I thought I would take a short break from Etsy orders to get this Crafty Cactus Pillow modification up for you guys because it’s just too cute not to share! You will need the Crafty Cactus Pillow pattern (if you don’t have it already), but then everything you need to know about making a cute little Santa hat and a string of Christmas lights for your cactus will be here.
Cactus Santa Hat
Finished Hat Dimensions: Approximately 7.25” tall (folded brim- not counting pom) and 7” wide (at the base of the hat).
Materials
H (5mm) size hook
1-2oz of Red worsted weight yarn
1 oz of White worsted weight yarn
Tapestry needle
Scissors
Clover Pom Pom maker (optional)
Stitch Key (US Terms)
HDC = Half Double Crochet
CH = Chain
INC= Increase (Put two stitches in the same space. (In this case, it will be two HDC stitches).
*= To Be Repeated
YO= Yarn Over
Special Stitches
Magic Circle: If you are unfamiliar with the Magic Circle/Ring method you are welcome to chain 3, join, and crochet in the circle you created. If you would like to learn how to crochet the Magic Circle here is an awesome video tutorial. z
Back Loop: Look at the top of your stitches and you will see that your HDC stitches make a “V” shape. Insert your hook under the side of the “V” that’s furthest from you. That is where you will make your HDC stitches.
Before you start
The Santa Hat is made by starting with 12 HDC and increasing by 2 in every round until you get to 40 HDC ( rounds). I like to space my increases out so they do not line up on top each other.
With your red yarn
Round 1: HDC 12 into a magic circle. Join back into your first HDC, CH 1. (12)
Round 2: HDC 2, HDC INC, HDC 4, HDC INC, HDC 4. Join back into your first HDC, CH 1. (14)
Round 3: HDC 5, HDC INC, HDC 5, HDC INC, HDC 2. Join back into your first HDC, CH 1. (16)
Round 4: HDC 1, HDC INC, HDC 6, HDC INC, HDC 7. Join back into your first HDC, CH 1. (18)
Round 5: HDC 5, HDC INC, HDC 7, HDC INC, HDC 4. Join back into your first HDC, CH 1. (20)
Round 6: HDC 3, HDC INC, HDC 8, HDC INC, HDC 7. Join back into your first HDC, CH 1. (22)
Round 7: HDC 8, HDC INC, HDC 9, HDC INC, HDC 3. Join back into your first HDC, CH 1. (24)
Round 8: HDC 1, HDC INC, HDC 10, HDC INC, HDC 11. Join back into your first HDC, CH 1. (26)
Round 9: HDC 7, HDC INC, HDC 11, HDC INC, HDC 6. Join back into your first HDC, CH 1. (28)
Round 10: HDC 13, HDC INC, HDC 12, HDC INC, HDC 1. Join back into your first HDC, CH 1. (30)
Round 11: HDC 5, HDC INC, HDC 12, HDC INC, HDC 11. Join back into your first HDC, CH 1. (32)
Round 12: HDC 10, HDC INC, HDC 15, HDC INC, HDC 5. Join back into your first HDC, CH 1. (34)
Round 13: HDC 2, HDC INC, HDC 14, HDC INC, HDC 16. Join back into your first HDC, CH 1. (36)
Round 14: HDC 14, HDC INC, HDC 11, HDC INC, HDC 9. Join back into your first HDC, CH 1. (38)
Round 15: HDC 7, HDC INC, HDC 14, HDC INC, HDC 15. Switch to white yarn and Join back into your first HDC, CH 1. (40)
Round 16: HDC 14, HDC INC, HDC 12, HDC INC, HDC 12. Join back into your first HDC, CH 1. (42)
Round 17-20: HDC 42. Join back into your first HDC, CH 1. (42) TURN YOUR WORK AFTER ROW 20.
Round 21: HDC 42 in the Back Loop Only. This is gong to help the brim fold up for a cute cuffed look. Join back into your first HDC, CH 1.
Round 22-24: HDC 42. Join back into your first HDC, CH 1.
Tie off and sew in tails.
