Crochet Christmas Cactus

Continuing with the somewhat Dickensian idea of Christmas past, here is the ornament/fridgie I featured in my 2006 Xmas Card project. It is so much more fun to make than to write down so I had to work up the pattern from my truly sketchy 2 yr old notes, which were written in pencil, a very light pencil, with a lead that apparently fades a little over time. :-) That will teach me to use ink. ;-)

Ok so here's to a Merry Cacti Christmas:


Festive Version



Subtle(r) Version

Christmas Cacti

Cecilia A. Lira 2006 (revised 2008)

Note: crochet thread sz 10
hook sz 9 (1.75mm)
finished height 2.5”

blsc – sc around back loop of stitch


1) Ch18
right arm
2) ch17, sc7, sc dec, sc7, ch2 turn
3) blsc6, blsc dec, blsc5, 2 blsc last st, ch2 turn
4) blsc dec, blsc3, blsc dec, blsc 7, ch7, turn
body
5) sc 27, ch2 turn
6) blsc 26, 2 blsc next st, ch2 turn
7) blsc 28, ch2 turn
8) blsc 26, blsc dec last 2 st, ch2 turn
left arm
9) blsc dec, blsc 8, ch 15, turn
10) sc 9, sc dec, sc 3, sc in side of next, blsc next sc on body
11) ch2, blsc4, 2 blsc next st, blsc 9, 2 blsc next st, ch2 turn
12) blsc dec, blsc8, 2blsc next st, blsc7, blsc 14, end off


Decorate as desired.

Examples in photos are decorated with gold and silver lame metallic crochet thread, plastic metallic colored star beads, red AB silver lined round hole size 10/0 glass beads and matching metallic sewing thread used to tack down crochet thread at ends and before and after each bead.Final product glued to cardstock for stability.

"Festive" cactus features the "right" side of the pattern and "Subtle(r)" cactus features the "wrong" or reverse side.

Christmas Boot Crochet

A blast from the fairly recent past. I've only been making my own X-mas cards for three years now, but each one has featured a fridgie/applique ornament with a Texan theme. In 2007 it was a Santa Claus Cowboy Boot. I already kinda posted it at Ravelry but I've revised the instructions and added a chart and will link it properly this time.





Santa Cowboy Boot Appliqué - revised

Cecilia A. Lira 2007 (revised 2008)

Note: crochet thread sz 10,
gold lamé crochet thread
hook sz 9 (1.75mm)
finished height 2”


Heel/Sole – Black
1) ch7,ch2 turn
2) sc6, ch2 turn
3) sc6, ch11, end off

Boot Body – Red
Attach at last ch of black
4) ch2, sc3, hdc2, hdc dec , dc3, 2dc in next st, dc6, ch3 turn
5) dc8, hdc2, hdc dec, sc4, sl st, ch1 turn
6) sl st in sc, sc3, sc dec, hdc, hdc & dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, dc7, ch3 turn
7) – 9) dc9, ch3 turn
10) dc9, end off

Cuff – White
Attach last ch3 of red
11) ch3, 2 dc in same st, dc8, 3dc in last st, ch3 turn
12) dc3, hdc, sc, sl st2, sc, hdc, dc3, ch3, sl st to next st, end off

Strap - Black
Attach at end of R6, ch11, sl st to start of R6, slst11, end off

Buckle – Gold
Attach in 4th dc R5, sl st 2, (turn 90 degrees, sl st3) 3 times, end off

Cats All Over the Place.

