MOD CHRISTMAS CACTUS 2 PATTERN~12-04-2024; Fortuna-AZ

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 ;-)

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)

MOD 5 CT. CHRISTMAS KITCHEN TOWEL PATTERNS~2024; Fortuna-AZ

I wanted some holiday themed kitchen towels for myself this year … so, I got out my cotton yarns bag and gathered up all the scraps from previous projects and put them together in colorful 2024 designs: thankfully, there was enough colorful odds and ends to bless me with 5 new designs ;-)

These sets work up real fast - you still have time to make some for gifts before Christmas arrives :-D

(1) MOD CHRISTMAS OMBRE KITCHEN TOWEL SET

MOD Christmas Ombre Set

This simple ombre design was #1 :-D

Materials:

Cotton yarn in 4 shades: Red & Green, Holiday Ombre, & Ecru; 1 skein of each

#10-1/2 knitting needles

#H crochet hook

Scissors

Tapestry Needle

Decorative resin button

Terms used:

st. st. = stockinette stitch (1 K row = RS - 1 P row = WS)

RS = front facing side of work

WS = backside of work

k = knit

p = purl

alt = alternate

EO = end off yarn

CO = cast on stitches

EA = each

sp = space

Garter St. = knit every row

inc = increase 1 st (make 2 sts in same st)

dec = decrease 1 st (work 2 sts together)

sc = single crochet

dc = double crochet

sl st = slip stitch

With Red yarn, & knitting needles, CO 73 sts & work 3 rows garter st hemline.

Row 1 thru 4: Begin with a P row on the WS of work, & work 4 rows st. st.

Row 5: *K 3, p 1* across row.

Row 6: P

Row 7: K

Row 8: P

Row 9: K 1, *P 1, K 3*, P 1, K 2 across row.

Row 10: P

Row 11: K

Hemline pattern sts

Row 12: *K 3, p 1* across row; drop Red & attach Green

Row 13: *K 1, P 1* across row.

Row 14: P

Row 15: K

Row 16: P across row; drop Green & attach Red

Row 17: *K 1, P 1* across row.

Row 18: P

Row 19: K

Row 20: P across row; drop Red & attach Holiday Ombre

Hemline Design

Row 21: *K 1, P 1* across row.

Rows 22 thru 61: Knit these rows in st. st. with Holiday Ombre.

MOD Christmas Ombre

Row 62 (WS): P 2 sts, P 3 tog across row to last 2 sts: end P 2 sts. There should be 29 sts on needle; drop Holiday Ombre & attach Ecru.

Change from knitting needles to crochet hook and work in sc as follows, slipping sts off knitting needle as they are worked: Dec 1 st EA end  … and every end each following crochet row until 7 sts remain; ch 1 & turn.

Work in sc for 17 rows; ch 1 & turn.

Sl st x3 sc; ch 6 and sl st in same sp; sl st to end. Turn.

Dc x12 in chain loop; EO.

Add a decorative loop edging of your choice (or leave plain).

Sew button in place and weave in loose ends.

MOD DISHCLOTH

MOD Matching Knitted Dishcloth

Cast on 2 stitches.

Row 1: Knit 1, inc 1 st in next st.

Row 2: Knit 1, inc, knit across the row.

Row 3: Knit 2, inc, knit across row.

Row 4: Repeat Row 2 until you have 50 stitches on the needle.

Row 5: Knit 1, Knit 2 together, knit to the end of the row. Repeat Row 5 until you have 3 stitches left on the needle; K 3 sts tog - EO off and weave in loose ends.

(2) MOD BLUE & GRAY KITCHEN TOWEL SET

I designed this towel set to match the fluctuating Arizona winter weather - chilly in the early mornings, and hot-hot-hot by noontime: sandy desert landscape, chilly/foggy gray mornings, hot/sunny days … with a holiday aura that lasts through the month of January.

Morning landscape on the way to Parker-AZ

MOD Blue & Gray Kitchen Towel Set

This simple design was #2 ;-)

Materials:

Cotton yarn in 5 shades: Sahara Sand, Dark Gray, Ecru, Holiday Ice Blue, & Medium Gray; 1 skein of each

#10-1/2 knitting needles

#H crochet hook

Scissors

Tapestry Needle

Decorative resin button

Terms used:

st. st. = stockinette stitch (1 K row = RS - 1 P row = WS)

RS = front facing side of work

WS = backside of work

k = knit

p = purl

wl.fwd = wrap yarn around needle, frontwise

wl.bk = yarn in back of work

EO = end off yarn

CO = cast on stitches

EA = each

Garter St. = knit every row

sp = space

inc = increase 1 st (make 2 sts in same st)

dec = decrease 1 st (work 2 sts together)

sc = single crochet

dc = double crochet

sl st = slip stitch

rpt = repeat

With Sahara Sand yarn, & knitting needles, CO 72 sts & work 4 rows garter st hemline.

