Back in November, I designed a Christmas version of my Crafty Cactus Pillow. I made him a cute little santa hat and wrapped him with a string of crocheted Christmas lights. When my husband saw it he said “you should do one with a scarf around its neck”. BOOM! Snowman cactus inspiration.

To turn a Crafty Cactus Pillow into a Snowman Cactus Pillow, first you will need the origional Crafty Cactus Pillow pattern. You can find that HERE on Etsy or HERE on Ravelry for $5. Here is what you will need to make the snowman bits.

Materials
Size G crochet hook. I used a Clover Amour hook, my favorite hook brand ever.
2oz of worsted weight scarf yarn. I used I Love This Yarn in the color Red.
2oz of Black worsted weight yarn. I used I Love This Yarn in the color Black
Tapestry Needle
A few sewing pins
Scissors

Stitch Key (US Terms) 
HDC = Half Double Crochet
CH = Chain
DC= Double Crochet
INC= Increase (Put two stitches in the same space. (In this case, it will be two HDC stitches).
SS= Slip Stitch
*= 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.

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. 

Front 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 closest to you. That is where you will make your HDC stitches. 

Let’s start with the Scarf

Finished scarf dimentions are 23.5 inches long (not counting fringe) by 2 Inches wide.

With your red yarn (or whichever color you chose for your scarf)
CH 11

Row 1: Skip the first two chains closest to your hook, DC in the next 9 CH spaces. CH 2 and turn your work.

Row 2-27: DC 9. CH 2, turn your work.

Fringe
Cut 18, 6 inch pieces of yarn for your fringe. Insert your hook into the first stitch of row 47. Fold one of the 6″ stripes in half and pull the center of the strip through the stitch of row 47. Wrap your hook around the tails of the strip of yarn (while leaving the loop you just created on the hook) and pull them through the loop to create a knot. Repeat for all 9 stitches in row 47 and row 1.

Trim if needed.

Snowman Hat

Finished hat dimensions are about 3.5 inches wide by 3.5 inches tall.

With your black yarn
Round 1: HDC 10 into a magic circle. (Video link provided under special stitches)
Join into the top of the first HDC, CH 1. (10)

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Round 2: HDC INC in each stitch around. Join into the top of the first HDC, CH 1. (20)

Round 3: HDC, HDC INC* around. Join into the top of the first HDC, CH 1. (30)

Round 4: HDC in the Back Loop Only of each stitch around. Join into the top of the first HDC, CH 1. (30)

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Round 5: HDC in each stitch around. Join into the top of the first HDC, CH 1. (30) Switch to red yarn but don’t cut off your black just yet.

With your red yarn,
Round 6: HDC in each stitch around. Join into the top of the first HDC, CH 1. (30)

• 

Round 7: HDC in each stitch around. Join into the top of the first HDC, CH 1. (30) Switch back to black yarn.

With your black yarn,
Round 8: HDC Front Loop Only in the next 2 stitches, HDC INC Front Loop Only* around. Join into the top of the first HDC, CH 1. Turn your work. (40)

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Round 9: HDC in the next 3 stitches, HDC INC* around. Join into the top of the first HDC. Tie off (50)

Sew in all your tails.

Buttons: Make 2

Finished button dimension is about 1 inch in diameter.

With your black yarn
Round 1: HDC 10 into a magic circle. (Video link provided under special stitches)
Join into the top of the first HDC, Tie off leaving a long tail (about 12 inches). (10)

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Sew in your first tail but leave the long tail for attaching your buttons to the pillow.

Assembly

Start by attaching the Scarf.

Lay your scarf around the neck of the cactus, cross the two ends of the scarf, one over the other, and adjust the scarf so it is on the right side of the cactus.

Use your red yarn and tapestry needle to stitch a couple stitches to keep the scarf crossed. If you don’t want your scarf to be removable you can stitch it onto the back of the cactus with a few whip stitches on the top and bottom of the scarf.

Im keeping my scarf detached so I can change it if I want.

Buttons
Next, use two sewing pins and pin your buttons centered on the belly of the cactus.

Using your tapestry needle, whip stitch around the button then tie off and sew in your tail. Repeat for the other button. You can remove the pins after the buttons are secure.

Hat
Place your hat on the left side of the Cactus’s head. Using your black yarn and a tapestry needle begin to attach your hat by going into the body of the cactus and out the top of the base of the hat, then back down the hat into the body of the pillow.

Continue this way all around the hat. Be sure to keep adjusting your hat as you go so it doesn’t end up being squished or conky-whompas.

Once you get back to the beginning, tie your tails in a knot and sew in your ends.

TADA! Now you have a super cute and ready for winter Cactus pillow!! I just love this little guy, he’s so adorable! If you make a Snowman Crafty Cactus pillow be sure to tag me on social media so I can see your sweet crochet skills and share them on my platforms!

❤️Ashley