Crochet Cactus | Free Pattern

Growing from this free crochet cactus amigurumi pattern are all the warm wonders of sunny summertime—heat blazing down from a cloudless sky, critters scurrying across the scorching sand, and colorful cacti standing bright and tenacious against the bleached background of a dry desert.

While you soak in the rays alongside some leafy greenery, there’s no better way to celebrate the sunniest season than with this free crochet cactus amigurumi pattern!

So, without further ado, here is the pattern for the Barrel Cactus Cutie, part 2 of 3 in the Plant Cuties collection!

Pattern Information | Free Crochet Cactus Amigurumi

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This free crochet cactus amigurumi pattern has a difficulty rating of intermediate.

The finished dimensions are 5.5 inches (height) by 3.25 inches (width) by 3.25 inches (depth).*

You may also make your pieces larger or smaller by increasing or decreasing your yarn weight and/or hook size, respectively.

*Finished dimensions are calculated from a model using medium weight yarn, a size H-8 (5 mm) crochet hook, the YU/YO method and the following gauge: 18 sc x 21 rows = 4 inches.

Supplies:

• Size H-8 (5 mm) crochet hook
• Medium (4) weight yarn in 8 colors:
  • Yarn A – dark green (example uses Red Heart Super Saver: Medium Thyme)
  • Yarn B – medium green (Red Heart Super Saver: Tea Leaf)
  • Yarn C – yellow (Caron One Pound: Sun Yellow)
  • Yarn D - medium pink (Big Twist Value: Bubblegum)
  • Yarn E - light pink (Big Twist Value: Medium Rose)
  • Yarn F – brown (Loops & Threads Soft Classic: Mocha)
  • Yarn G – blue (Big Twist Value: Denim Blue)
  • Yarn H – beige (Red Heart Super Saver: Buff)
• 10 mm black safety eyes (x2)
• Black embroidery floss
• Pink embroidery floss or pink yarn (Red Heart Super Saver: Perfect Pink)
• Polyester fiberfill
• Yarn needle
• Scissors
• Stitch markers

Alternate Yarn Supplies:

Color Variation 2 (as seen on the left in cover photo):

• Medium (4) weight yarn in 6 colors:
  • Yarn A – dark green (example uses Red Heart Super Saver: Medium Thyme)
  • Yarn C – yellow (Red Heart Super Saver: Saffron)
  • Yarn D - red (Red Heart Super Saver: Hot Red)
  • Yarn E - orange (Big Twist Value: Varsity Orange)
  • Yarn F – brown (Loops & Threads Soft Classic: Mocha)
  • Yarn G – orange (Caron One Pound: Faded Brick)
• Pink embroidery floss or pink yarn (Red Heart Super Saver: Baby Pink)

Terminology:

This free crochet cactus amigurumi pattern uses English (US) terminology:

• st (sts) = stitch (stitches)
• ch = chain stitch
• sl st = slip stitch
• sc = single crochet
• sc2tog = single crochet 2 together (over the span of 2 stitches), also known as a decrease
• hdc = half double crochet
• FPdc = front post double crochet
• BLO = back loop only
• prev = previous

Please note that this pattern is written so that each crochet stitch abbreviation is attached to a number, such as 1sc, 2sc, etc. This number denotes how many of that stitch is to be worked into the same stitch.

You can learn more about how to read Virkadia patterns on our Pattern Help FAQ page!

Special Stitch Instructions

Please review our special stitch instructions on our Stitch Tutorials FAQ before beginning, as some techniques may be unique to this pattern.

You can also watch our amigurumi techniques video tutorial for all of our tips and tricks for improving your project!

This free crochet cactus amigurumi pattern uses the following special stitch tutorials:

• Single Crochet (YU/YO Method)
• Invisible Decrease
• Joining Rounds
• Changing Colors Mid-Round
• Front Post Double Crochet

This pattern is worked in the round, with each round joined at the end with a slip stitch. Unless otherwise instructed, the first stitch of your next round will always be worked into the same stitch as your joining slip stitch has been worked into.

Be sure to always keep the ‘right side’ of your stitches facing outwards as you work. The right side is the front side of the stitch that is facing you as you are completing each stitch.

Changing Colors Mid-Round:

This free crochet cactus amigurumi pattern uses an optional mid-round color changing technique, as seen below, to emphasize the vertical ribs around the cactus.

This pattern may also be worked without the color changes for an easier alternative, as seen on the left in the cover photo.

Choose whichever design works best for you!

This color changing method begins in the stitch immediately before the stitch that you want to be a different color.

Begin this stitch as normal by inserting into the next stitch, yarning under, and pulling through.

Just before the very last pull-through of the stitch, drop your current color and instead grab the new color that you want to change to.

Yarn over this new color and pull through all of the loops remaining on your hook to complete your stitch.

