Cactus Love Wall Décor (Free Pattern)

This project may not have been possible without Erin Toews of Juniper & Oaks.  She was the reason why I sat down one morning and started drawing, then stitching, and finally writing the pattern for this project.  I am a new designer and to be part of her Plants with Yarn Blog Hop (June 2022) meant so much.  I am forever grateful for her giving me a chance to push myself in designing and putting myself out in the crochet world.

This wall décor was constructed using the thermal stitch, which gives it weight and good graphic definition.  It was made for the crocheter who loves plants – succulents, in particular.  This project was made with 100% cotton yarn by Premier Yarn’s Just Cotton category #4 worsted weight.  The finished project is 9 ¼ inch (width) by 11 ¼ inch (length) and I used a 4.00 mm hook (or 4.5 mm hook if you stitch tighter) instead of the suggested hook by Premier.  This project is worked on 90 rows with 39 stitches across.

GAUGE OF THERMAL STITCH SWATCH:

A 4” x 4” square = 17 stitches (width) x 14 stitches (height).

MATERIALS:

2 skeins Premier Just Yarn #4 Yellow (87 yds / 80 m : 1.76 oz / 50 g)

1 skein Premier Just Yarn #4 Pink (104 yds / 96 m : 2.1 oz / 60 g)

1 skein Premier Just Yarn #4 Sage (104 yds / 96 m : 2.1 oz / 60 g)

4.00 mm (or 4.5 mm) crochet hook

1 pc 12 in long x 1/8 in thick wood dowel

Stitch marker

Tape measure

Darning needle

Scissors

ABBREVIATIONS:

CH – Chain (always use yellow-colored yarn)

STS – Starting Thermal Stitch

TS-Y – Thermal Stitch using yellow colored yarn

TS-P – Thermal Stitch using pink colored yarn

TS-S – Thermal Stitch using sage colored yarn

CTS – Closing Thermal Stitch

SPECIAL STITCHES: Thermal Stitch

STS (Starting Thermal Stitch) – Flip your foundation chain to show the spine or back loops.  Chain 1 and insert your hook on the spine/back loop of your foundation chain, yarn over and draw up a loop, then pull through the two (2) loops to make a single crochet.  Keep repeating until you have stitched single crochets on all the spines/back loops of the foundation chain.

TS (Thermal Stitch) – Chain 1 and flip your work sideways so you can easily the unworked stitch of the foundation chain and the top stitches of the single crochets.  Insert you hook on the unworked chain of the foundation chain and the back look of the starting thermal stitch’s single crochet.  Yarn over and draw up a loop, then pull through the two (2) loops to make a single crochet.  Keep repeating until you have stitched single crochets on all the unworked loops of the foundation chain and back loops of the starting thermal stitch’s single crochets.

CTS (Closing Thermal Stitch) – Chain 1 and flip your work sideways so you can see the unworked stitches of the thermal stitches of both last two rows.  Inset your hook on both the stitches of the thermal stitch’s single crochet and the unworked stitch below it.  Yarn over and draw up a loop, then pull through all the three (3) loops.  Keep doing this stitch until you have reached the end of your project.

WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS:

Do remember that for every row you should have 39 stitches total, chain 1 before you turn work.  Let us begin!

FC – Using yellow-colored yarn, 39 CH + 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 1 (Wrong Side) – Work 39 STS, 1 CH, turn your work.

*Note: All odd-numbered rows represent the back/wrong side of the project and will be worked as Row 1.  Make sure to hide yarn crossovers later from color changes under these stitches by stitching over them.

Row 2 (Right Side) – Work 39 TS-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

*Note: You may place a stitch marker on 20th stitch to mark the middle of the project for reference.

