Santa hat and beard for my cactus- free crochet pattern

Check out the free written cactus pattern here: https://laura5243.wixsite.com/laurawilsondesigns/post/crochet-mexican-cactus-free-pattern

Youtube video tutorial for the cactus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4k15ye1LWQ

Youtube video tutorial for the santa hat and beard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_jIqMiFKUY

Materials needed:

• DK yarn in red and white

• 3mm crochet hook

• Stitch marker

• Scissors

• Yarn needle

Abbreviations (US crochet terms):

st- stitch

mr- magic ring

ch- chain

sl st- slip stitch

sc- single crochet

inc- increase

invdec- invisible decrease

sc2tog- single crochet 2 together

Santa hat:

In red:

Rnd 1: 6 sc in mr (6)

Rnd 2: sc in every st (6)

Rnd 3: (sc in nxt st, inc) x3 (9)

Rnd 4: sc in every st (9)

Rnd 5: (sc in nxt 2 st, inc) x3 (12)

Rnd 6: sc in every st (12)

Rnd 7: (sc in nxt 3 st, inc) x3 (15)

Rnd 8: sc in every st (15)

Rnd 9: (sc in nxt 4 st, inc) x3 (18)

Rnd 10: sc in every st (18)

Rnd 11: (sc in nxt 5 st, inc) x3 (21)

Rnd 12: sc in every st (21)

Rnd 13: (sc in nxt 6 st, inc) x3 (24)

Rnd 14: sc in every st (24)

Rnd 15: (sc in nxt 7 st, inc) x3 (27)

Rnd 16: sc in every st (27) Change to white as you finish last red sc. Cut red yarn and tie in a double knot with the white.

Rnd 17: sc in every st (27) sl st in nxt st

Fasten off leaving a long tail if you want to sew the hat to the head or a short tail if not. If you've left a short tail- weave tail into the back of the stitches on the inside edge. Trim excess. Weave short tails into back of stitches on the inside too.

Bobble on end of hat:

In white:

Rnd 1: 6 sc in mr (6)

Rnd 2: (sc in nxt st, inc) x3 (9)

Rnd 3: (sc in nxt st, invdec) x3 (6)

Fasten off leaving tail. Sew to end of hat. Fasten off and weave tail through the hat. Fold the hat over, it should stay folded but if you want it to stay closer to the hat then you can sew that end down with red yarn.

Beard:

In white:

Row 1: ch 7, starting in 2nd st from hook: sc in nxt 6 st (6)

Row 2: ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in nxt 2 st, sc2tog (4)

Row 3: ch 1, turn, sc in nxt 4 st (4)

Row 4: ch 1, turn, (sc2tog) x2 (2)

Row 5: ch 1, turn, sc in nxt 2 st (2)

Row 6: ch 1, turn, sc2tog (1)

sc around all edges in the spaces at the ends of the rows. sl st in nxt st.

Fasten off leaving long tail.

Moustache:

Pull up loop on top corner edge of beard, ch 6, skip 2 st, sl st in nxt st, ch 6, skip 2 st, sl st in nxt st

Fasten off leaving long tail.

If you want to sew the beard to the cactus then use the long tail, but if you want to tie it around the back of his head then weave the long tail from the beard up the side edge and come out where the moustache ends, so that you have two strands at either end of the moustache. Weave in other short tails into the back. Trim the two ends if they're too long, so that they're the same length, put the beard onto his face and tie in a knot or a bow at the back.

The Santa cactus is finished! I'd love to see a photo of yours, you can share it with me by tagging me on instagram @laura_wilson01

Check out my Etsy shop for more patterns: https://laurawilsondesigns.etsy.com

This pattern was designed by Laura Wilson of Laura Wilson Designs. This pattern is strictly for personal, non-commercial use. Copy, distribution or commercial use of this pattern or any of its parts is not allowed. Please give credit if posting photos or selling finished item. © Laura Wilson 2025- All rights reserved.