# DIY Christmas Cactus With Trunk Free Crochet Pattern
Here is a wonderful one for practicing your fundamentals! This DIY Christmas cactus grows from a sturdy little trunk, just like a real mature plant, and you only need to be comfortable with four stitches: chain, single crochet, slip stitch, and half-double crochet. That is it. If you are newer to crochet and want a project that builds real skills while making something adorable, this is your plant.
I love the trunk detail — it gives the whole piece such a charming, slightly whimsical look, like a tiny tree showing off its holiday blooms.
What You’ll Need
- Worsted weight yarn in leaf green (about 200 yards) and brown (about 50 yards)
- Small amounts of red and yellow yarn for the flowers
- Size G (4.0 mm) crochet hook
- A 4-inch pot
- Tapestry needle
- Polyester fiberfill
Finished size: Approximately 11 inches tall including the trunk, in a 4-inch pot.
The Pattern
Trunk
With brown yarn, chain 13.
Row 1: SC in the 2nd chain from the hook and in each chain across, chain 1, turn. (12 SC)
Rows 2–10: SC in each stitch across, chain 1, turn. (12 SC)
Fold the rectangle in half lengthwise and slip stitch the long edges together to form a tube. Stuff lightly with fiberfill. Fasten off.
Segments (Make 30)
Chain 8. SC in the 2nd chain from the hook, SC in the next 5 chains, 3 SC in the last chain. Working down the other side: SC in the next 5 chains, 2 SC in the last chain, join with a slip stitch. (16 SC)
Round 2:
- Chain 1, SC in the next 6 stitches, 2 SC in each of the next 3 stitches, SC in the next 5 stitches, 2 SC in each of the next 2 stitches, join with a slip stitch. (22 SC)
Fasten off, leaving a 6-inch tail for joining.
Branches (Make 9)
Sew segments end to end:
- 3 branches of 4 segments
- 4 branches of 3 segments
- 2 branches of 2 segments
Flowers (Make 8)
With red yarn, make a magic ring.
Round 1: Chain 2 (counts as HDC), work 9 HDC into the ring, join with a slip stitch. (10 HDC)
Round 2: *Chain 2, HDC in the next stitch, chain 2, slip stitch in the next stitch*, repeat from * to * 5 times. (5 petals)
With yellow, chain 5, slip stitch back down the chain, and sew into the flower center for a simple stamen. Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.
Soil Disc
With brown yarn, make a magic ring, chain 1, work 10 SC into the ring, join with a slip stitch. (10 SC)
Round 2: Chain 1, 2 SC in each stitch, join. (20 SC)
Round 3: Chain 1, *SC in the next stitch, 2 SC in the next*, repeat around, join. (30 SC)
Fasten off.
Assembly
1. Fill the pot with fiberfill, press the soil disc on top, and sew the trunk upright in the center of the disc.
2. Sew the 4-segment branches to the top of the trunk, fanning them outward.
3. Add the 3-segment branches around the trunk top, then the 2-segment branches lower down for a tiered look.
4. Sew the red flowers to the branch tips. Step back, admire, repeat.
Sophie’s Tips
- Keep your trunk stitches nice and firm — a wobbly trunk makes a wobbly plant. Going down a hook size for the trunk helps.
- This is the perfect pattern for practicing stitch consistency, since every segment is identical. By segment 30 you will be a pro.
- Try the flowers in white or pink to use up scraps — the pattern works in any bloom color.
Four stitches, one adorable plant — you have totally got this!