Row 3 to 11 – Work 39 STS, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 12 (Right Side) – Work 13 TS-Y, 13 ST-P, 13 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 14 (Right Side) – Work 12 ST-Y, 15 ST-P, 12 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 16 (Right Side) – Work 11 ST-Y, 17 ST-P, 11 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 18 (Right Side) – Work 11 ST-Y, 17 ST-P, 11 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 20 (Right Side) – Work 11 ST-Y, 17 ST-P, 11 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 22 (Right Side) – Work 11 ST-Y, 17 ST-P, 11 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 24 (Right Side) – Work 11 ST-Y, 17 ST-P, 11 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 26 (Right Side) – Work 11 ST-Y, 17 ST-P, 11 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 28 (Right Side) – Work 11 ST-Y, 17 ST-P, 11 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 30 (Right Side) – Work 11 ST-Y, 17 ST-P, 11 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 32 (Right Side) – Work 11 ST-Y, 17 ST-P, 11 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 34 (Right Side) – Work 10 ST-Y, 19 ST-P, 10 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 26 (Right Side) – Work 10 ST-Y, 19 ST-P, 10 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 38 (Right Side) – Work 10 ST-Y, 19 ST-P, 10 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 40 (Right Side) – Work 10 ST-Y, 19 ST-P, 10 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 42 (Right Side) – Work 9 ST-Y, 21 ST-P, 9 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 44 (Right Side) – Work 9 ST-Y, 21 ST-P, 9 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 46 (Right Side) – Work 11 ST-Y, 17 ST-S, 11 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 48 (Right Side) – Work 10 ST-Y, 19 ST-S, 10 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 50 (Right Side) – Work 10 ST-Y, 21 ST-S, 9 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 52 (Right Side) – Work 10 ST-Y, 21 ST-S, 9 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 54 (Right Side) – Work 8 ST-Y, 23 ST-S, 8 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 56 (Right Side) – Work 7 ST-Y, 25 ST-S, 7 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 58 (Right Side) – Work 7 ST-Y, 25 ST-S, 7 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 60 (Right Side) – Work 7 ST-Y, 25 ST-S, 7 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 62 (Right Side) – Work 7 ST-Y, 25 ST-S, 7 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 64 (Right Side) – Work 7 ST-Y, 25 ST-S, 7 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 66 (Right Side) – Work 7 ST-Y, 25 ST-S, 7 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 68 (Right Side) – Work 7 ST-Y, 25 ST-S, 7 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 70 (Right Side) – Work 7 ST-Y, 25 ST-S, 7 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 71 (Right Side) – Work 7 ST-Y, 25 ST-S, 7 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 74 (Right Side) – Work 8 ST-Y, 10 ST-S, 3 ST-Y, 10 ST-S, 8 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 76 (Right Side) – Work 9 ST-Y, 8 ST-S, 5 ST-Y, 8 ST-S, 9 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 78 (Right Side) – Work 10 ST-Y, 6 ST-S, 7 ST-Y, 6 ST-S, 10 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 80 (Right Side) – Work 11 ST-Y, 4 ST-S, 9 ST-Y, 4 St-S, 11 ST-Y, 1 CH, turn your work.

Row 81 to 89 – Work as Row 1.

Row 90 (Right Side) – Work 39 STC, 1 CH, fasten off.

* To finish, thread beginning and end tail on back/wrong side of the project.  Block if you wish/necessary to get a nicer finish.

ATTACHING THE DOWEL:

Take wooden dowel and align it to top of finished project.  Thread yellow-colored yarn and whip stitch the dowel to the décor, inserting 2 whip stitches into every STC stitch.  Fasten off and secure by threading excess yarn either side on the back/wrong side of décor.  Measure enough yarn to serve as string support and attach both ends to dowel, making sure they are near the finished décor edge for easy finishing and securing excess yarn on the back/wrong side of the project.

Thank you for your interest in this design and hope you will enjoy making this project.  Link up with the designer via Instagram.  Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the designer.  If you want an ad-free PDF copy of this pattern, complete with graph, you may purchase it from the designer's Ravelry store.

Design by Kitty Marsh of Made By Marsh

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: This pattern is protected by copyright law.  Purchasing it allows you to use it for personal use.  You may sell products made with the pattern as guide provided you give credit to the designer (Kitty Marsh) and her company (Made By Marsh).