Ideal for those with basic knitting experience, featuring slightly more advanced stitches and techniques to expand your skills.
Complete in under 2 hours—quick, fun, and perfect for a little creative escape.
A warm touch for your space that transforms ordinary corners into inviting nooks filled with handmade charm.
Standing approximately 12 inches tall, this pillow makes a statement piece for any room. The arms are carefully constructed to mirror each other perfectly, ensuring proper alignment when assembled into the finished three-dimensional pillow.
I absolutely love this cactus pillow pattern because it's the perfect blend of fun and functional home decor. There's something incredibly satisfying about watching the bobble stitches pop out to create that authentic cactus texture, and I enjoy how the rhythm of the pattern makes it easy to work on while watching TV or chatting with friends. The dimensional arms add such character and personality to the finished piece, making it look like a real potted cactus from across the room. I appreciate that it uses just one main color for most of the project, which means fewer ends to weave in and no stressful color changes. Plus, the finished pillow brings such a cheerful, modern vibe to any space, and everyone who sees it wants to know where I bought it. It's become one of my favorite quick gifts to make for plant-loving friends who struggle to keep real cacti alive!
I love experimenting with this cactus pillow pattern to create my own unique desert garden. Try making multiple cacti in different sizes by using various yarn weights - a bulky yarn creates a statement floor pillow while fingering weight makes adorable mini desk cacti. You could also play with colors beyond traditional sage green; imagine a pastel pink or blue cactus for a modern, whimsical twist that fits trendy home decor aesthetics.
For the flowers, I enjoy making them in multiple colors and sizes. Try using variegated yarn for a multi-toned bloom, or create several small flowers instead of one large one to mimic a blooming cactus. You could even add French knots or small beads as tiny flower buds scattered across the arms. I've also experimented with adding embroidered details using a contrasting color to highlight certain areas or create patterns on the cactus body.
Another fun variation is to add a crocheted pot base! Work in brown or terracotta colors to create a flat circular base with sides, then attach your cactus to it for a complete potted plant look. You could even stuff the pot portion differently to make it more stable as a floor decoration. The possibilities are endless, and each variation creates a unique piece that reflects your personal style!
Bring the beauty of the desert indoors with this charming crochet cactus pillow pattern. This delightful home decor piece features realistic bobble stitch textures that mimic cactus spines, dimensional arms for authentic character, and a sweet crocheted flower on top. Perfect for adding a touch of southwestern style to your living space, this pillow is both decorative and functional. Whether you're creating it for yourself or as a thoughtful handmade gift, this cactus pillow will brighten any room with its playful personality and cozy appeal.
Make 2
Ch 41, hdc in 2nd ch from the hook and in next 38 ch, hdc 6 in the last stitch, moving to work along that back side of the ch, hdc 39. Ch 1, turn.
Hdc 39, 2 hdc in next 6 st, hdc 39. Ch1, turn.
Bobble row: sc 2, bobble [sc 3, bobble] repeat around to last 3 st, sc 3. Ch1, turn.
Hdc 39, [hdc 2 in next st, hdc 1] 6 times, hdc 39. Ch1, turn.
Hdc 39, [hdc 2 in next st, hdc 2] 6 times, hdc 39. Ch1, turn.
Hdc 39 [hdc 2 in next st, hdc 3] 6 times, hdc 39. Ch1, turn.
Bobble row: sc 2, bobble [sc 3, bobble] repeat around to last 5 st, sc 3, bobble, sc 1. Ch1, turn.
Hdc 39 [hdc 2 in next st, hdc 4] 6 times, hdc 39. Ch1, turn.
Hdc 39 [hdc 2 in next st, hdc 5] 6 times, hdc 39. Ch1, turn.
Hdc 39 [hdc 2 in next st, hdc 6] 6 times, hdc 39. Ch1, turn.
Bobble row: sc 2, bobble [sc 3, bobble] repeat around to last 3 st, sc 3. Finish off.
With the right side facing, on the right side of the cacti, count 15 stitches up from the bottom, join your yarn in the 15th st.
Hdc 14. Ch1 turn.
Repeat row 1
Turn the cacti to work along the row ends. Hdc 14 along the raw edge. Ch1, turn.
