19 Cactus Embroidery Patterns

Learn to Embroider These Potted Cacti

Embroidery artist Trish Burr has lots of detailed needle-painting patterns, but before you get to that level of embroidery, you need to start with the basics. In her "How to Do Surface Embroidery" download, she walks you through the basics, and you get to practice on these sweet cactus patterns.

She also has another tutorial that includes a cactus pattern in which you can learn whitework techniques. Best of all, you can place a free order for them.

Learn How to Do Surface Embroidery from Trish Burr

Hand Embroider Some Colorful Cacti

Add some color and playfulness to your embroidery with this fun cactus pattern. Jodie from Lova Handmade always has delightful designs that are easy to stitch. The decorative elements on and around the potted cacti make this a pattern you'll love working on.

Cactus Embroidery Pattern, $4, Lova Handmade

Stitch a Maintenance-Free Cactus

Just as there are many different cacti and each one is unique, there are many variations on ways to embroider these prickly plants as well. This delightful pattern uses shades of green and satin stitch to show the ridges in the cactus, which then mirrors the container that the cactus is growing in.

To receive this free design, you'll need to subscribe to Bustle and Sew's newsletter, but that also gives you access to lots of other free patterns.

Cactus Embroidery Hoop from Bustle and Sew

Create an Outlined Cactus in Full Desert Boom

DMC, the makers of arguably the most frequently-used embroidery floss, has an extensive collection of free patterns, including this delicate cactus. The main body of the cactus is striking when stitched in black and white with the pops of color on the flowers. Be sure to search for other cactus patterns on the DMC site as well.

Cactus in Bloom Embroidery Pattern from DMC

Fill a Hoop With Embroidered Cacti

If you love stitching but want to avoid the process of transferring the pattern, why not try this pre-printed fabric? Your entire hoop will be filled with charming cactus designs in a mix of sizes, shapes, and colors.

Cactus Stamped Fabric Embroidery Pattern, $16, Oh Sew Bootiful

Stitch a Familiar Lyric

Did this free cactus embroidery pattern cause you to instantly start humming a song or even dancing a bit? It's possible that the song this lyric comes from will be stuck in your head as you stitch, but you have to admit that it's true. You can't touch these adorably prickly plants.

Can't Touch This Embroidery Pattern from Flamingo Toes

Embroider Teeny Tiny Cacti

Stitching at very small sizes, like our tiny flower embroidery tutorial, requires using only a few stitches to create exactly the right effect. Aimee Ray of Little Dear includes detailed instructions for stitching these tiny succulents. They aren't exactly cacti, but a few a very similar and they would be great details to add to some of the other patterns on this list.

Tiny Succulents Hand Embroidery Pattern, $6, Little Dear

Watch and Learn to Stitch Three Cactus Designs

If you like learning by watching videos, you will love this cactus embroidery tutorial on YouTube. You'll learn exactly how to stitch this project, which is helpful for some of the more complex stitches like the long bullion knots, padded satin stitch, and more.

The free pattern is available on the designer's Pinterest page, but the shapes are simple enough you could probably sketch something similar as well.

Cactus Embroidery from [Mây] Décor

Make an Embroidered Cactus Patch

All this little cactus wants is a hug. The adorable kit comes with pre-printed fabric and all the threads you need to embroider a patch. You only need to know two stitches, so it's even perfect for beginners.

Hug Me Cactus Embroidery Patch Kit, $21, Ellbie Co.

Practice New Stitches on a Cactus Design

Want to learn a few new stitches as you make a cactus embroidery? Sarah's "3 Stitches at a Time" series give you the opportunity to practice stitches in a fun design. This one features chain stitch, chevron stitch, and triple palestrina stitch.

3SAT Cactus Pattern from Sarah's Hand Embroidery Tutorials

Make Some Adorable Cactus Faces

You don't often think of a cactus as sweet, but this set of three patterns proves that even the prickliest of plants can be adorable. Each cactus design features a sweet smiling face that you'll fall in love with—and the pastel colors only add to the cuteness.

Set of Three Cacti Patterns, $10, Little Things to Share

Give These Succulent Patterns Some Love

If you love succulents and cacti, then you'll love these hearts filled with different succulents. They're like a love letter to your favorite plants. After you download this free pattern, you should also check out Global Backyard's fantastic embroidery kit for stitching a little cactus in a tomato can.

Love Succs Embroidery Pattern from Global Backyard

Stitch a Cactus Trio

Simple lines and perfect details make this trio of cacti an excellent pattern for beginners. It gives you the opportunity to practice several basic embroidery stitches while also leaving room for creativity.

Cactus Trio Hand Embroidery Pattern, $6, Wandering Threads Embroidery

Get Stuck on These Kawaii Cacti

Stitch some happy cacti with this free pattern collection from author Mollie Johanson at Wild Olive. Along with these and other designs in the set, the same post also has a link to a matching set of printable stitching cards so your kids can stitch along, too.

Stuck on You Embroidery Pattern from Wild Olive

Paint Pastel Cacti With Thread

Aren't these pastel rainbow cacti lovely? They truly look like they were done in watercolors, which makes sense since they use a needle painting technique. If you've ever wanted to try needle painting, this looks like a great way to practice blending colors.

Rainbow Cactus Embroidery Pattern, $4, Thread Meadows

Stitch a Happy Cactus

Meet Jolene the Cactus! This free pattern is simple, but oh so cute. The PDF includes several pattern sizes, a reversed version for different types of pattern transfer, and a guide for suggested stitches.

Jolene the Cactus Pattern from Threads of Alabama

Add an Artistic Flair to a Cactus or Two

This pattern set from Slow Evenings Embroidery includes two different cactus patterns that look simple at first glance, but once you look beyond the outlines, you see what makes them special: tiny abstract patterns in the background. They are the difference between basic embroidery and an art piece.

Abstract Cacti Embroidery Pattern, $13, Slow Evenings Embroidery

Make Mini Embroidered Cacti

If you've ever seen teeny tiny embroidery hoops used for making necklaces and wondered what you'd stitch in them, here's your answer. These free mini cactus patterns, originally published in Mollie Makes, are ideal for framing in even the smallest of hoops.

How to Make Mini Cactus Embroidery Hoops from Gathered

Show Someone You Care With Cactus Embroidery

This adorable Valentine's Day cactus pattern is an iron-transfer pattern, so getting it ready to stitch is a breeze. And if you want to stitch it as a design you can use all year, all you have to do is cut the word Valentine off of the pattern before you iron it to your fabric.

Stuck on You Valentine Iron Transfer Pattern, $4, Colonial Patterns