This crochet cactus pattern specifically will be changing colors again after only one stitch, after working each front post double crochet on the plant.

When this is the case, repeat these steps immediately on the next stitch, switching back to your first color on the last pull-through of your front post double crochet.

After dropping a color, you do not need to cut it off. Instead, you may allow your yarn to ‘float’ in the back, or interior, of your work until you are ready to pick it up again.

Just be careful not to let these strands be pulled too tight when you pick them back up!

For best results, you should allow these strands to have a little bit of slack, in order to accommodate the stretching of your piece later when you add stuffing into it.

Front Post Double Crochet:

This free crochet cactus amigurumi pattern uses front post double crochet stitches to create the vertical ribs around the plant, as seen below.

To begin your front post double crochet, locate your double crochet in the row below that your new stitch will be worked onto.

Instead of working into the top two loops of the stitch, as you would for a normal double crochet, you will instead be working your stitch around the vertical body of the double crochet itself.

Yarn over, then insert your hook, from right to left for right-handed crocheters (or left to right for lefties) underneath the vertical body of the double crochet in the row below.

With your hook, exit on the opposite side of the double crochet. The vertical body of your double crochet should now be laying over top of your hook.

Yarn over, then pull through a new loop, pulling it beneath the body of the double crochet so that your hook is now back on the right side (or left side, for lefties) of the double crochet.

You should now have three loops on your hook. Complete your double crochet as normal by yarning over and pulling through two loops, two times.

Pattern Instructions | Free Crochet Cactus Amigurumi

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Crochet Cactus – Changing Colors (Optional):

The example crochet cactus shown in the tutorial images will be using an optional mid-round color changing technique to emphasize the vertical ribs around the cactus, as seen on the right in the photo below.

If you are following along with this more advanced, striped version, be sure to familiarize yourself with the tutorial above for changing colors mid-round, then follow the special instructions outlined below to modify your cactus pattern.

However, for an easier alternative, you may also work the cactus in only one color, instead.

For the standard, solid version, as seen on the left below, simply follow rounds 1 to 13 of the crochet cactus as written, unchanged.

For the striped version of the cactus, begin in yarn A (dark green), as normal. Your entire first round will be worked in yarn A, only.

Then, beginning in round 2, work each double crochet in yarn B (medium green), instead. All other stitches will be in yarn A (dark green).

Likewise, for rounds 3 to 13, work all front post double crochets in yarn B, and all other stitches in yarn A.

Crochet Cactus – Rounds 1 to 13:

With yarn A (dark green), make a magic ring (or ch 2, work rnd 1 into 2nd ch from hook).

Rnd 1: 8sc into ring, sl st into 1st st to join, ch 1 (8).

Rnd 2: (1sc, 1dc) into each st around, join, ch 1 (16).

Rnd 3: [2sc into next st, 1FPdc around next st] 8 times, join, ch 1 (24).

Rnd 4: [1sc into next st, 2sc into next st, 1FPdc around next st] 8 times, join, ch 1 (32).

Rnd 5: [1sc into each of next 3 sts, 1FPdc around next st] 8 times, join, ch 1 (32).

Rnd 6: [1sc into each of next 3 sts, 1FPdc around next st] 8 times, join, ch 1 (32).

Rnd 7: [1sc into each of next 3 sts, 1FPdc around next st] 8 times, join, ch 1 (32).

As you continue your crochet cactus rounds, you may notice your stitches beginning to slant towards your dominant hand.

This stitch slanting is normal for all projects that are worked in the round, but can appear more pronounced when vertical elements are a prominent feature of the pattern, such as with the ribs around the cactus.

Rounds 8 and 12 in the example crochet cactus, therefore, have been replaced with rounds that are designed to shift the stitches slightly backwards in the opposite direction.

Some crocheters may experience more stitch slanting than others, depending on your unique tension and stitch technique, so feel free to add more or less of these rounds as you see fit!

Alternatively, you may also omit these shifted rounds entirely by replacing rounds 8 and 12 with normal rounds. To do this, simply repeat the instructions from the previous round, instead.

Rnd 8: [1sc into each of next 2 sts, sc2tog over next 2 sts, 1FPdc around prev st] 8 times, join, ch 1 (32).

Rnd 9: [1sc into each of next 3 sts, 1FPdc around next st] 8 times, join, ch 1 (32).

Rnd 10: [1sc into each of next 3 sts, 1FPdc around next st] 8 times, join, ch 1 (32).

Rnd 11: [1sc into each of next 3 sts, 1FPdc around next st] 8 times, join, ch 1 (32).

Rnd 12: [1sc into each of next 2 sts, sc2tog over next 2 sts, 1FPdc around prev st] 8 times, join, ch 1 (32).

Rnd 13: [sc2tog over next 2 sts, 1sc into next st, 1FPdc around next st] 8 times, join (24).