Tweed St Hemline - Row 1 (RS): *K 1, wl.fwd, sl 1 st purlwise, wl.bk* across row.

Row 2 (WS): P

Row 3: *Wl.fwd, sl 1 st purlwise, wl.bk, K 1* across row.

Row 4: P

Rows 5 thru 8: Rpt rows 1 - 4

Tweed St Hemline.

Rows 9 thru 19: Work these rows in st. st.; drop Sahara Sand & attach Dark Gray.

Rows 20 thru 27: Work these rows in st. st.; drop Dark Gray & attach Ecru.

Rows 28 & 29: Work in st. st.; drop Ecru & attach Holiday Ice Blue.

Rows 30: Work this row in st. st.; drop Holiday Ice Blue & attach Ecru.

Row 31: Work this row in st. st.; drop Ecru & attach Holiday Ice Blue.

Repeat rows 30 & 31, x3 - DO NOT EO: stay with Holiday Ice Blue for following rows.

Blue & Gray striped pattern …

Rows 37 thru 54: Work these rows in st. st.; drop Holiday Ice Blue & attach Ecru.

Rows 55 & 56: Work these rows in st. st.; drop Ecru & attach Medium Gray.

Rows 57 thru 61: Work these rows in st. st.

Row 62 (WS): P 2 sts, P 3 tog across row to last 2 sts: end P 2 sts. There should be 29 sts on needle; drop Medium Gray & attach Sahara Sand.

Change from knitting needles to crochet hook and work in sc as follows, slipping sts off knitting needle as they are worked: Dec 1 st EA end  … and every end each following crochet row until 7 sts remain; ch 1 & turn.

Work in sc for 17 rows; ch 1 & turn.

Sl st x3 sc; ch 6 and sl st in same sp; sl st to end. Turn.

Dc x12 in chain loop; EO.

Add a decorative loop edging of your choice (or leave plain).

Sew button in place and weave in loose ends.

Decorative vintage resin button.

NOTE: Hobby Lobby's Sahara Sand yarn is a thin yarn and tends to curl, so I work a sl st along the backside of the hemline to add a sturdier hemline that will lay more flatly.

MOD DISHCLOTH

MOD Matching Dishcloth

Cast on 2 stitches.

Row 1: Knit 1, inc 1 st in next st.

Row 2: Knit 1, inc, knit across the row.

Row 3: Knit 2, inc, knit across row.

Row 4: Repeat Row 2 until you have 50 stitches on the needle.

Row 5: Knit 1, Knit 2 together, knit to the end of the row. Repeat Row 5 until you have 3 stitches left on the needle; K 3 sts tog - EO off and weave in loose ends.

(3) MOD HOLIDAY STRIPE KITCHEN TOWEL SET

I like color - bold color, so that is how this scrappy holiday towel came together :-D

MOD Holiday Stripe Kitchen Towel Set

This big, bold, striped design was #3

Materials:

Cotton yarn in 7 shades: Dark Green, Gold, Red, & White; 1 skein of each

#10-1/2 knitting needles

#H crochet hook

Scissors

Tapestry Needle

Decorative resin button

Terms used:

st. st. = stockinette stitch (1 K row = RS - 1 P row = WS)

RS = front facing side of work

WS = backside of work

k = knit

p = purl

wl.fwd = wrap yarn around needle, frontwise

wl.bk = yarn in back of work

alt = alternate

EO = end off yarn

CO = cast on stitches

sp = space

EA = each

Garter St. = knit every row

inc = increase 1 st (make 2 sts in same st)

dec = decrease 1 st (work 2 sts together)

sc = single crochet

dc = double crochet

sl st = slip stitch

rpt = repeat

With Green yarn, & knitting needles, CO 73 sts & work 4 rows garter st hemline.

Row 1: *K 3, P 1* across row.

Row 2: P

Row 3: K

Row 4: P

Rows 5: K 1, *P 1, K 3*, P 1, K 2; rpt across row.

Row 6: P

Row 7: K

Row 8: *K 3, P 1* across row; drop Green & attach Gold.

Row 9: *K 1, P1* across row.

Rows 10 thru 13: Work these rows in st. st.