Hdc 14. Ch1 turn.
Hdc2tog, hdc 10, hdc2tog. Ch1, turn.
Hdc2tog, hdc 8, hdc2tog. Ch1, turn.
Hdc2tog, hdc 6, hdc2tog. Ch1, turn. Finish off.
With the wrong side facing, on the right side, count 27 st up from the bottom, join your yarn in the 27th st.
Ch1, Hdc 12. Ch1 turn.
Repeat row 1
Turn the cacti to work along the row ends. Hdc 12 along the raw edge. Ch1, turn.
Hdc 12. Ch1 turn.
Hdc2tog, hdc 8, hdc2tog. Ch1, turn.
Hdc2tog, hdc6, hdc2tog. Ch1, turn.
Hdc2tog, hdc 4, hdc2tog. Ch1, turn. Finish off.
You will now mirror the arms for the 2nd Cactus side so that when you go to put the right sides together and sew it up, the arms match!
With the wrong side facing, on the right hand side, count 15 st up from the bottom, join your yarn in the 15th st.
Hdc 14. Ch1 turn.
Repeat row 1
Turn the cacti to work along the row ends. Hdc 14 along the raw edge. Ch1, turn.
Hdc 14. Ch1 turn.
Hdc2tog, hdc 10, hdc2tog. Ch1, turn.
Hdc2tog, hdc 8, hdc2tog. Ch1, turn.
Hdc2tog, hdc6, hdc2tog. Ch1, turn. Finish off.
With the right side facing, on the right hand side, count 27 st up from the bottom, join your yarn in the 27th st.
Ch1, Hdc 12. Ch1 turn.
Repeat row 1
Turn the cacti to work along the row ends. Hdc 12 along the raw edge. Ch1, turn.
Hdc 12. Ch1 turn.
Hdc2tog, hdc 8, hdc2tog. Ch1, turn.
Hdc2tog, hdc6, hdc2tog. Ch1, turn.
Hdc2tog, hdc 4, hdc2tog. Ch1, turn. Finish off.
Ch 50, sc in 2nd ch from the hook, 3 dc in the next ch, [sc, 3 dc in the next ch] to the end. Your flower will begin to twist on its own. Cut your yarn leaving a long tail to sew the flower together and attach it to the cactus.
Next you're going to roll your flower by gently wrapping the petals around each other starting at the center. Sew securely together by going through all the rows on the back a couple times.
This adorable crochet cactus pillow was designed to bring a touch of desert charm to any home without the worry of prickly spines or watering schedules. The combination of textured bobble stitches and dimensional arms creates a realistic cactus shape that's both decorative and huggable. Perfect for southwestern decor lovers or anyone who appreciates unique handmade home accents, this pattern works up quickly and makes a wonderful conversation-starting gift. Add your own creative touches with different colored flowers or multiple sizes for a whole cactus garden! 🌵 Happy crocheting! 🧶✨
A bobble stitch is created by yarn over and pulling up a loop 6 times (13 loops on hook), then yarn over and pull through 12 loops, leaving 2 loops, then yarn over and pull through the remaining 2 loops. The pattern instructs you to work bobbles on the wrong side of the work so they naturally pop forward to the right side. Lock each bobble down with a tight single crochet in the next stitch.
The arms need to be mirrored so that when you place the right sides of the two cactus pieces together and sew them up, the arms align perfectly and match on both sides. If you don't mirror them, the arms will be facing opposite directions and won't line up properly during assembly.
Yes! You can adjust the size by using different yarn weights and corresponding hook sizes. Using bulky yarn with a larger hook will create a bigger pillow, while using fingering weight yarn with a smaller hook will make a miniature version. Just maintain the same stitch counts and pattern structure.
The pattern specifies to count stitches up from the bottom of the cactus body. For the lower arm, count 15 stitches up and join in the 15th stitch. For the upper arm, count 27 stitches up and join in the 27th stitch. Using stitch markers to mark these positions before starting can be very helpful.
If your flower isn't curling on its own, you may need to adjust your tension slightly. The combination of single crochet and 3 double crochets in alternating stitches should create natural curl. When rolling it up, start from the center and wrap the petals around each other gently, securing with stitches through all layers on the back as you go.
