Cactus Pincushion

This is the second of two posts sharing a fun crochet project with you. (The projects were previously published on Creative Rox website which has been taken down so I thought I'd share them again with you here)

January is a great time of year for crafting. And I enjoy an evening spent, warm and cosy with my latest project on my lap. Whilst doing so, I don’t know about you, but I’m forever mislaying pins and needles! I love cacti and have a growing collection on my kitchen windowsill, so I thought what better way to store my pins and needles than a cactus pincushion.

Cactus pincushion

You will need:
3.5mm hook
DK cotton yarn in green, orange and pink (1 ball of each in 25g or 50g balls)
Stuffing

Abbreviations (UK terms):
ch – chain
blo - back loop only
dc – double crochet
flo - front loop only
htr – half treble
st(s) – stitch(es)
sl st – slip stitch
trcl – 3 treble cluster as follows: 
Yarn over hook (yoh), insert hook through first st, yoh, pull through, yoh and pull through first two loops leaving two loops on hook. Yoh, insert hook through same st, yoh, pull through, yoh and pull through first two loops leaving three loops on hook. Yoh, insert hook through same st, yoh, pull through, yoh and pull through first two loops leaving four loops on hook. Yoh pull through all four loops. Cluster made.


Cactus
Using green make 18ch
Row 1: 1htr in third ch from hook (first 2ch does not count as a st throughout), 15htr, turn. (16sts)
Working in back loops throughout. 
Rows 2 to 20: 2ch, 16htr blo, turn.
Fasten off.
Sew panel together along short edges, joining row 1 to row 20, through back loops leaving front loops un-stitched.
Gather the top of the cactus together with a length of yarn and weave in ends securely to ensure it doesn’t come undone. Stuff and then do the same for the bottom.

Flower
Using orange make 2ch
Centre: 6dc in second ch from hook, sl st to first st. Fasten off
Petals: Join pink to any st, * 2ch, trcl in same st, 2ch, sl st in next st, repeat from * until 6 petals made.
Fasten off. 
Sew flower to top of cactus. Weave in ends.
Pot
Using orange make 2ch
Work in continuous rounds throughout
Round 1: 6dc in second ch from hook. (6sts)
Round 2: 2dc in each st around. (12sts)
Round 3: (dc, 2dc in next st) six times. (18sts)
Round 4: (2dc, 2dc in next st) six times. (24sts)
Round 5: (3dc, 2dc in next st) six times. (30sts)
Round 6: (4dc, 2dc in next st) six times. (36sts)
Round 7: 36dc blo. 
Rounds 8 to 12: Working in both loops, 36dc. 
Round 13: 36dc flo. 
Round 14: Working in both loops, 36dc. 
Fasten off.
Stuff pot lightly (you can add a small circle of stiff card into base of pot for stability if required) and sew to bottom of cactus stitching between rows 12 and 13 of pot, then fold down edge of pot at round 13 to form rim. Weave in ends.
Add pins and there it is your cactus pincushion. 

Hope you like it!

I'd love to see your makes, tag me in a post on Instagram, you can find me @flo_and_dot  #floanddot. 

Thanks Sarah-Jane :)