Now who would have imagined that the aromas of Thanskgiving would drive my cats that extra level of bonkers that makes them so darned endearing? :-]

These last two cat appliques are my favorites. They are in my usual, more confusing style - hard to figure out just what I mean by the written directions. Hope the charts help out! :-)



Stretching Cat Appliqué
C. A. Lira 2008

Note: crochet thread sz 10
hk size 9 (1.75mm)
finished height ~2”

ch21
Hind Leg
hdc, sc, sc & 2 hdc in next st, sc, hdc

Tail
ch12, scdec, sc4, scdec, sc2, hdc & dc in next st, dc in side of hdc, dc in same st as hdc

Rump
trc, trcdec

Chest
trc2, dc, dcdec

Head
Ear
ch5, slst, hdc, dc

Nose
ch3, sc, hdc, slst side of dc

Mouth
ch2, slst, sc in ch under ear

Neck
sc in side of dcdec of chest

Shoulder
hdc in same ch as dcdec of chest, sc

Front Paw
slst5, hdc, slst in same ch, end off






Cat Loaf Appliqué
C. A. Lira 2008

Note: crochet thread sz 10
hk size 9 (1.75mm)
finished length 1 ¼”

ch11
Rump
sc, hdc2, dc4, hdc

Head
Ear
ch5, slst, hdc

Face
ch1, trc in ch under ear, ch1, slst in side of trc, hdc next ch

Front Paws – top
sc side of hdc, slst2, ch1

Front Paws – bottom
sc3 in lps remaining from base ch

Tummy – under
slst3

Rear Paws – under
ch1, sc, hdc3, sc

Tail
ch5, slst to body at st 3rd from end, slst 2 at angle on body,
slst back in 6 slsts slst2 next ch, slst, slst to body, end off.

Cats Galore

Now for the second installment of the Cat Pack - another sitting cat but this time in a more judgmental pose.

Now a much easier to understand free pdf download at my Ravelry pattern store.

Cat Attack Appliqué
C. A. Lira 2008

Note: crochet thread sz 10
hk size 9 (1.75mm)
finished height 1 ½”

Sitting Cat
1) ch3, slst, sc, ch2, ch3, slst, sc, ch2 turn
2) sc same, sc2, 2sc, ch2 turn
3) sc5, ch2 turn
4) scdec, sc2, scdec, ch2 turn
5) (scdec) twice, ch2 turn
6) sc same, sc, 2sc, ch2 turn
7) 2sc same, sc3, ch2turn
8) sc4, 2sc, ch2 turn
9) sc same, sc6, ch2 turn
10) sc6, 2sc, ch2 turn
11) sc same, sc8, ch2 turn
12) sc9
13) ch14, sc, (2sc) three times, sc6, (2sc) twice, sc7, ch2 turn
14) sc same, ch2 turn
15) 2sc, slst to body, sc3, ch2 turn
16) sc same, ch2 turn
17) 2sc, slst to body, end off

Cats Aplenty - Oh No! Pattern Wrong!

Please see revised instructions!

In a magnificent display of decreasing mental capacity, I had to be reminded that cat behavior extends past the noisy, hissy, back-arching, Halloween-flavored carrying on.

Thanks to a suggestion posed by the lovely Lilli Tupu (she of the fully functioning cerebral cortex), I dusted off my own neurons recently and came up with some more cat silhouette appliques.

Since I'm always in need of an excuse to post more regularly, I'll dole them out in batches. Soooo....


Cat Pack Attack - volume 1 - The Window Kitties





Window Cats Appliqués
C. A. Lira 2008


Note: crochet thread sz 10
hk size 9 (1.75mm)
finished height 1 3/8”, 1 ½”, 1 ½”, respectively

Please see revised instructions!

Wider Window Cat (worked as per instructions – flipped in photo)
1) ch3, slst, hdc, ch2, ch3, slst, hcc, ch2 turn
2) sc same, sc2, 2sc, ch2 turn
3) sc5, ch2 turn
4) scdec, sc2, scdec, ch2 turn
5) sk1, (scdec) twice, ch2 turn
6) sc2, 2sc, ch2 turn
7) sc same, sc2, 2sc, ch2 turn
8) sc same, sc4, 2sc, ch2 turn
9) sc same, sc6, 2sc, ch2 turn
10) sc8, ch2 turn
11) sc8, ch2 turn
12) scdec, sc5, scdec, ch2 turn
13) sk1, scdec, sc3, scdec
14) ch12, hdc, sc, 2sc, sc7, sk1st & 2 R, slst to body, end off


