Cactus Hat

Instructions:
Main Section of cactus
Using 4mm needles, and double knit wool, cast on 16 stitches
Knitting throughout, work 28 rows.
Cast off.

Section Two of cactus
Cast on 9st
Knitting throughout, work 10 rows.
Cast off.

Section Three of cactus
Cast on 6st
Knitting throughout, work 10 rows.
Cast off.

For all pieces – sew cast on and cast off edges together.  Gather around one end and turn inside out.  Join pieces together to look like a cactus.
Work some random French knots and flowers in a contrasting yarn.  For the flowers, I made 5 small loops and secured them with some stitches in the centre.

The Pot
Cast on 28 in terracotta and purl 2 rows, then SS 8 rows.
Join in another length of yarn and with the two strands together purl one row
Knit the next row with the two strands, break off terracotta and join on beige wool.
Starting with a knit row, SS two rows.
(K2, K2tog) repeat to end, purl next row.
(K1, K2tog) repeat to end, purl next row.
(K2tog) repeat to end.  B & T

Final Making Up:
To make up pot – join all the row ends together and finish off all the yarn ends.
Sew the finished cactus to the ‘earth’ in the pot – I left two rows clear and attached the base of the cactus to the third beige row.