Rows 14 thru 22: Rpt. rows 1 thru 8; drop Gold & attach Red.

Row 23: *K 1, P1* across row.

Rows 24 thru 27: Work these rows in st. st.

Rows 28 thru 35: Rpt. rows 1 thru 8; drop Red & attach White.

Row 36: *K 1, P1* across row.

Rows 37 thru 41: Work these rows in st. st.

Rows 42 thru 50: Rpt. rows 1 thru 8; drop White & attach Green.

Row 51: *K 1, P1* across row.

Rows 52 thru 56: Work these rows in st. st.

Rows 57 thru 63: Rpt. rows 1 thru 6; drop Green & attach Gold.

Row 64 (RS): K 2 sts, K 3 tog across row to last 2 sts: end K 2 sts. There should be 29 sts on needle.

Row 65: K across row, dec'g 1 st EA end; drop Gold & attach Red.

Change from knitting needles to crochet hook and work in sc as follows, slipping sts off knitting needle as they are worked: Dec 1 st EA end  … and every end each following crochet row until 7 sts remain; ch 1 & turn.

Work in sc for 17 rows; ch 1 & turn.

Sl st x3 sc; ch 6 and sl st in same sp; sl st to end. Turn.

Dc x12 in chain loop; EO.

Add a decorative loop edging of your choice (or leave plain).

Sew button in place and weave in loose ends.

MOD DISHCLOTH

MOD Matching Dishcloth

Cast on 2 stitches.

Row 1: Knit 1, inc 1 st in next st.

Row 2: Knit 1, inc, knit across the row.

Row 3: Knit 2, inc, knit across row.

Row 4: Repeat Row 2 until you have 50 stitches on the needle.

Row 5: Knit 1, Knit 2 together, knit to the end of the row. Repeat Row 5 until you have 3 stitches left on the needle; K 3 sts tog - EO off and weave in loose ends.

(4) MOD CHRITMAS PALETTE KITCHEN TOWEL SET

MOD Christmas Palette Kitchen Towel Set

I had a lot of cotton yarn scraps; too little for large items, but just right for big, bold striped towel designs … so, I made up another kitchen towel set.

This towel design based on a more subdued Christmas Colors Palette adds a splash of color to the gritty brown sandscape outside my kitchen window ;-)

This lightly textured Christmas Palette design was #4 :-D

Materials:

Cotton yarn in 7 shades: Black, Dark Green, Purple, Gold, Cream, Mint, & a Purplish Ombre; 1 skein of each

#10-1/2 knitting needles

#H crochet hook

Scissors

Tapestry Needle

Decorative resin button

Terms used:

st. st. = stockinette stitch (1 K row = RS - 1 P row = WS)

RS = front facing side of work

WS = backside of work

k = knit

p = purl

wl.fwd = wrap yarn around needle, frontwise

wl.bk = yarn in back of work

alt = alternate

sp = space

EO = end off yarn

CO = cast on stitches

EA = each

Garter St. = knit every row

inc = increase 1 st (make 2 sts in same st)

dec = decrease 1 st (work 2 sts together)

sc = single crochet

dc = double crochet

sl st = slip stitch

rpt = repeat

With Black yarn, & knitting needles, CO 73 sts & work 3 rows garter st hemline.

Chevron Seed St Hemline - Row 1 (RS): *P 1, K 3* across row.

Row 2 (WS): *K 1, P 5, K 1, P 1* across row.

Row 3: *K 2, P 1, K 3, P 1, K 1* across row.

Row 4: *P 2, K 1, P 1, K 1, P 3* across row.

Rows 5 thru 7: Work these rows in garter st.; drop Black & attach Green.

Rows 8 thru 22: Work these rows in st. st.; drop Green & attach Purple.

Rows 23 thru 32: Work these rows in st. st.; drop Purple & attach Gold.

Rows 33 thru 48: Work these rows in st. st.; drop Gold & attach Cream.

Rows 49 thru 61: Work these rows in st. st.

Row 62 (WS): P 2 sts, P 3 tog across row to last 2 sts: end P 2 sts. There should be 29 sts on needle; drop Cream & attach Purple.

Change from knitting needles to crochet hook and work in sc as follows, slipping sts off knitting needle as they are worked: Dec 1 st EA end  … and every end each following crochet row until 7 sts remain; ch 1 & turn.

Work in sc for 17 rows; ch 1 & turn.

Sl st x3 sc; ch 6 and sl st in same sp; sl st to end. Turn.

Dc x12 in chain loop; EO.

Add a decorative loop edging of your choice (or leave plain).

