Flowering Cactus TP cozy.
This TP cozy is knit in-the-round, and covers 2 or 1 rolls of toilet paper.
Supplies:
50 grams green Super bulky Yarn for cactus body (l used Cascade Lana Grande 6022 Cucumber) 16 yards yellow DK or light worsted yarn for the flowers (regular worsted yarn would work too) scraps of peach yarn for flower centers scraps of brown yarn for “dirt" (optional) 1 hank green embroidery floss for spines (l used DMC #164) 1 plant pot, 6-inch diameter x 4.5 inch deep (interior measurements) cardstock and glue 2 rolls of toilet paper
Tools:
size 11 circular knitting needles (for magic loop) or needles to obtain gauge size G and I crochet hooks tapestry needle Abbreviations: k2tog: knit two stitches together at one time p2tog: purl two stitches together at one time
Gauge:
12 stitches rib pattern = 4.5 inches ch: chain stitch hdc: half double crochet dc: double crochet tr: treble crochet Exact gauge is not important, as long as the cactus can stretch to fit around a roll of TP.
Cactus body:
Cast on 36 stitches. Using Magic Loop method, join to form a circle. Place and replace Round 1: \*k1 p2\* repeat from \* to \* 12 times. Repeat Round 1 until cactus measures 6 inches tall. (I knit around 21 rows.) If the pot you are using is shallower, more rows may be needed. When two rolls of TP are placed in the pot, the bottom of the cozy should be below the edge of the pot. Decrease Round 1: \*k1 p2tog k1 p2\* repeat from \* to \* 6 times. Round 2: \*k1 p1 k1 p2\* repeat from \* to \* 6 times. (30 stitches) Round 3: \*k1 p1 k1 p2tog\* repeat from \* to \* 6 times. Round 4: \*k1 p1\* repeat from \* to \* 12 times. (24 stitches) Round 5: \*k2tog k1 p1\* repeat from \* to \* 6 times. Round 6: \*k2 p1\* repeat from \* to \* 6 times. (18 stitches) Round 7: \*k1 k2tog\* repeat from \* to \* 6 times. (12 stitches) Break off thread. Using tapestry needle, thread yarn through remaining stitches and pull together. Fasten off and pull yarn tail to wrong side of cactus. "Dirt'" (optional): Using the larger crochet hook, work 2 rows of single crochet stitches around the bottom of the cactus. Break off yarn. Work in yarn ends. Flowers: make 3, using smaller crochet hook ch 5, join with slip stitch to form ring. ch 2. In first loop of chain: dc, 2 tr, dc, hdc Work 1 petal pattern (hdc, dc, 2 tr, dc, hdc) in each loop around the chain, 4 times. Join to first petal with slip stitch. Break off yarn. Using a tapestry needle, work yarn end to the middle of flower on the back. Leave the tails long, to use to attach the flowers to cactus. Using peach yarn, embroider french knots in the center of each flower. Attach the flowers to the top of the cactus using the yarn tails. Knot the yarn on the inside of the cactus.
Spines:
Using all 6 strands of embroidery floss, make knots on the knit ribs, every 4th cross bar. Trim the floss to about 12 inch in length. Make the spines closer to each other near the top of the cactus.
Finishing:
Roll and glue cardstock into a tube that fits inside the cores of the TP rolls. This tube is used to keep the two rolls of toilet paper together. The cozy holds 2 rolls of TP, but it will also cover one roll by removing the top roll and letting the top of the cozy sit on top of the cardstock tube.
