St. Prickolaus the Amigurumi Christmas Cactus Crochet Pattern

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Day 9 of our 30 Days of Cozy brings us this amigurumi Christmas cactus crochet pattern. Well, it’s not really a Christmas cactus….it’s a Christmas-y cactus all dressed up like Santa! St. Prickolaus was designed by Ashley of The Loopy Lamb and is a companion to her Stanley the Cactus Snowman pattern released earlier in this series.

What a sweet way to decorate for the holidays, with these two cactus who long for winter. You’ll get the entire free pattern, below!

Photo of St. Prickolaus Cactus crocheted amigurumi

Are you ready to make your own?

TABLE OF CONTENTS (jump to section)

Materials

3.5 mm crochet hook
Worsted weight (size 4) yarn in green, brown, red, and white
6 mm safety eyes
polyester stuffing
scissors
tapestry needle
stitch marker

Stitches and Abbreviations

MC: magic circle
CH: chain
SC: single crochet
SCINC: single crochet increase
SCDEC: single crochet decrease
SLST: slip stitch
BLO: back loop only
FLO: front loop only
FO: finish off
ST(S): stitch(es)

Pattern Details

Skill Level: Intermediate
US Terminology
Measurement(s): Approximately 8” tall from bottom of soil to top of the hat once assembled.
No matter your skill level, I always suggest that you read through the pattern from beginning to end before beginning your work just to be sure you don’t have any questions that might cause frustration in the midst of your project.
Instructions within the brackets () are to be repeated the number of times specified next to the brackets.

Image of the crocheted St. Prickolaus Cactus wearing a Santa hat and red scarf

Saint Prickolaus Crochet Pattern

Soil

Row 1: Using brown yarn, make a MC and SC 6 into the MC (6)
Row 2: (SCINC) x 6 (12)
Row 3: (SCINC, SC 1) x 3 (18)
Row 4: SC, SCINC, (SC 2, SCINC) x 5, SC 1 (24)
Row 5: (SCINC, SC 3) x 6 (30)
Row 6: SC 2, SCINC (SC 4, SCINC) x 5, SC 2 (36)
Rows 7 – 16: SC around (36)
Row 17: SC 2, SCDEC (SC 4, SCDEC) x 5, SC 2 (30)
Row 18: (SCDEC, SC 3) x 6 (24)
Row 19: SC 1, SCDEC, (SC 2, SCDEC) x 5, SC 1 (18)
Row 20: (SCDEC, SC 1) x 6 (12)
Row 21: (SCDEC) x 6 (6)
FO and weave in ends.

Body

Row 1: Using green yarn, make a MC and SC 6 into the MC. (6)
Row 2: (SCINC) x 6 (12)
Row 3: (SCINC, SC 1) x 3 (18)
Row 4: SC 1, SCINC, (SC 2, SCINC) x 5, SC 1 (24)
Insert safety eyes in Row 9, with 2 stitches in between them. Stuff the body of the cactus as you go.
Rows 5 – 27: SC in each stitch around (24)
Row 28: SC 1 (SCDEC, SC 2) x 5, SCDEC, SC 1 (18)
FO and sew body onto the soil.

Arms (make 2)

Row 1: Using green yarn, make a MC and SC 6 into the MC. (6)
Row 2: (SCINC) x 6 (12)
Row 3: (SC 5, SCINC) x2 (14)
Rows 4 – 10: SC around (14)
Row 11: Stop working in rows. CH 1 and turn. SC in the first stitch. SC 6. (7)
FO leaving a long tail for sewing onto each side of the body.

Santa Hat

Using white yarn, CH 24. Join with a sl st to first ch to form a ring.
Row 1: CH 1. SC in the first stitch and in each stitch around. Join with a slip stitch. (24)
Row 2: CH 1. SC in the first stitch and in each stitch around. Join with a slip stitch. (24)
Switch to red yarn. The rest of the hat will be worked in rounds.
Row 3: In BLO, SC in each stitch around. (24)
Row 4: Working in both loops, SC in each stitch around. (24)
Row 5: (SC 6, SCDEC) x4 (21)
Row 6: SC in each stitch around. (21)
Row 7: (SC 5, SCDEC) x 3 (18)
Row 8: SC in each stitch around. (18)
Row 9: (SC 4, SCDEC) x 3 (15)
Row 10: SC in each stitch around. (15)
Row 11: (SC 3, SCDEC) x 3 (12)
Row 12: SC in each stitch around. (12)
Row 13: (SC 2, SCDEC) x 3 (9)
Row 14: SC in each stitch around. (9)
Row 15: (SC 1, SCDEC) x 3 (6)
Row 16: SC in each stitch around. (6)
FO leaving a long tail. Make a mini pompom and secure to the hat. Bend the top of the hat off to one side and use the tail to secure the tip of the hat to the side of the hat. Weave in your ends. Using a long piece of white yarn, sew the hat onto the top of the cactus body.

Scarf

Using red yarn, CH 61.
Row 1: SC in the 2^nd stitch from the hook and in each stitch across. CH1 and turn. (60)
Row 2: In FLO, SC in the first stitch and in each stitch across. (60)
FO and weave in ends. Wrap the scarf around the cactus body, just above the arms and sew onto the body at the point where the scarf crosses over itself.