Free Crochet Pattern: Flowering Cactoid from FFXII

[muladhara]

This pattern is written using UK terms, although I have provided the US terms in the abbreviations section. There are more pictures under the cut at the end of the pattern, so that there is reference for what the finished article should look like.

To make the cactoid, you will need:

Olive green yarn (approx 50g)
Oddments of red and yellow yarn
Scraps of yellow and black felt
Dark green embroidery thread/yarn
Fabric glue
Stuffing

3.5mm (US E/4) crochet hook
Darning or wool needle
Embroidery needle
Stitch marker

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Abbreviations:

CH = chain
SS = slip stitch
DC = double crochet (single crochet)
HTR = half treble (half double crochet)
TR = treble (double crochet)
DTR = double treble (treble crochet)

tog = together (e.g. 2dc tog = 2dc together = a decrease over two stitches)

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Pattern

Body:

1. With the olive yarn, make a slip knot, and crochet 6dc into it. Place marker in last dc and pull loop tightly. (6dc)

2. 2dc into each dc (12dc)

3. 1dc into the next dc, 2dc into the following dc. Repeat five more times (18dc)

4. 2dc into the next two dc, 2dc into the following dc. Repeat five more times (24dc)

5. 3dc into the next three dc, 2dc into the following dc. Repeat five more times (30dc)

6. 4dc into the next four dc, 2dc into the following dc. Repeat five more times (36dc)

7 - 31. 1dc in each dc of the round (36dc)

32. Stuff the body firmly.

33. Divide the round in half, using the stitch marker. The midpoint should be at 18st.

34. 1dc in each dc from the stitch marker, until you return to the same point on the opposite side. Make one dc across in the same place as the stitch marker. This is the division for the legs.

35. 1dc in each dc (18dc)

36. 2dc in next two dc, 2dc tog in following dc. Repeat five more times. (12dc)

37. Stuff leg.

38. 1dc in next dc, 2dc tog. Repeat five more times. (6dc)

39. 2dc tog six times (3dc)

40. Fasten off and cut yarn. Weave end in.

41. Join yarn next to stitch marker and repeat steps 34 - 40 to form the second leg.


Arms:

1. Make a slip knot, and crochet 6dc into it. Place stitch marker and pull loop tightly. (6dc)

2. 2dc in each dc of the round (12dc)

3 - 5. 1dc in each dc of the round (12dc)

6. 1dc in next dc, 2dc in the following dc. Repeat five more times. (18dc)

7 - 8. 1dc in each dc of the round (18dc)

9. 1dc in next dc, 2dc tog. Repeat five more times. (12dc)

10 - 12. 1dc in each dc of the round (12dc)

13. 2dc in next two dc, 2dc tog. Repeat twice more. (9dc)

14 - 23. 1dc in each dc of the round.

24. Fasten off, and cut yarn, leaving a long enough tail so that the arm can be sewn onto the body.

25. Repeat these steps to make a second arm.


Flower:

1. Using the yellow yarn, make a slip knot, and crochet 1 dc, 2ch, 11tr into the loop. Slip stitch join to the second ch of two.

2. 1ch, 1dc around the ch on previous round, then 1dc around the stem of each stitch on the previous round.

Join red yarn in, and cut off yellow yarn.

3. 1 ch, 1dc in the same place as the join, 2ch. *skip 1dc, 1dc in nxt dc, 2ch*. Repeat five more times. SS to join in first dc.

4. SS in first 2ch space, *1dc, 4tr, 1dc* in each 2ch sp. SS in first dc to join.

5. 1 ch. Take hook around and behind first ring of petals. SS in first missed dc of 2nd roundd, 1ch, 1dc in same place as ss. 3ch *1dc in nxt missed dc of 2nd rd, 3ch*. Repeat five more times. SS in first dc.

6. SS in first 3ch space. 1ch, *1dc, 2tr, 2dtr, 2tr, 1dc* in each 3ch space. SS in first dc.

7. Fasten off, leaving enough yarn to attach to top of head.



Making Up:

Weave in all ends that are not being used to attach pieces to the main body, if you have not already done so.

Cut out two ellipse shapes from the yellow felt, and make sure they are appropriate size to the body - these will be the eyes. With the black felt, cut another ellipse shape, although slightly longer than the eyes - this is the mouth. Using fabric glue, glue to the body in the correct positions, and leave to dry.

(Optional: when the glue is dry, thread a needle with two strands of dark green embroidery thread, and sew back stitch around the outside of the eyes)

Thread a blunt ended needle with dark green embroidery thread (do not split as you would normally do, otherwise the details will not be visible when finished). Starting at the head, sew a line of back stitch down to the bottom. Cut the thread, and repeat five more times at roughly even intervals around the body.

Do the same on the arms, but only four times around the entirety of the arm.

Attach the arms to the body at roughly the thirteenth round (if you don't know how to count crochet rounds, or find it confusing, don't worry - you want the bottoms of the arms to come down longer than the bottoms of the legs. As long as they appear like that, it's OK c: ) Make sure they are even, and sew to the body.

Finally, attach the flower to the top of the head.

Voila! One flowering cactoid.





Notes:

The pattern for the flower was taken from "201 Crochet Motifs, Blocks, Projects and Ideas" by Melody Griffiths.

If you have any problems or queries about this pattern, please leave a comment or send me a message, and I will do my best to help you out.