Penny the Bunny Cactus Crochet Pattern

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that I love to give my crochet cactus projects some personality. When brainstorming my list of projects, a bunny cactus was high on my list. I had a lot of ideas floating around in my head and I decided that I wanted something with a clean and simple but adorable look. Soon after, Penny the Bunny Cactus was born.

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Originally, Penny was going to be named Betsy but it just didn’t feel like the best fit for her. So thank you to everyone on Facebook and Instragram that suggested names for Penny. There were a lot of great suggestions which made it very difficult to choose. Eventually I narrowed it down to two and it was a coin toss after that.

You can make your very own by following the free crochet pattern for Penny the Bunny Cactus below.

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Level:

• Intermediate

Materials:

• 3.5 mm (E) Hook
  
  
• Worsted Weight Yarn in Green, Brown, White, Pink and Red.  I’m using Bernat Premium in Spring Green, Red, White and Pink   the cactus body, bow and ears.  I’m using Loops and Thread Impeccable in Chocolate Brown for the soil.
  
  
• 6 mm Safety Eyes
  
  
• Polyester Stuffing
  
  
• Scissors
  
  
• Tapestry Needle
  
  
• Stitch Marker
  
  
• Pink Embroidery Thread
  
  
• Black Embroidery Thread

Get an ad-free PDF version  of this pattern for a small fee in my Etsy and Ravelry shops to help me keep my patterns free.

Terminology:

• US terminology

Abbreviations:

• MC:    magic circle
  
  
• CH: chain
  
  
• SC: single crochet
  
  
• SCINC: single crochet increase
  
  
• SCDEC: single crochet decrease
  
  
• HDC: half double crochet
  
  
• HDCINC: half double crochet increase
  
  
• SLST: slip stitch
  
  
• BLO: back loop only
  
  
• ST(s): stitch (es)
  
  
• FO: finish off

Measurement: 

• Approximately 5.5” tall from bottom of soil to top of head once assembled (ears not included in measurement)
  

Notes:

• 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.

Penny the Bunny Cactus – Free Crochet Cactus Pattern

SOIL

Worked in continuous rounds.

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 6  (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,  SCDEC,  (SC  2,  SCDEC) x  5,  SC  1  (18)

Row  20:  (SCDEC,  SC)  x  6  (12)

Row  21:  (SCDEC)  x  6  (6)

FO  and  weave  in  ends.

Cactus Body

Using green and leaving a long tail, CH20.

Row 1: SC in the 2^nd chain from the hook and in each chain across.  CH1 and turn. (19)

Row 2: SC in the first stitch.  SC in the back loop of the next 17 stitches.  SC under both loops of the last stitch (19)

Repeat row 2 until the piece measures 16 cm.

FO, leaving a long tail. 

Work a running stitch along the long side of the cactus, working into the row ends.  Pull the yarn tight to close the cactus (like a drawstring). 

Without fastening off, seam the two short sides together by putting the needle through the bottom loop of both stitches to recreate the ribbing effect for the seam. Insert the safety eyes with two ridges between them. Stuff firmly. 

Work a running stitch along the open edge and pull tightly to close the cactus completely.  Secure and weave in your ends.  Sew onto soil.

Ears (make 2 in pink (inner ear) and 2 in white (outer ear))

CH 11

Row 1: SC in the 2^nd CH from the hook.  SC 6.  HDC 2, HDC 5 in the last CH.  Working on the other side of the chain, HDC 2, SC 7.  CH 1 and turn.(23)

Row 2: SC 7, HDC 2, HDCINC x 5, HDC 2, SC 7.(28)  FO.

Ear Assembly:

To assemble the ears, we are going to crochet through the stitches of both ear pieces (one pink and one white).  Take a pink ear and a white ear and put the two wrong sides together.  

Attach the white yarn in the first stitches of both the pink and white pieces.  SC in the first stitch of both pieces.  SC 6, HDC 2, (HDCINC) x 10, HDC 2, SC 7.  FO with long tail to secure the ear to the head.  Repeat with remaining ear pieces to create the second ear.

Secure each ear to the head of the cactus approximately an inch to an inch and a half apart.

Bow

Row 1: Using red yarn, CH 11.  DC 2 in the 3^rd CH from the hook.  DC, HDC, SC, SL ST, SC, HDC, DC, DC 5 in the last CH.  Working on the other side of the chain, DC, HDC, SC, SL ST, SC, HDC, DC, DC 2 in the last CH.  Join with a SL ST. (23)

Row 2:  CH 1.  SC 5, SL ST, SC 11, SL ST, SC 5. Join with a SL ST to the first stitch.  (23)

FO and weave in ends.  Using a long piece of red yarn approximately 15” long, secure the end to the back, center point of the bow and wrap the yarn around the center of the box a few times.  When done wrapping, secure the yarn in the back and use the remaining length of yarn to sew the bow onto the head.

Using the pink embroidery thread, embroider a nose.  Using the black yarn, embroider some eyelashes next to each eye.

Disclaimer:

Feel free to sell the item created by this pattern but please provide pattern credit back to me when posting online, and please provide a link to my Etsy Shop: theloopylamb.com.  Please do not resell, distribute, duplicate, or share this pattern in any printed or digital form, claiming this pattern as your own original design.  Please do not use my photos when selling your finished items.   

I’d love to see your finished crochet cactus!  Please share your finished makes by tagging the pattern on Ravelry, sharing it to our Facebook page or Instagram.  Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest 

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Want to try another cactus character? Try one of these:
Randy the Reindeer Cactus
Saint Prickolaus Cactus Cuddler