MINI CROCHETED CAVE NESTS
Our
original cave nest pattern was inspired by Woodland Wildlife
Sanctuary's request for a cave type bed for the squirrels they were
caring for. The original pattern made an 8 inch cave nest. Many of the
wildlife rescues are enjoying using the smaller mini caves for the
cavity-dwelling baby birds they are caring for. I have included two
patterns below, one for a 5 inch cave nest and also one for a 3 inch
cave nest.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR 5 INCH CAVE NEST
Size 4 mm crochet hook
Two
strands of yarn used to increase strength, more tension on yarn while
crocheting will yield a tighter pattern with no holes. Even though
these nests are typically lined with paper towels/cloths, it is
essential that these are made as tightly as possible to reduce the risks
of claws/toes getting caught and it also helps to hold their shape
properly.
1st rnd:Ch 1. 6 sc in ring. Join with sl st to first sc. (See note and photo below pattern)
This allows you to tighten and make the hole in the bottom as small as possible and tie off when your done.
2nd rnd:Ch 1. 2 sc in each sc around. Join with sl st to first sc. (12 sc. total)
3rd rnd:Ch 1. (2 sc in next sc. 1 sc in next sc) 6 times. Join with sl st to first sc. (18 sc. total)
4th rnd:Ch 1. (2 sc in next sc. 1 sc in each of next 2 sc) 6 times. Join with sl st to first sc. (24 sc. total)
5th rnd:Ch 1. (2 sc in next sc. 1 sc in each of next 3 sc) 6 times. Join with sl st to first sc. (30 sc. total)
6th rnd:Ch 1. (2 sc in next sc. 1 sc in each of next 4 sc) 6 times. Join with sl st to first sc. (36 sc. total)
7th rnd:Ch 1. (2 sc in next sc. 1 sc in each of next 5 sc) 6 times. Join with sl st to first sc. (42 sc. total)
8th rnd:Ch 1. (2 sc in next sc. 1 sc in each of next 6 sc) 6 times. Join with sl st to first sc. (48 sc. total)
9th rnd:Ch 1. (2 sc in next sc. 1 sc in each of next 7 sc) 6 times. Join with sl st to first sc. (54 sc. total)
Continue working rnds. 10-15 even, Ch 1., with 1 sc in each sc.
Joining with sl st to first sc. on each row.
Creating door:
16th rnd: Ch 1., then 1 sc in each of the next 33 sc.
17th rnd: Turn, Ch 1. then sc in each of the next 33 sc.
Continue this for rnds. 18-25
26th
rnd: Ch 1., then 1 sc in each of the next 33 sc., then Ch. 21 and join
with a sl st to top row of "door" opening. At this point you should
have something that looks like the original nest, but with a door and a
single chain of stitches across the top of the door.
27th rnd: Ch 1., then 1 sc in each of the sc evenly, including the chain you created across the top of the door. (54 sc. total)
Continue working rnds. 28 and 29 even, Ch 1., with 1 sc. in each sc.
Joining with sl st to first sc. on each row.
Closing in the top:
30th rnd:Ch 1. (skip sc. 1 sc in each of next 8 sc) 6 times. (48 sc. total)
31st rnd:Ch 1. (skip sc. 1 sc in each of next 7 sc) 6 times. (42 sc. total)
32nd rnd:Ch 1. (skip sc. 1 sc in each of next 6 sc) 6 times. (36 sc. total)
33rd rnd:Ch 1. (skip sc. 1 sc in each of next 5 sc) 6 times. (30 sc. total)
34th rnd:Ch 1. (skip sc. 1 sc in each of next 4 sc) 6 times. (24 sc. total)
35th rnd:Ch 1. (skip sc. 1 sc in each of next 3 sc) 6 times. (18 sc. total)
36th rnd:Ch 1. (skip sc. 1 sc in each of next 2 sc) 6 times. (12 sc. total)
37th rnd:Ch 1. (skip sc. 1 sc in each of next 1 sc) 6 times. (6 sc. total)
38th
rnd: There will be a very small whole left in the top that can sl st
closed. Pull extra thread to the inside and tie off and trim excess.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR 3 INCH CAVE NEST
Size 4 mm crochet hook
Two
strands of yarn used to increase strength, more tension on yarn while
crocheting will yield a tighter pattern with no holes. Even though
these nests are typically lined with paper towels/cloths, it is
essential that these are made as tightly as possible to reduce the risks
of claws/toes getting caught and it also helps to hold their shape
properly.