Fasten off yarn A and leave a short tail for tying. If you’re making the striped version of the cactus, fasten off and weave in yarn B, as well.

Do not stuff, yet. Set aside for now and continue to the crochet cactus flower next.

Crochet Cactus Flower:

With yarn C (yellow), make a magic ring (or ch 2, work rnd 1 into 2nd ch from hook).

Rnd 1: 8hdc into ring, sl st into first st to join (8).

Fasten off yarn C and weave in all tails.

The front and back petals of the crochet cactus flower will both be worked directly off of round 1 of the flower, but in two separate layers.

The back petals (round 2) will be worked first, into the third loop of each half double crochet from round 1.

The third loop is located on the back side of each half double crochet, just behind the front and back loops that are normally worked into.

Take care not to work into the traditional back loops during round 2, as you will need these back loops later when adding the front petals (round 3).

Join yarn D (medium pink) by inserting your hook into the third loop of any half double crochet from round 1. Yarn over and pull up a loop of yarn D.

Begin round 2 in the next stitch after where you’ve just joined, and end round 2 in the same stitch as where you have joined.

Rnd 2: [sl st into 3rd loop of next hdc of rnd 1, ch 5, sl st into 2nd ch from hook, sl st into each of next 3 ch, sl st into 3rd loop of same hdc of rnd 1, ch 5, sl st into 2nd ch from hook, sl st into each of next 3 ch] 8 times, join (80).

Fasten off yarn D and weave in all tails.

We will now be working the front petals (round 3) into the back loops only of round 1, layering them on top of the back petals.

Join yarn E (light pink) by inserting your hook into the back loop only of any half double crochet from round 1. Yarn over and pull up a loop of yarn E.

Begin round 3 in the next stitch after where you’ve just joined, and end round 3 in the same stitch as where you have joined.

Rnd 3: [sl st into BLO of next hdc of rnd 1, ch 4, sl st into 2nd ch from hook, sl st into each of next 2 ch] 8 times, join (32).

Fasten off yarn E and weave in all tails.

Attaching Flower:

With a length of yarn C (yellow), sew the center of the flower onto the top center of the crochet cactus.

For best results, try sewing around the entire circumference of the center (round 1) of the flower, aligning it with round 1 of the cactus beneath.

To finish, tie both ends of yarn C together on the interior of the cactus, then cut any excess length.

Finally, stuff the cactus until it is full, then continue to round 1 of the dirt below.

Crochet Cactus Dirt:

With yarn F (brown), leave a long tail for sewing and chain 24. Slip stitch into the first chain to form a circle, then chain 1.

Rnd 1: [1sc into each of next 3 sts, 2sc into next st] 6 times, join, ch 1 (30).

Rnd 2: [2sc into next st, 1sc into each of next 4 sts] 6 times, join (36).

Fasten off yarn F and leave a long (~2 ft) tail for sewing.

Alternatively, you may instead leave just a short end tail on your dirt, then start the next section of your pot with a long beginning tail—either works, as long as one tail is left long!

Crochet Drip Glaze Pot:

Follow the tutorial for the Drip Glaze Pot Cutie companion pattern before continuing to the next steps.

If desired, you may also substitute the drip glaze pot with a Terracotta Pot Cutie—both pot patterns are compatible with all of our Plant Cuties and Flower Cuties!

The terracotta pot pattern, as seen in the photo below, is easier in difficulty than the drip glaze pot and is a great option for crocheters that are not comfortable with mid-round color changing and surface crochet techniques.

Conversely, the drip glaze pot pattern, as seen above, is more challenging but also has a wider base than the terracotta pot and makes your projects less prone to being top-heavy.

Choose whichever pattern works best for you!

Attaching Cactus:

Retrieve your cactus and place the bottom (round 13) over top of the center hole (round 1) of your dirt.

Using the long beginning tail left over from round 1 of the dirt, sew around the entire circumference of the cactus and dirt to attach them together.

Optionally, for more room to maneuver your needle, you may sew loosely at first, as seen above.

Then, once you're finished sewing, go back and tighten each strand individually, in the same sequence as you’ve sewn them.

To finish, secure your sewing with a knot to the end tail of the cactus. Then, trim any excess length and weave in tails.

Conclusion | Free Crochet Cactus Amigurumi

And with that, you’re done the free crochet Barrel Cactus Cutie pattern! If you enjoyed this pattern, be sure to check out its two companion patterns in the Plant Cuties collection: the Snake Plant Cutie, and the Succulent Cutie!

You can also explore the Cutie Collections and the Pocket Pets archives for more original and free amigurumi patterns, or our Home Decor Patterns for other homemade household goodies!

If you’re looking to cozy up with a longer project, check out our Clothing Patterns, or assemble your own designs from one of our Granny Square Patterns!

And don’t forget to browse our downloadable, ad-free patterns in our Etsy store!

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