Free Pattern: Cactus Christmas decoration

Christmas is fast approaching and it is time to start to get stitching!
Why not start with a felt Christmas Cactus? He's cute, he's quirky, he will look great hanging on your tree.

So let's get started!

You will need:

The pattern which you can DOWNLOAD HERE for free
Green felt (A4 piece)
Dark green felt
Scrap of red felt
Black 12mm safety eyes (or black felt if you don't have eyes)
Green machine sewing thread
Light green embroidery floss
Red embroidery floss
Black embroidery floss
Ric rac or ribbon for the hanging loop
Stuffing

Cut out your cactus shape and pin it to your green felt and cut out (seam allowance is included). Pin the cut out cactus to the green felt and cut around to make the second piece.

Lay your two cactus pieces out so they are mirror images.

Take 3 strands of green embroidery floss and sew your prickles by making giant cross stitches in the positions shown on the pattern. Make sure you don't put any crosses where the eyes should be. For the back just mirror image the crosses or random crosses are just fine!

For the holly cut out two leaves of dark green felt and one ready berry. Overlap the leaves slightly, lay the berry over top and using 3 strands of red embroidery floss make a cross in the middle of the berry ensuring you have secured all 3 pieces together.

Lay the eyes down in the position shown and push down on them to leave a dent in the felt. Then cut two small slits where the dents are and insert and secure the eyes. NB My eyes are a little high here and the foot on the sewing machine only just made it past them!

Using 3 strand of black embroidery floss and back stitch add the eyelashes and mouth as shown on the pattern.

Place the cactus pieces right side together and pin REMEMBERING OF COURSE TO INSERT THE RIBBON FOR YOUR HANGING LOOP BEFORE SEWING..... because of course I totally forgot!!
So lay your ribbon down as shown (so beautifully!) below.

Note on the pattern piece where the stuffing holes are before sewing around using straight stitch. There is a 5mm seam allowance included.

Turn right side out and stuff from either end.

Use 2 strands of green sewing thread and ladder stitch the openings closed, continuing to add stuffing as you sew closed.

Position the holly wherever you fancy and  use one strand of green floss and a hidden stitch to sew it in place.

Congratulations it's a Cactus!

Kim xxx