hook.
Magic Circle
(Wondering what the checkboxes are for? Check out this tutorial and make online patterns easier to follow!)
Cinch top closed, cut tails short, and tuck them inside your flattened sphere.
MEDIUM PIECE (MAKE 2)
This piece is worked in the round with no joining. Use a stitch marker to keep track of your rows.
Magic Circle
Cinch top closed, cut tails short, and tuck them inside your flattened sphere.
SMALL PIECE (MAKE 3)
This piece is worked in the round with no joining. Use a stitch marker to keep track of your rows.
Magic Circle
Cinch top closed, cut tails short, and tuck them inside your flattened sphere.
ASSEMBLY
The dark green pipe cleaner is overlaid on the flattened spheres to show you where the pipe cleaner will be situated once inside the spheres. 
Your finished cactus should look like this: the pipe cleaner is inside all of the crocheted spheres so you will not see it on either side of the cactus except for where it sticks out of the bottom, but this will be covered up in your pot.
Now for the fun part! Grab your pipe cleaner and fold it in half. Slide the largest crocheted sphere onto both pipe cleaner ends and pull each end through a different side. Next, slide on your medium crocheted sphere and smallest crocheted spheres to one pipe cleaner end and trim the pipe cleaner so it does not stick out. Repeat for other end of pipe cleaner.
Lastly, make sure a small portion of the folded pipe cleaner sticks out of the bottom – this will anchor your cactus in your pot. Now it is up to you to decide how to fill your tiny pot! You can use sand, rocks, or marbles. Sticking a small square of floral foam in the bottom of your pot and pushing the folded pipe cleaner end into it can help keep your cactus upright and perky.
ACCESSORIES
What good is a Christmas cactus without a string of lights and Santa hat?!
CHRISTMAS LIGHT STRAND
BULBS (MAKE 6-8)
Use E (3.5 mm) crochet hook and lightweight colorful yarn scraps.
Magic Circle
Finish off and weave in ends
With your silver yarn ch 5. sl st to the top corner of a bulb. sc three times across. ch 5 and repeat process with next bulb until you have created a full strand. Tie off when finished.
SANTA HAT
This piece is worked in the round with no joining. Use a stitch marker to keep track of your rows. Begin with lightweight red yarn and use E (3.5 mm) crochet hook.
Magic Circle
Switch to lightweight silver yarn.
Finish off and weave in ends.
I glued a tiny white pompom to the top of my Santa Hat, but you may want to leave it bare or even create a tiny yarn pompom for the top.
You’re finished! Stick the hat on your tiny cactus and set it out somewhere where the world can see!
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