Rounded Window Cat
1) ch3, slst, hdc, ch2, ch3, slst, hdc, ch2 turn
2) sc same, sc2, 2sc, ch2 turn
3) sc5, ch2 turn
4) scdec, sc2, scdec, ch2 turn
5) sk1, (scdec) twice, ch2 turn
6) sc2, 2sc, ch2 turn
7) sc same, sc2, 2sc, ch2 turn
8) sc same, sc4, 2sc, ch2 turn
9) sc same, sc6, 2sc, ch2 turn
10) sc8, ch2 turn
11) scdec, sc5, scdec, ch2 turn
12) sk1, scdec, sc3, scdec, ch2 turn
13) sk1, scdec, sc, scdec
14) ch12, hdc, sc, 2sc, sc7, sk1st & 2 R, slst to body, end off


Window Kitten
1) ch3, slst, sc, ch2, ch3, slst, sc, ch2 turn
2) sc same, sc2, 2sc, ch2 turn
3) sc5, ch2 turn
4) scdec, sc2, scdec, ch2 turn
5) sk1, (scdec) twice, ch2 turn
6) sc2, 2sc, ch2 turn
7) sc same, sc2, 2sc, ch2 turn
8) sc6, 2sc, ch2 turn
9) sc6
10) ch12, sc, (2sc in next st) three times, sc7, sk1st & 2 R, slst to body, end off

Here be dragons.

Okay - so it's only one dragon ... and it's only in silhouette ... and it's only a crocheted applique version. But it was requested by a friend, so it comes with love. :-)

For Fluxx

3/14/11 NOTE: PDF version with instructions written out in words available for free at Ravelry:

download now

Dragon Appliqué
C. A. Lira 2008

Note: crochet thread sz 10
hk size 9 (1.75mm)
finished height 2”
Head
1) ch4, sc2, 2sc, ch2 turn
2) sc2, 2sc, ch2 turn
3) sc same st, sc3, slst, ch4
Snout
4) hdc in 2ndst, dc2, hdc, sc3, 2sc, ch2 turn
Neck
5) sc2, slst, ch2 turn
6) sc2, 2sc
Wing
7) ch19, slst, sc3, hdc3, dc3, sk1 st, sc12, ch2 turn
8) sc7, 3sc in same st, hdc, dc2, sk1 st, slst, ch7, slst
9) sc, hdc, dc3, sk1 st, slst, ch5, slst
10) sc, hdc, dc, dc in same st as ch5, sk3 sts, sc10, ch2 turn
11) sc same st, sc5, ch2 turn
12) sc6
Arm
13) ch5, slst2, (ch2, slst2) twice, sc, 2hdc in next st, hdc2, sc2, scdec, ch2 turn
Haunch/Leg
14) sc6
15) ch3, sc, hdc3, sc5, ch2 turn
16) sc same st, sc7, 2sc in same st, ch2 turn
17) sc same st, sc2, sl st, ch1 turn
Foot
18) slst, sc3, ch6, slst, slstdec, ch2, slst, sc same st as ch2, dc4, ch1, sl st side of dc, slst same st as dc, sk1 st, slst, sc same st as next slst, sc6, ch12, slst, sc6, 2sc in next st, sc9, slst, ch1 turn
Butt/Tail
19) slst, 2sc in next st, hdc, dc4, hdc3, sc6, slst
Tail Barb
20) ch3, slst, sc, dc into end of tail, ch1, slst into side of dc, ch3, slst, sc, slst to tail, slst
Spines
21) ch3, slst, hdc, sk3 sts (including same as ch3), slst to 4th st, slst2, {ch4, slst, hdc, dc, sk3 sts (including same as ch4), slst to 4th st, slst2}} three times
22) slst5 across front of wing in an arc, slst1 on neck
23) ch4, slst, hdc, dc, sk3 sts (including same as ch3), slst to 4th st , slst
Ear
24) ch4, slst, hdcdec, slst to same st as ch4
Spine/Horn
25) ch3, slst, sc, sk3 sts (including st of ch3), slst join to 4th st at top of brow, end off