Sew button in place and weave in loose ends.

NOTE: I added a colorful ombre yarn sl st to the backside of the somber black hemline, but it's not necessary - I just like it ;-)

MOD DISHCLOTH

I worked this dishcloth in contrasting colors, on both sides of the middle 50 st mark, because that's the way my yarn stash worked out … but the dishcloth can be worked entirely in a single color.

The colors used here are Dark Green, Purple, & Mint.

MOD Matching Dishcloth.

Cast on 2 stitches.

Row 1: Knit 1, inc 1 st in next st.

Row 2: Knit 1, inc, knit across the row.

Row 3: Knit 2, inc, knit across row.

Row 4: Repeat Row 2 until you have 50 stitches on the needle.

Row 5: Knit 1, Knit 2 together, knit to the end of the row. Repeat Row 5 until you have 3 stitches left on the needle; K 3 sts tog - EO off and weave in loose ends.

(5) MOD FESTIVE STRIPE KITCHEN TOWEL

By the time I started on this kitchen towel, I was reaching the end of my usable scraps cache; but there was, thankfully, enough to finish the set nicely ;-)

MOD Festive Striped Kitchen Towel Set

This brightly striped design was the final holiday design, in my 5 ct. kitchen towel sets …

Materials:

Cotton yarn in 7 shades: Ecru, Med. Orange, Red, Blue, Med. Pink, Dark Green, & Rose; 1 skein of each

#10-1/2 knitting needles

#H crochet hook

Scissors

Tapestry Needle

Decorative resin button

Terms used:

st. st. = stockinette stitch (1 K row = RS - 1 P row = WS)

RS = front facing side of work

WS = backside of work

k = knit

p = purl

Wrn = wrap yarn around needle to make 1 st

EO = end off yarn

CO = cast on stitches

sp = space

EA = each

Garter St. = knit every row

inc = increase 1 st (make 2 sts in same st)

dec = decrease 1 st (work 2 sts together)

sc = single crochet

dc = double crochet

sl st = slip stitch

With Ecru yarn, & knitting needles, CO 72 sts & work 4 rows garter st hemline.

Row 1 & 2: Work these rows in st. st.

Bamboo St. - Rows 3: *Wrn to m 1, K 2, pass m 1 over K 2* across row.

Row 4: P

Row 5: Rpt row 1

Row 6: Rpt row 2; drop Ecru & attach Med. Orange.

Bamboo St pattern Hemline

Rows 7 thru 10: Work these rows in st. st.; drop Med. Orange & attach Ecru.

Rows 11 thru 16: Work these rows in st. st.; drop Ecru & attach Red.

Rows 17 thru 21: Work these rows in st. st.; drop Red & attach Ecru.

Rows 22 thru 26: Work these rows in st. st.; drop Ecru & attach Blue.

Rows 27 thru 31: Work these rows in st. st.; drop Blue & attach Ecru.

Rows 32 thru 37: Work these rows in st. st.; drop Ecru & attach Med. Pink.

Rows 38 thru 42: Work these rows in st. st.; drop Med. Pink & attach Ecru.

Rows 43 thru 46: Work in st. st.; drop Ecru & attach Dark Green.

Rows 47 thru 61: Work these rows in st. st.: DO NOT EO - continue forward with green yarn.

Festive Stripe pattern.

Row 62 (WS): P 2 sts, P 3 tog across row to last 2 sts: end P 2 sts. There should be 29 sts on needle.

Change from knitting needles to crochet hook and work in sc as follows, slipping sts off knitting needle as they are worked: Dec 1 st EA end  … and every end each following crochet row until 7 sts remain; ch 1 & turn.

Work in sc for 17 rows; ch 1 & turn.

Sl st x3 sc; ch 6 and sl st in same sp; sl st to end. Turn.

Dc x12 in chain loop; EO.

Add a decorative loop edging of your choice (or leave plain).

Sew button in place and weave in loose ends.

MOD DISHCLOTH

I was running out of scrap yarn … so I added a stripe to this dishcloth; but a solid color would work just as well ;-)

MOD Matching Dishcloth

Cast on 2 stitches.

Row 1: Knit 1, inc 1 st in next st.

Row 2: Knit 1, inc, knit across the row.

Row 3: Knit 2, inc, knit across row.

Row 4: Repeat Row 2 until you have 50 stitches on the needle.

Row 5: Knit 1, Knit 2 together, knit to the end of the row. Repeat Row 5 until you have 3 stitches left on the needle; K 3 sts tog - EO off and weave in loose ends.