There’s something about cacti, that I am always drawn to! I love how they are so versatile and have so many different types! If you love cacti too, then you are going to love the cactus stitch! This unique textured crochet color work stitch pattern is made using tapestry or intarsia crochet, and looks amazing on any project!
Want to save this stitch for later? Save it to your favorite Pinterest Board! (Save it from mine here!)
Before you begin
Before we get to the Cactus Stitch, if you’re new to crochet color work, I’ve got two great tutorials here on my blog to teach you! I know that crochet color work can seem really intimidating, but trust me, once you get started on it, you won’t want to stop! All it takes is learning how to change colors, and you can make whatever color work pattern you want.
Depending on how far apart your cactus stitches are, you can use either tapestry or intarsia crochet to make this stitch pattern. If your cacti are close together, then tapestry crochet is just the technique you’ll want to use. If they are more spread apart, then intarsia crochet will work better since you won’t carry the yarn. I have tutorials for both techniques here on my blog. For tapestry crochet, you can check out: The Beginner’s Guide to Tapestry Crochet. If you’d rather use intarsia crochet, you can find a tutorial for that at: The Beginner’s Guide to Intarsia Crochet.
I’ve also created a video tutorial for this pattern! You can find it on my Youtube channel at: Cactus Stitch Crochet Tutorial.
Stitch Exploration Event
This crochet stitch pattern is a part of the Stitch Exploration Event with Joy of Motion, Knitting With Chopsticks, and I! Throughout the month of June, we have put together 30 crochet stitches, with one releasing each day. They are all designed to help you grow your crochet skills, and range from lace stitches, to simple, to color work ones! You can find the post with all of the stitches at: Stitch Exploration Crochet Stitch Event.
Want to get all 30 stitches before they release?
As a part of the Stitch Exploration event, we’ve put together a bundle of all 30 stitches as printable pdfs! This way you’ll be able to have all of them before they even release, and can reference them anytime! Plus, with all 30 stitches, you can make a blanket! Within the pdfs, you’ll find photo tutorials, charts, and lots of written instructions walking you through each stitch. There are so many awesome stitches within the bundle that you will be able to use for lots of crochet designs and projects!
Click here to get your copy of the bundle for just $9! That’s a savings of over 90%!
Be sure to check this post daily throughout June, so you don’t miss out on any of the fun new stitches!
Gauge:
Gauge for swatch pictured: 21 dc x 14 rows = 6″/15cm
Supplies:
- Worsted Weight Yarn in 2 colors
- Main Color (MC) – White
- Contrast Color (CC) – Green
- US Size J (6mm) crochet hook
- Yarn needle for weaving in ends
Abbreviations:
- Ch = chain
- Dc = Double Crochet
- FPDC = Front Post Double Crochet
- BPDC = Back Post Double Crochet
- St = Stitch
- RS = Right Side
- WS = Wrong Side
Pattern Notes:
- This pattern is made using US crochet terminology
- The pattern involves color changes using tapestry or intarsia crochet. Experience with color work is recommended, but if you’re a beginner to tapestry crochet than you can totally do it! For a tutorial on how to do tapestry crochet, check out my Beginner’s Guide to Tapestry Crochet. For the tutorial for how to do intarsia crochet, check out my Beginner’s Guide to Intarsia Crochet.
- Color changes happen in the middle of the rows in this pattern. The color changes are indicated in the written pattern by a new color in parentheses (for example: (MC) dc 1, (CC) dc 2
Chart Notes:
- Each square on the chart represents 1 stitch.
- The chart is read starting from left to right.
- All odd numbered rows are wrong side rows, and all even rows are right side rows.
- Dark Green represents front post double crochets. Light Green represents back post double crochets.
- For a printable version of the chart and written pattern, grab a copy of the Stitch Exploration Bundle with 30 crochet stitches!
Cactus Stitch Video Tutorial:
For more fun crochet stitch tutorials, check out my Youtube channel: E’Claire Makery.
Cactus Stitch Pattern:
For a printable version of the chart and written pattern, grab a copy of the Stitch Exploration Bundle with 30 crochet stitches!
Row 1 [WS]: (MC) ch 22, starting in second ch from hook, dc 21
Row 2-3 [RS-WS]: (MC) ch 2, turn, dc 21
Row 4 [RS]: (MC) dc 4, (CC) fpdc (as pictured left) in the next 3 stitches, (MC) dc 7, (CC) fpdc in the next 3 stitches, (MC) dc 4
Row 5 [WS]: (MC) dc 4, (CC) (CC) bpdc in the next 3 stitches, (MC) dc 7, (CC) bpdc in the next 3 stitches, (MC) dc 4
Row 6 [RS]: (MC) dc 1, (CC) fpdc in the next 6 stitches, (MC) dc 4, (CC) fpdc in the next 6 stitches, (MC) dc 4
Row 7 [WS]: (MC) dc 1, (CC) bpdc in the next 6 stitches, (MC) dc 1, (CC) bpdc in the next 2 stitches, (MC) dc 1, (CC) bpdc in the next 6 stitches, (MC) dc 1, (CC) bpdc in the next 2 stitches, (MC) dc 1
Row 8 [RS]: (MC) dc 4, (CC) fpdc in the next 3 stitches, (MC) dc 1, (CC) fpdc in the next 2 stitches, (MC) dc 4, (CC) fpdc in the next 3 stitches, (MC) dc 1, (CC) fpdc in the next 2 stitches, (MC) dc 1
Row 9 [WS]: (MC) dc 4, (CC) bpdc in the next 3 stitches, (MC) dc 7, (CC) bpdc in the next 3 stitches, (MC) dc 4
Row 10-12 [RS]: (MC) dc 21
Repeat 2-12 till your swatch reaches the desired length.
I hope you like this new tapestry crochet stitch pattern! If you make any design using this stitch, be sure to tag me on social media @eclairemakery, or use #eclairemakery. I can’t wait to see what you create!
Happy stitching,
Claire
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