Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: 15” / [38.1 cm] x 12.5” / [31.8 cm] x 4” / [10.2 cm] after stuffing

Gauge: 14 sts and 16 rows = 4” [10 cm]

Materials

Yarn: Yarn Bee Soft & Sleek (100% Acrylic; 258 yards [236 meters]/142 grams):            101 Ivory (C1, 2 skeins), 310 Green Apple (C2, 1 skein)

Hobby Lobby I Love this Cotton! (100% Cotton; 180 Yards [165 meters]/85 grams): 314 Mango (C3, 1 skein)

Hook: US size G/6 (4.0 mm)

Notions: Tapestry needle, 8 oz / [226.8 grams] polyester filling

Special Stitches

Dec – Work 1 st over next 2 (or 3) sts.

Inc – work 2 sts in next st.

Pattern Notes

This pattern is worked flat in rows.

The cactus is made up of 5 different crochet patterns. When each separate piece is finished, arrange them so that they resemble Image 2.

Pattern

Pillow Sides (with C1 make 2)

Row 1: Ch 58, sk first ch from hook, sc in next 57 ch, ch 1, turn. (57 sts)

Row 2: Sc in each 57 st across, ch 1, turn. (57 sts)

Rep Row 2, 48 more times for a total of 50 rows.

Fasten off.

Cactus (with C2 make 10 total)

Cactus A (make 1)

Row 1: Ch 5, sk first ch from hook, sc in next 4 ch, ch 1, turn. (4 sts)

Row 2: Inc, sc in next 3 sc, ch 1, turn. (5 sts)

Row 3: Inc, sc in next 4 sc, ch 1, turn. (6 sts)

Row 4: Inc, sc in next 5 sc, ch 1, turn. (7 sts)

Row 5: Inc, sc in next 6 sc, ch 1, turn. (8 sts)

Row 6: Inc, sc in next 7 sc, ch 1, turn. (9 sts)

Row 7: Inc, sc in next 8 sc, ch 1, turn. (10 sts)

Row 8: Inc, sc in next 9 sc, ch 1, turn. (11 sts)

Row 9: Inc, sc in next 10 sc, ch 1, turn. (12 sts)

Row 10: Inc, sc in next 11 sc, ch 1, turn. (13 sts)

Rows 11-16: Sc in next 13 sc, ch 1, turn. (13 sts)

Row 17: Dec, sc in next 11 sc, ch 1, turn. (12 sts)

Row 18: Dec, sc in next 10 sc, ch 1, turn. (11 sts)

Row 19: Dec, sc in next 7 sc, dec, ch 1, turn. (9 sts)

Row 20: Dec, sc in next 5 sc, dec, ch 1, turn. (7 sts)

Row 21: Dec, sc in next 3 sc, dec, ch 1, turn. (5 sts)

Row 22: Dec, sc in next sc, dec, ch 1, turn. (3 sts)

Fasten off.

Cactus B (make 1)

Row 1: Ch 4, sk first ch from hook, sc in next 3 ch, ch 1, turn. (3 sts)

Row 2: Inc, sc in next sc, inc, ch 1, turn (5 sts)

Row 3: Sc in next 5 sc, ch 1, turn. (5 sts)

Row 4: Inc, sc in next 4 sc, ch 1, turn. (6 sts)

Row 5: Inc, sc in next 5 sc, ch 1, turn. (7 sts)

Row 6: Inc, sc in next 5 sc, inc, ch 1, turn. (9 sts)

Row 7: Inc, sc in next 8 sc, ch 1, turn. (10 sts)

Row 8: Inc, sc in next 9 sc, ch 1, turn. (11 sts)

Row 9: Inc, sc in next 10 sc, ch 1, turn. (12 sts)

Rows 10-11: Sc in next 12 sc, ch 1, turn. (12 sts)

Row 12: Dec, sc in next 10 sc, ch 1, turn. (11 sts)

Row 13: Dec, sc in next 9 sc, ch 1, turn. (10 sts)

Row 14: Dec, sc in next 2 sc, dec, sc in next 2 sc, dec, ch 1, turn. (7 sts)

Row 15: Dec, sc in next 3 sc, dec, ch 1, turn. (5 sts)

Row 16: Dec, sc in next sc, dec, ch 1, turn. (3 sts)

Fasten off.

