Nifty Gifties: The Plant That Can Never Be Killed.

This summer, I went on a succulents frenzy. Not only do I have the real deal, but when the Sept./Oct. 2008 copy of Crochet Today! came, it gave me the option to have the fake deal, too.Yes, crocheted cacti is what they are. And they are not only adorable, but they make excellent gifts, which is what I did with every single one I made. The pattern gives several basic designs for tall, short, and double decker cacti, with or without budding flowers, and they are all easily crocheted up "in a spiral".But after I tried all those, I decided to get a wee creative and developed a few of my own--cacti that look like pitchforks, ones with bright, giant flourescent colored blossoms (finally! I have an excuse to use at the kitschy Moda Dea Tutu yarn I had no idea what to do with), short ones, fat ones, you name it. I love making these! They are so simple yet oh so gratifying, and glue gunning them into little clay pots is just the most delicious idea ever.Thank you Crochet Today! You can have a sneek peak at the pattern here, but you'll have to buy up the magazine yourself in order to make these. For all my friends that are crafters and my Mum, I inserted little pins hither and thither not only as "thorns", but they make really excellent pincushions, too, for all those needles and what not.This particular cactus pictured was gifted to my friend Lauren, who does the most incredible beadwork I've seen in some time. So go buy one of her patterns, will you? After all, who doesn't want a cactus pincushion for their birthday?File Under: Giftage for the inclined to kill house plants. These are immune.