Yuma-AZ, is the sunniest place in all of America; though it does chill down overnight (here in Fortuna-AZ where we are this year, temperatures cool down to 39-degrees overnight), and heats back up to 70ish-degrees by noon.
Morning temperatures~Foothills, Fortuna-AZ
Christie Huff - 'Desert Christmas' song:
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UCEH2nnRQA)
The terrain, everywhere in AZ, is by and large a gritty barren sandscape: cactuses are more prevalent in Arizona, than evergreens are - so, that is what my Christmas designs center around.
Last year I designed & crafted a "Christmas Cactus" to hang in our 45-foot RV Home, where our Livingroom, dining area, and kitchen space combined is roughly the size of a small shot-gun galley-kitchen studio apartment:
OUR HOME FLOORPLAN - 460 square feet; the combined kitchen, livingroom & dining area takes up about 1/3 of that footage.
My December 5, 2023 Post: MOD CHRISTMAS CACTUS PATTERN~Yuma-AZ:
https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2023/12/mod-christmas-cactus-patternyuma-az.html
But, even though last year's design was loosely stuffed with 1 large garbage bag to give it some shape, it was too heavy to stay hung in place. The Command hook kept coming loose & falling down - this may have been because Arizona temperatures are hot, even in Winter months. But, after repeated replacing, I knew last year that I would have to do something different this year -)
So, I did :-)
This December, I designed & crafted a flatter, lighter, newly designed crocheted & beaded Christmas Cactus. If you travel & live full-time in a 5th Wheel RV that has limited space, as I do - you may enjoy crafting this little Christmas Cactus to decorate as you wish :-)
My new husband does not "do" Christmas.
At all.
I don't go all out for Christmas - but because this is my Birthday Month … he is consenting to a few small chrismasty notations; so I added lights, a scented candle, some tinsel garland, as well as this new cactus design & a couple holiday themed kitchen towels (5 new MOD Patterns posted to my Blog today, also) :-)
Mr. No Christmas admits he likes the ambiance of the Christmas lights; I may leave them in place, all year long ;-)
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Festive scented candle; I love the clean smell of alpine forests ;-)
MOD Christmas Designs for 2024
I designed my new Christmas Cactus the evening of December 5th, and completed it the afternoon of December 6th; it's very easy to make, using only a few simple basic crochet stitches.
It's flat, so it doesn't 'hog' precious space; and it's easy to store away 'til next year.
MOD CHRISTMAS CACTUS 2 PATTERN
Materials:
Worsted yarn - 1 skein Green worsted yarn & scraps of Red & Yellow worsted yarns
Crochet Hook #H
String of faux Gold Bead Garland (I bought mine at a Dollar Tree)
A bit of Silver Garland (skip this step, if this doesn't matter to you)
Tapestry Needle
Scissors
Cardboard for project backing (I used a large Ritz Cracker box, cut to fit)
Ballpoint pen
1 ct. 0.5 lb. weight Resin Command Hook
Terms Used:
ch = chain
sl st = slip stitch
dc = double crochet
hdc = half double crochet
sc = single crochet
st = stitch
inc = increase
dec = decrease
BL = back loops
FL = front loops
rpt = repeat
X = times
EA = each
EO = end off
MOD Christmas Cactus Instructions:
MOD CHRISTMAS CACTUS 2
Main Spear - Row 1: using doubled strands of Green worsted yarn, ch 36; turn, and work in dc up one side of foundation chain; making 5 dc in end ch. Work in dc down 2nd side of foundation chain - at end if work, ch 3 & turn.
Row 2: *Dc in BL of 1st st, dc in FL of next st* = rpt * to * for 36 sts, then work 2 dc (following pattern of BL & FL texture) in EA of the next 3 top point sts (3 inc's made); continue to work in textured dc pattern to end st - at end of work, ch 3 & turn.
Arm #1 - Row 3: Work in established textured dc pattern for 11 sts; in next st, ch 12 - turn foundation chain & make 3 dc in 1st st; then in BL only of foundation ch, make 1 dc next 5 sts, 1 hdc next 2 sts, 1 sc next 2 sts, and 1 sl st to the side of the main cactus spear.
Remove hook & slip it behind the arm piece: make a sl st to 1st st & sc around arm piece, inc'g x3 at the arm tip (3 inc's made).
When you reach the end st of entire arm piece, make a sl st in next st and work crotch st and next spear st together (5 sts on hook, worked off together in 1 st); dc in BL of next st & work following sts in *2 dc next st, 1 dc next st* over next 5 sts; 1 dc EA of next 16 sts: now you will begin working on the second cactus arm.
Arm 2: ch 17 - turn foundation chain & make 3 dc in 1st st; then in BL only of the foundation ch, make 1 dc in next 13 sts, 1 hdc in next 2 sts, 1 sc in next 2 sts, and 1 sl st to the side of the main cactus spear.
Remove hook & slip it behind the arm piece: working this arm as the first arm to join to the main cactus spear - at end of work, ch 3 & turn.
Row 4: Work established dc textured pattern around the entire cactus (dc along main spear & sc along arm pieces), increasing around tips as needed so piece lays evenly flat.
Row 5: Sl st around entire cactus; EO. DO NOT CUT YARN YET! Loosely lay the yarn strand along the crocheted edges of the cactus piece - then add about 12-inches to that: now, cut the yarn.
Lay work aside for the time being.
Backing: Dismantle the cardboard box - lay flat; position crocheted piece right-side-UP over the printed side of the cardboard & trace around it: remove the crocheted cactus piece, and cut the cardboard around the tracing.
Place the crocheted work over the cardboard, and thread the yarn tail through the tapestry needle: begin to stitch the pieces together, keeping the crochet work flat and matched to the cardboard edges as you sew it together.
And because I like Poinsettia's for my BD, I surfed the internet and also added this little crocheted Poinsettia to my cactus top (online pattern link is provided):
Poinsettia Ornament Crochet Pattern:
https://www.stitchbyfay.com/poinsettia-ornament-crochet-pattern/
Trim your Christmas Cactus (I just draped a length of faux beads, a bit of silver tinsel garland - sewed in place that suited my fancy; a few candy canes … and called it 'good' ;-)) … anchor the hook in place with the pull-tap adhesive, and hang your "tree" :-)
This December, I also designed & crafted 5 new holiday kitchen towel sets … I am "on a roll" before we pack up and roll on a bit further, down the road ;-)
My Morning Post: MOD 5 CT. CHRISTMAS KITCHEN TOWEL PATTERNS~2024; Fortuna-AZ https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2024/12/mod-5-ct-christmas-kitchen-towel.html
HAVE A FUNTASTIC HOLIDAY!
Chris Janson - 'Holiday Road' song:
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSGX6jtHV9w)
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