I made this all the way back in August for a tea cozy contest at my LYS, the Woolie Ewe. It won Best of Show and I got $100, which I of course promptly spent on more yarn.
Edit: I've added the pattern in case anyone wants it. It's my first written pattern though, so if there is anything that is confusing please let me know.
Yarn: Araucania Nature Wool (100% wool, 240.59 yd/100 gr) : 40 and 08, 1 sk each, Cascade 220 Quattro (100% wool, 220 yd/100g): 9436 1 sk, approx. 20 yds natural colored lace weight wool
Needles: Size 9 dpns and 16 in circular, Size 6 straight or circular
Notions: tapestry needle, stitch marker, split-ring stitch marker or safety pin (optional), row counter (optional), stitch holder (optional)
Gauge: 24 st and 28 rows/4in over unstretched mistake rib worked flat
Stitch Guide:
• m1p: make 1 purl:
stitch by picking up the horizontal bar before next stitch and purling into the back of it.
• S1: Slip 1 stitch
• mb: make 2 stitch bobble:
kfb, turn, p2, turn, s1, k1, psso
• dd: double decrease:
Slip 2 stitches as if to k2tog, k1, pass slipped stitches over.
Notes:
It is important to keep track of the number of rows you have worked and the right and wrong side of the fabric. You may want to use a row counter and a split ring stitch marker or safety pin for this.
When instructed to place stitches on a holder, you can, if you wish, leave them on the cord of your circular needle and ignore them while working other stitches normally.
BODY:
• CO 92 st, pm, join, and work in the round as follows, slipping marker when you come to it:
1. [k2, p2] to end
2. p1, [k2, p2] to last 3 st, k2, p1
3. [k2, p2]
• Remove marker, turn and work flat as follows, noting that the even-numbered rows are all ws rows:
4. m1p, k1, [p2, k2] to last 3 st, p3
5. s1, k1, [p2, k2] to last 3 st, p2, k1
6. s1, k1, [p2, k2] to last 3 st, p3
7. As row 5
8. As row 6
9. s1, k1, [p2, k2] 22 times (46 st worked)
Place remaining 46 st on a holder and continue with worked st:
10. s1, [k2, p2] to last 5 st, k2, p3
11. s1, k1, [p2, k2] to end
12-26, even. As row 10
13-25, odd. As row 11
Break yarn, place st on a holder.
• Transfer unworked st back to needles, attach yarn with ws facing, and work as follows, noting that the odd-numbered rows are now the ws rows:
9. s1, [k2, p2] to last 2 st, k1, p1
10. s1, [p2 k2] to last 2 st, p1, k1
11-25, odd. As row 9
12-26, even. As row 10
27. s1, [k2, p2] to last 2 st, k2
All working stitches are on the right needle. Place stitches from holder on left needle and continue as follows:
27. cont. [p2, k2] to last 2 st, p2
28. s1, [k2, p2] to 4 st before end, k2, p1, k1
29. s1, [k2, p2] to end
30. s1, [k2, p2] to 4 st before end, k2, p1, s1
• Join for working in the round by slipping previously slipped stitch back to left needle, k2tog, pm and continue as follows:
31. k1, [p2, k2] to last 3 stitches, p2, k1
32. [k2, p2] to end
• Mistake rib will now be decreased to a 1x1 rib. Work decrease rows as follows:
33. k1, [p2, dd, p1, k2] to last 3 stitches, p2, s1, remove marker, place slipped stitch back on left needle and replace marker (69 st)
34. [dd, p1, k1, p1] to end (46 st)
35-37. [k1, p1] to end
Break yarn, leaving a tail for weaving in. The green portion of the body is now complete.
• Attach gold yarn and work as follows, switching to dpns when necessary:
1. P
2. p
3. [p1, mb] to end
4. * p3, p2tog, [p4, p2tog] 3x, repeat from * (38 st)
5. [p1, mb] to end
6. * p2, p2tog, [p3, p2tog] 3x, repeat from * (30 st)
7. p
8. * p1, p2tog, [p2, p2tog] 3x, repeat from * (22 st)
9. p
10. * p2tog, [p1, p2tog] 3x, repeat from * (14 st)
Break yarn, leaving a 6-inch tail, thread through remaining stitches, pull tight and anchor.
Spines:
The spines are small ties of the lace-weight yarn along the ridges of the cactus. They are tied to the horizontal bar in the middle every third stitch in the column of knits. You can use individual lengths of yarn for each spine or make your ties with one long length as you would when tying a quilt.
Flowers:
The flowers are each knit in a single piece using short rows. Be sure to pick up your wraps as necessary.
Large Flower:
1. Using #6 needles and pink yarn, CO 11
2. s1 kwise, k8, wrap and turn
3. k6, wrap and turn
4. k5, wrap and turn
5. k4, wrap and turn
6. k3, wrap and turn
7. k to last stitch, leaving it unworked.
8. Turn, k1, BO unworked stitch. Continue binding off until 2 st remain on left needle. K to end (3 st remain)
9. k3, CO 8 using cable cast-on (11 st)
Work rows 2-9 until 9 petals have been worked, binding off completely on row 8 of the last petal.
Using gold yarn, pick up and knit 9 stitches along the bottom edge of the flower and work as following:
1. k
2. k
3. k1, [CO 2, BO 3] until last st, BO completely
Small Flower:
1. Using #6 needles and pink yarn, CO 6
2. s1 kwise, k3, wrap and turn
3. k2, wrap and turn
4. k1, wrap and turn
5. k to last st, leaving it unworked
6. k1, BO unworked st, BO until 2 st remain on left needle, k to end
7. k3, CO 3 using cable cast-on
Work rows 2-7 until 5 petals have been worked, binding off completely on row 6 of last petal.
Finishing:
Weave in all ends and attach spines. For each flower, put sides together, forming a loop, and using a long running stitch, stitch around the bottom of each flower with the yarn tail and cinch tight. Attach flowers to the top of the cactus and weave in ends.
