This Felt Prickly Pear Cactus is a great project for all skill levels. However, it does require some embroidery know-how, so we suggest brushing up on your stitching skills if you're feeling a bit rusty. Also, your cutting machine can be a great partner when working on a project of this size. With three cacti to create, you'll want to make sure your pieces stay as neat and organized as possible.

The prickly pear cactus, also known as the nopal or opuntia cactus, is significant in Latin American culture. Not only is she beautiful, but also resilient -- thriving easily in hot, dry climates. She's also super versatile. The pads, fruits, and even flowers of the prickly pear cactus are all edible! Though our version isn't nearly as tasty as the real deal, we can agree she's just as pretty.

We've taken much of our inspiration from the prickly pear's unique shape and gorgeous colors to design this project. Our guide will walk you through working with a variety of materials and the techniques used to achieve the tufted, realistic look of the pads, fruits, and bloom.

Though not the first, this Felt Prickly Pear is certainly our largest attempt. it has has a wire structure and posts at the base to help hold its shape. Once finished, you can arrange them into a pot with foam and then cover them with decorative stones to display with pride.

We can't wait to see your desert beauties, so don't forget to share your pics with us in our crafters' community or on Insta with the hashtag #MadeWithLia.

Stitches used: whip, ladder, straight stitch, and french knot.

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