Cactus C (make 3)

Row 1: Ch 4, sk first ch from hook, sc in next 3 ch, ch 1, turn. (3 sts)

Row 2: Inc, sc in next 2 sc, ch 1, turn. (4 sts)

Row 3: Inc, sc in next 3 sc, ch 1, turn. (5 sts)

Row 4: Inc, sc in next 4 sc, ch 1, turn. (6 sts)

Row 5: Inc, sc in next 5 sc, ch 1, turn. (7 sts)

Row 6: Inc, sc in next 6 sc, ch 1, turn. (8 sts)

Row 7: Inc, sc in next 7 sc, ch 1, turn. (9 sts)

Rows 8-9: Sc in next 9 sc, ch 1, turn. (9 sts)

Row 10: Dec, sc in next 5 sc, dec, ch 1, turn. (7 sts)

Row 11: Dec, sc in next 3 sc, dec, ch 1, turn. (5 sts)

Row 12: Dec, sc in next sc, dec, ch 1, turn. (3 sts)

Fasten off.

Cactus D (make 3)

Row 1: Ch 3, sk first ch from hook, sc in next 2 ch, ch 1, turn. (2 sts)

Row 2: Inc, sc in next sc, ch 1, turn. (3 sts)

Row 3: Inc, sc in next 2 sc, ch 1, turn. (4 sts)

Row 4: Inc, sc in next 3 sc, ch 1, turn. (5 sts)

Row 5: Sc in next 5 sc, ch 1, turn. (5 sts)

Row 6: Dec, sc in next sc, dec, ch 1, turn. (3 sts)

Row 7: Dec over next 3 sc, ch 1, turn. (1 sts)

Fasten off.

Cactus E (make 2)

Row 1: Ch 4, sk first ch from hook, sc in next 3 ch, ch 1, turn. (3 sts)

Row 2: Inc, sc in next 2 sc, ch 1, turn. (3 sts)

Row 3: Inc, sc in next 3 sc, ch 1, turn. (5 sts)

Row 4: Inc, sc in next 4 sc, ch 1, turn. (6 sts)

Row 5: Sc in next 6 sc, ch 1, turn. (6 sts)

Row 6: Sc in next 5 sc, inc, ch 1, turn. (7 sts)

Row 7: Sc in next 7 sc, ch 1, turn. (7 sts)

Row 8: Inc, sc in next 6 sc, ch 1, turn. (8 sts)

Row 9: Inc, sc in next 7 sc, ch 1, turn. (9 sts)

Row 10: Inc, sc in next 8 sc, ch 1, turn. (10 sts)

Row 11: Dec, dec, sc in next 2 sc, dec, dec, ch 1, turn. (6 sts)

Row 12: Dec, dec, dec, ch 1, turn. (3 sts)

Row 13: Dec, sc, ch 1, turn. (2 sts)

Fasten off.

Finishing

Embroidery (with C1)

Do a running stitch across each cactus. (see Image 1)

Assembling the cactus

Stitch each piece onto one side of the pillow. (see Image 2)

Tassels (with C3 make 10)

Wrap yarn around 3 fingers 16 times. Use a longer piece of yarn to tie the loop together. Trim the other ends of the yarn. Each tassel should be about a 0.5” long.

Fasten them onto the pillow (see Image 2)

Assembly

Line up the pillow pieces with wrong side up. You will be working through corresponding stitches on both sides.

Stitch up three sides of the pillow. (see Image 3)

Turn the pillow inside out – the right side of the pillow will now be facing you. Stuff the pillow with polyester stuffing. Sew the last edge of the pillow together.