When Creativebug asked me to come in and shoot an Easter-themed project on their Facebook livestream, I wanted to bring something just a little bit unconventional. I have a tiny love/hate relationship with the cactus/succulent trend in the craft world, so I decided to embrace it and make some cactus-themed egg cozies. I love how they turned out, and the pattern is so easy! It’s a colorful cactus egg-stravaganza (and really the perfect hiding spot for your Easter egg hunt)!
I totally can’t wait to see all your individual takes on this project. I know you’ll have a lot of fun with it! You can also easily use this pattern to make a lil cactus that doesn’t have to have an egg inside.
I made a PDF for you, and here’s the link! Pattern and photos are below, too!
If you want to watch me do this live and be totally dorky at Creativebug HQ… here is the link! (I think?!)
What You’ll Need
You have a few options for the design of your cactus. Start with the Cactus Base. Then, decide whether you want flowers or a dramatic ball (ruby ball cactus) on top!
Yarn for Cactus Base
– Worsted weight yarn in Green, such as Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice in Fern – approx. 12 yards
Yarn for Flower
– Light worsted weight or aran weight yarn in Pink, such as Cascade 220 in Cotton Candy – approx. 2 yards per flower
– You can also use one or several small pompoms instead, attached with hot glue.
Yarn for Ball
– Worsted weight yarn in Red, such as Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice in Scarlet – approx. 10 yards – plus a small amount of polyester stuffing
– You can also use a large pompom instead, attached with hot glue.
H8/5.00mm hook
scissors
tapestry needle
small terracotta pot
an egg
excelsior or some type of supportive filler that can bear the weight of an egg
optional: for spines, you can use embroidery thread secured with Fray Check, or tiny 5mm pompoms secured with FabriTac, even toothpick tips attached with GemTac.
optional: to temporarily secure the cozy to your egg, try a few glue dots.
Gauge
Gauge is not super important since this pattern easily adjusts to the weight of your yarn and the size of your egg.
Abbreviations (U.S. Terms)
BLO – back loops only
ch (s) – chain(s)
sc – single crochet
sk – skip
sl st- slip stitch
st(s) – stitch(es)
[ ] – repeat everything inside the bracket as many times indicated
Cactus Base
– With Green, ch a length to match the desired height of your cozy, e.g. ch 10. Use your egg as a model!
Row 1: Sk 1st ch, sc evenly across. – 9 sts
Row 2: Ch 1, turn. In BLO, sc evenly across. – 9 sts
– Repeat Row 2 until your rectangle has enough rows to fit around your egg, e.g. 20 rows. An even number of rows will look a bit prettier than an odd number.
– Sl st first and last rows together to form a tube. (You can also break off and sew the tube together.)
– Break off leaving about 12 inches of yarn for sewing.
– To close the top of the tube, use tapestry needle to weave yarn tail in and out of every other row. Pull tight and tie securely.
– Weave in all ends.
– Turn inside out to hide the seam inside the cozy.
Cactus Flower
– With Pink, ch 8.
Row 1: Sk 1st ch, sc evenly across. – 7 sts
Row 2: Ch 6, turn, sl st to 1st st, [ch 6, sl st to next st] 6 times. – 49 sts
– Break off leaving approx. 12 inches of yarn for sewing.
– Thread tapestry needle onto yarn tail and roll the base of the flower (Row 1) while sewing the roll together. All the ch-6’s are your petals and will remain free. After finishing with rolling and sewing, I also like to sew down the bottom half of the edge of the outermost petal to keep the flower together.
Ball
– With Red, ch a length that equals about 75% of the chs you worked for Cactus Base, e.g. ch 8.
– Then, basically recreate a rectangle like the one you made for Cactus Base, except this rectangle will be fewer sts tall and more rows long.
Row 1: Sk 1st ch, sc evenly across. – 7 sts
Row 2: Ch 1, turn. In BLO, sc evenly across. – 7 sts
– Repeat Row 2 until your rectangle is a few rows longer than Cactus Base, e.g. 22 rows.
– Break of leaving approx. 12 inches of yarn for sewing.
– Close top of tube as you did with Cactus Base, tie off yarn end, and turn inside out.
– Stuff lightly.
– String another 12 inches of yarn onto tapestry needle and close the other end of the tube the same way.
Assembly
– Sew your as many flowers as you like to Cactus Base, or sew one big Ball on top.
– You can also experiment with any kind of cactus-y decorations here, like toothpick tips, mini pompoms, or embroidery thread for tiny spines! I secured my embroidery thread spins with Fray Check. Not only did it act as a “glue” to secure the small tassel, but it also made the spines a bit stiff without looking too shiny or gluey.
– Put excelsior or other supportive stuffing into a small terracotta pot. I make a small nest for the egg to sit in.
– Place the cozy on your egg. If you want the cozy to stay on more securely, use glue dots for a temporary hold.
– Place cozy and egg into pot, and you’re finished!