Turkey Love

Remember grade school? Me neither. ;-) About the only thing that I do remember from the hazy days of my Jurassic youth are the arts and crafts. One of the classics is still my favorite. I wonder if today's pre-school set are still instructed in the time honored Thanksgiving tradition of the hand-outline turned Tom Turkey? Well, if not,they are being greatly disserviced.

Since I'm all about the quirky and the odd I thought I'd concoct an applique version and share it with the cyber-room:






Thanksgiving Turkey Hand Appliqué C. A. Lira 2008

Note: crochet thread sz 10, hk size 9 (1.75mm), finished height 2”

Body – brown
1) ch8, turn
2) sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc5, 2 sc in last st, ch2 turn
3) sc in same st, sc dec, sc5, 2sc next st, ch2 turn
4) sc in same st, sc8, 2sc next st, ch2 turn
5) sc in same st, sc11, ch2 turn
6) sc8, sl st next ch, ch2 turn
7) sc8, ch2 turn
8) sc3, 2sc in next st, sc4, end off

Feathers/Fingers

Yellow
pinky
insert in1st st at right end of body R8
9) ch2, sc2, ch2 turn
10) sc2, end off
ring
insert in 3rd st from right of body R8
9) ch2, sc2, ch2 turn
10) sc2, end off
middle
insert in 5th st from right of body R8
9) ch2, sc2, ch2 turn
10) sc2, ch2 turn
11) sc2, end off
index
insert in 3rd st from left of body R8
9) ch2, sc2, ch2 turn
10)sc2, end off

Orange
pinky
insert in 1st sc of yellow R10
11) ch2, sc dec, end off
ring
insert in 1st sc of yellow R10
11) ch2, sc2, ch2 turn
12) sc2, end off
middle
insert in right most st of yellow R11
12) ch2, sc2, ch2 turn
13) sc2, end off
index
insert in right most st of yellow R10,
11) ch2, sc2, ch2 turn
12) sc2, end off

Red
pinky
insert in right most st of orange R11
12) ch2, sc dec, end off
ring
insert in right most st of orange R12
13) ch2, sc2, ch2 turn
14) sc dec, ch2 turn
15) sc dec, end off
middle
insert in 1st sc of orange R13
14) ch2, sc2, ch2 turn
15) sc2, ch2 turn
16) sc dec, ch2 turn
17) sc dec, end off
index
insert in right most st of orange R12
13) ch2, sc2, ch2 turn
14) sc2, ch2 turn
15) sc dec, ch2 turn
16) sc dec, end off

Thumb - brown
insert into inside st of remaining brown (next to index finger)
1) ch2, sc2, 2sc in next, ch2 turn
2) sc2 , sc dec, ch2 turn
3) sc4 , ch2 turn
4) sc4, ch2 turn
5) sc dec, sc2, ch2
6) sc dec, sl st, end off

Beak – orange
insert into side of thumb at R5
ch3, dc dec, sl st to side of st at R4 of thumb
end off

Waddle – red
insert into side of thumb under beak at R3
ch4, hdc in 2nd ch from hook, sl st next ch, sl st to same st as ch3, end off

Hat – black
ch3, sc3 across top of thumb (R6), ch3 turn
sl st 2, hdc3, slst3, end off
with yellow and yarn needle, stitch square into hat above brim (see photo)

Feet – orange
left
insert in 2nd sc of body R3
ch5, sl st2,
ch3, sl st2,
ch3, sl st3,
sl st next 2 free ch of ch5,
sl st in same st as ch5, end off

right
sk 2 st on body, insert
repeat pattern of other foot