Make and attach your pom pom to the top of the hat. I use a Clover brand pom pom maker to make my poms with.
Cactus Christmas Lights
Finished Light Dimensions: Approximately 2.5” tall.
Materials
G (4mm) size hook
Tapestry needle
Scissors
Polyfill
Stitch Marker
Stitch Key (US Terms)
CH = Chain
INC= Increase (Put two stitches in the same space. (In this case, it will be two SC stitches.)
DEC= Decrease (Invisible decrease explained under Special Stitches.)
*= To Be Repeated
YO= Yarn Over
Special Stitches
Magic Circle: If you are unfamiliar with the Magic Circle/Ring method you are welcome to chain 3, join, and crochet in the circle you created. If you would like to learn how to crochet the Magic Circle here is an awesome video tutorial. (V
Back Loop: Look at the top of your stitches and you will see that your HDC stitches make a “V” shape. Insert your hook under the side of the “V” that’s furthest from you. That is where you will make your HDC stitches.
Invisible Decrease (SC): Insert your hook into the front loop only of your stitch, swing your hook down and insert into the front loop of the next stitch. YO, pull through both loops, YO pull through both loops to complete the SC. Here is a YouTube video by June Gilbank
With your black yarn
Round 1: SC 6 into a magic circle. Join back into your first SC, CH 1. (6)
Pro Tip: I like to sew in my tail now so I don’t have to struggle to sew it in later.
Round 2: SC 6 into the Back Loop of the round 1 stitches. Switch to your green yarn when you join back into the first SC. CH 1.
Now using your green yarn and going under both loops again instead of the Back Loop Only.
You will be working in the round from this point on so do not join and chain at the end of each round, just going directly into the next round and use a stitch marker to mark where each round ends.
Round 3: SC in each stitch around. (6)
Round 4: Going directly into the top of the first SC in round 3, SC INC in each stitch around (12)
Pro Tip: Securely knot your green and black tails together after round 4. You don’t need to sew them in because they will be on the inside of your light.
Round 5: *SC INC, SC 3* around (15)
Round 6-7: SC 15 around (15)
Round 8: *DEC over the next two stitches, SC 3* around (12)
Round 9: *DEC over the next two stitches, SC 2* around (9)
Stuff your light with your polyfill.
Round 10: *DEC over the next two stitches, SC* around (6)
Slip stitch into the next stitch and cut your yarn leaving a 5-6 inch tail for closing and close your hole using your preferred method. I use the Magic Fasten Off method.
Thread your tail onto your tapestry needle, then insert your needle into the frontloop of the first single crochet closest to where you just tied off, then loosely pull your tail through. Insert your needle into the front loop of the next single crochet and loosely pull your tail through. Continue around with all single crochet stitches, then, when you get back to the beginning, pull your yarn tight so the hole closes completely.
Here is a video by MyntKat on YouTube. Skip to the 9:50 mark.
Tie in your tail and you’re finished! You will need 8 lights total. For my pillow, I made 2 red, 2 blue, 2 yellow and 2 lime green.
Light String
Using your black yarn and G hook, CH 100. Tie off.
Assembly
Lay your black chain over the right “shoulder” of your Crafty Cactus Pillow. Flip him over and attach the chain to the back of the pillow.
Thread the other end of your chain onto your tapestry needle and begin stringing on your lights. I used the pattern red, yellow, green, blue for my lights.
Adjust your lights where you want them to sit on your cactus pillow. Wrap your chain around to the back of your cactus and under the right “armpit”. Continue adding your lights.
Secure the end of you chain string to the back of the cactus. You can sew in your tails if you prefer, I didn’t on mine because no one is going to see the back and I can easily remove the lights when Christmas is over.
Add your Santa Hat and he’s all finished!!
I hope you guys love this pattern modification, I was super happy with how it turned out. if you make any Christmas Crafty Cactus Pillows Id love to see them! Shoot me a message on Facebook or Instagram and show me your skills! Or just #ACraftyConcept and I’ll see it. I love seeing you guys bring my patterns to life!
Happy Crocheting
❤️Ashley