A Crochet Bucket List Project by Oombawka Design
Design: Crochet Bird Nest
Designer: Erangi Udeshika (Crochet For You)
Pattern Price: Free!
Photo Credit Erangi of Crochet for You
Last year I had the opportunity to crochet Erangi’s Crochet Bird Nest pattern. I have had MANY requests from friends and family members for one for their yards too!
I tried to get a photo all summer of a bird using this nest but I was unable to do so – not because they didn’t use it…but because my children were always so excited to see the birds in the nest they scared them away!
I think birds here like to play on it because it ‘swings’ in the wind – and after I added some birdseed to the bottom they loved to hang on and eat from it as well!
So…don’t despair if no one sets up home inside your creative nest – just toss in some bird seed and watch them come and play!
Erangi’s pattern is very easy to follow and it works up VERY quickly – I must admit I didn’t follow the row end counts closely as once you get into the rhythm of crocheting the bird nest form it tends to take shape pretty much on its own. I had no trouble completing the pattern. I used a 4.0 mm hook to make mine as my nylon string seemed a little bit to heavy for the 3.25 mm. My finished bird nest was approximately 8″ tall (not counting the hanging string).
I purchased some orange nylon string from our local Dollar Store (for you guessed it! $1.00) and went to work. I found the nylon a little challenging for my fingers because of how hard it was but when you are used to working with soft yarn it is pretty natural for a different material to feel rough 😉 I do recommend you do not use any of the painted metal/aluminium crochet hooks with harder materials as they sometimes have the tendency to strip off that outer coating on your hook.
I think other options that will work well for the nest would be cotton string or twine – for a more natural alternative to the nylon or plastic options available. Although the plastic is VERY durable and cleans up quite well with a wash in the sink (or with the hose!). In fact I can use it again this year – where a more natural type of string would likely need to be tossed out with all the goodies left behind by our local birds.
Get your copy of this free pattern HERE: Crochet Bird Nest
Rhondda says
Very welcome Michelle 🙂 I’ve damaged a few now with different fibers and when I was using the wire to make a bracelet I used one of the tinted aluminium hooks and it scraped all the coating off the one side and left a rough edge! Hope your pet quail likes its little hut!
Michelle B says
I have a pet quail and might make some version of this for her to hide in. I have some nettle yarn I might use. Thanks for the tip on not using nice metal hooks for rough fibers. I probably would have just grabbed a hook and gone for it!
Connie M says
This is so cool! I’m thinking of trying it in hemp (yes, murder on the hands), because of our subtropical climate. Many birds nest here twice a year, so it has twice the opportunity to get used. Late nesters might even get some soft felt for a warm lining. Love it!