A4 PDF: materials, every round with a tick box, assembly and face
Free crochet cactus pattern: a Cactus Wants a Hug amigurumi, about 15 cm tall in DK yarn with a 2.5 mm hook. The cactus is a green plush column in a terracotta pot, with cream spines, a pink flower on top, hopeful eyes, a small smile and two short arms reaching out for a hug.
You need about 90 m of yarn: 30 m green, 20 m terracotta, 15 m pink, 10 m salmon, 5 m dark brown, 5 m light pink and 5 m yellow. Plan on roughly 3 hours.
A cuddly plant that never needs watering: a good gift for a plant lover, a housewarming present or a friendly desk buddy. You can spin the 3D model and follow the round-by-round pattern.
How to crochet the Cactus Wants a Hug
Beginner-friendly · 15 cm tall · about 3 h · DK yarn · 2.5 mm hook
Crochet the 8 pieces in rounds: Pot, Cactus, Arm ×2, Cheek ×2, Flower, Flower centre (71 rounds in all).
Stuff and put it together in 6 steps; each one lights up where it goes on the 3D model.
Add the face: safety eyes by round and stitch, or embroider them for a child under 3.
Every round with its stitch count is in the Pattern tab below, and in the free printable PDF.
1 sc ≈ 4 mm wide, 1 round ≈ 3.6 mm tall (10 cm ≈ 25 sc × 28 rounds); yarn about 1.9 mm thick. The gauge sets the size of the toy; crochet tightly so the stuffing does not show.
Worked in
Continuous spiral rounds. Don't join. Move a stitch marker up every round.
Size before assembly: about 7 cm at the widest, 7.4 cm long; 27 rounds.
Change to salmon (pull it through on the last yarn-over of R16).
Change to dark brown (pull it through on the last yarn-over of R20).
→ Start stuffing (firmly) and keep adding as you decrease.
Top up the stuffing if needed. Fasten off leaving a 15 cm tail; with the needle weave it through the front loops of all 6 stitches of the last round, pull tight and hide the end inside.
Size before assembly: about 5 cm at the widest, 8.3 cm long; 24 rounds.
Fasten off leaving a long tail (30–40 cm) for sewing.
Insert the safety nose/eyes now, while the piece is open (positions: see “Face”).
Stuff firmly just before sewing it on; a little less near the edge, then add a pinch when the seam is nearly done.
Size before assembly: about 1.3 cm at the widest, 3.8 cm long; 11 rounds.
Fasten off leaving a long tail (30–40 cm) for sewing.
Stuff lightly just before sewing it on; a little less near the edge, then add a pinch when the seam is nearly done.
A flat circle about 1.5 cm across; 2 rounds.
Fasten off leaving a long tail (30–40 cm) for sewing.
Do not stuff.
Flat motif — lobed (lobes round a magic ring, worked in rounds, one layer of fabric), about 4.9 × 5 cm; 5 rows.
Fasten off leaving a long tail (~30 cm) for sewing. Do not stuff. Weave in the starting tail, pin the motif out to shape on a soft surface and steam it lightly.
A flat circle about 1.5 cm across; 2 rounds.
Fasten off leaving a long tail (30–40 cm) for sewing.
Do not stuff.
Safety eyes and noses go in before the piece is stuffed and closed (see the pieces above); embroidery is easier before the piece is sewn on.
Safety eyes with a printed glint 12 mm (on the cactus): in round 13, 5 st apart (count along round 13: about 2.4 st each side of the centre front line).
Embroidery in brown thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 15 and 16, 1 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ) → (in round 16, 0.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ) → (in round 16, on the centre front line ) → (in round 16, 0.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ) → (between rounds 15 and 16, 1 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 7 and 8, 5.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ) → (between rounds 8 and 9, 5.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 7 and 8, 5.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ) → (between rounds 8 and 9, 5.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 7 and 8, 5.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ) → (between rounds 8 and 9, 5.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 7 and 8, 5.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ) → (between rounds 8 and 9, 5.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 9 and 10, 10 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ) → (between rounds 10 and 11, 10 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 9 and 10, 10 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ) → (between rounds 10 and 11, 10 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 9 and 10, 10 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ) → (between rounds 10 and 11, 10 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 9 and 10, 10 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ) → (between rounds 10 and 11, 10 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (in round 12, 6.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ) → (in round 13, 6.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (in round 12, 6.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ) → (in round 13, 6.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (in round 12, 6.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ) → (in round 13, 6.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (in round 12, 6.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ) → (in round 13, 6.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 16 and 17, 10 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ) → (between rounds 17 and 18, 10 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 16 and 17, 10 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ) → (between rounds 17 and 18, 10 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 16 and 17, 10 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ) → (between rounds 17 and 18, 10 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 16 and 17, 10 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ) → (between rounds 17 and 18, 10 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 18 and 19, 5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ) → (between rounds 19 and 20, 5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 18 and 19, 5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ) → (between rounds 19 and 20, 5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 18 and 19, 5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ) → (between rounds 19 and 20, 5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 18 and 19, 5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ) → (between rounds 19 and 20, 5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (in round 20, 3 st from the centre back line, toward the toy's left ) → (in round 21, 3 st from the centre back line, toward the toy's left ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (in round 20, 3 st from the centre back line, toward the toy's left ) → (in round 21, 3 st from the centre back line, toward the toy's left ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (in round 20, 3 st from the centre back line, toward the toy's right ) → (in round 21, 3 st from the centre back line, toward the toy's right ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (in round 20, 3 st from the centre back line, toward the toy's right ) → (in round 21, 3 st from the centre back line, toward the toy's right ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 10 and 11, 3 st from the centre back line, toward the toy's left ) → (between rounds 11 and 12, 3 st from the centre back line, toward the toy's left ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 10 and 11, 3 st from the centre back line, toward the toy's left ) → (between rounds 11 and 12, 3 st from the centre back line, toward the toy's left ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 10 and 11, 3 st from the centre back line, toward the toy's right ) → (between rounds 11 and 12, 3 st from the centre back line, toward the toy's right ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 10 and 11, 3 st from the centre back line, toward the toy's right ) → (between rounds 11 and 12, 3 st from the centre back line, toward the toy's right ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 7 and 8, on the centre back line ) → (between rounds 8 and 9, on the centre back line ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 7 and 8, on the centre back line ) → (between rounds 8 and 9, on the centre back line ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 14 and 15, on the centre back line ) → (between rounds 15 and 16, on the centre back line ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 14 and 15, on the centre back line ) → (between rounds 15 and 16, on the centre back line ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 3 and 4, 2 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ) → (between rounds 4 and 5, 3 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 3 and 4, 2 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ) → (between rounds 4 and 5, 2.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 3 and 4, 2 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ) → (between rounds 4 and 5, 2.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 3 and 4, 2 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ) → (between rounds 4 and 5, 3 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 3 and 4, 2 st from the centre back line, toward the toy's left ) → (between rounds 4 and 5, 2.5 st from the centre back line, toward the toy's left ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 3 and 4, 2 st from the centre back line, toward the toy's left ) → (between rounds 4 and 5, 3 st from the centre back line, toward the toy's left ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 3 and 4, 2 st from the centre back line, toward the toy's right ) → (between rounds 4 and 5, 3 st from the centre back line, toward the toy's right ).
Embroidery in cream thread (on the cactus), straight stitches through: (between rounds 3 and 4, 2 st from the centre back line, toward the toy's right ) → (between rounds 4 and 5, 2.5 st from the centre back line, toward the toy's right ).
× scV incΛ dec
Abbreviations
MR
magic ring
sc
single crochet
inc
2 sc in the same stitch
dec
single crochet two stitches together (invisible decrease recommended)