1st rnd:Ch 1. 6 sc in ring. Join with sl st to first sc. (See note and photo below pattern)
This allows you to tighten and make the hole in the bottom as small as possible and tie off when your done.
2nd rnd:Ch 1. 2 sc in each sc around. Join with sl st to first sc. (12 sc. total)
3rd rnd:Ch 1. (2 sc in next sc. 1 sc in next sc) 6 times. Join with sl st to first sc. (18 sc. total)
4th rnd:Ch 1. (2 sc in next sc. 1 sc in each of next 2 sc) 6 times. Join with sl st to first sc. (24 sc. total)
5th rnd:Ch 1. (2 sc in next sc. 1 sc in each of next 3 sc) 6 times. Join with sl st to first sc. (30 sc. total)
6th rnd:Ch 1. (2 sc in next sc. 1 sc in each of next 4 sc) 6 times. Join with sl st to first sc. (36 sc. total)
Continue working rnds. 7-11 even, Ch 1., with 1 sc in each sc.
Joining with sl st to first sc. on each row.
Creating door:
12th rnd: Ch 1., then 1 sc in each of the next 24 sc.
13th rnd: Turn, Ch 1. then sc in each of the next 24 sc.
Continue this for rnds. 14-19
20th
rnd: Ch 1., then 1 sc in each of the next 24 sc., then Ch. 12 and join
with a sl st to top row of "door" opening. At this point you should
have something that looks like the original nest, but with a door and a
single chain of stitches across the top of the door.
21st rnd: Ch 1., then 1 sc in each of the sc evenly, including the chain you created across the top of the door. (36 sc. total)
Joining with sl st to first sc. on each row.
Closing in the top:
22nd rnd:Ch 1. (skip sc. 1 sc in each of next 5 sc) 6 times. (30 sc. total)
23rd rnd:Ch 1. (skip sc. 1 sc in each of next 4 sc) 6 times. (24 sc. total)
24th rnd:Ch 1. (skip sc. 1 sc in each of next 3 sc) 6 times. (18 sc. total)
25th rnd:Ch 1. (skip sc. 1 sc in each of next 2 sc) 6 times. (12 sc. total)
26th rnd:Ch 1. (skip sc. 1 sc in each of next 1 sc) 6 times. (6 sc. total)
27th
rnd: There will be a very small whole left in the top that can sl st
closed. Pull extra thread to the inside and tie off and trim excess.

How
to start the nests. Ch. 1, you then have to make that chain loop a
little bigger, like in the picture below. Then you crochet your first 6
sc IN that loop. That will give you your first 6 stitches to build on
and it allows for you to pull it closed and tighten the bottom , so
there is no hole in the middle of the bottom.
4 inch Mini Knitted Cave Nest Pattern
Many
thanks to Carolyn Walsh for creating the original pattern for knitted
cave nests and also for reviewing the revised Mini cave nest pattern and
making the first one to ensure it would work.
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I don't use a circular needle for this pattern. I use 7 inch double edged needles.
If you use a circular needle, it would be for only part of the nest.
3 - size 5 mm needles
2 strands of yarn
Cast on 6 sts. ( 2 on each needle) Join in round
1st Knit 1, increase 1, repeat to end of round. (4 sts. on each needle,12 sts. in total.)
2nd. Knit 2 sts., increase 1 st., repeat to end of round.(18 sts. in total)
3rd. Knit 3 sts., increase 1 st., repeat to end of round.( 24 sts.)
4th. Knit 4 sts., inc. 1 st., repeat to end. ( 30 sts.)
5th Knit 5 sts., increase 1 st., repeat to end. (36 sts.)
6th. Knit 6 sts., increase 1 st., repeat to end. (42 sts.)
7th Knit 7 sts., increase 1 st., repeat to end. (48 sts.)
At this point you should have 16 sts. on each needle
Rows 8 to 15 Knit
16 th. Cast off 14 sts., knit to end. ( 34 sts. )
17th. Purl row
18th. Knit to end.
19th. Purl
Repeat 18th. and 19th. rows, 5 times each. This makes the opening in the nest.
30th. Cast on 14 sts.. Knit to end. ( 48 sts. )
31st. to 33rd. Knit.
34th. Knit 6 sts., knit 2 tog., repeat to end.
35th. Knit 5 sts., knit 2 tog., repeat to end.
36th. Knit 4 sts., knit 2 tog., repeat to end.
37th. Knit 3 sts., knit 2 tog., repeat to end.
38th. Knit 2 sts., knit 2 tog., repeat to end.
39th. Knit 1 st., knit 2 tog., repeat to end.
40th. Knit 2 together 6 times
You should have 6 stitches remaining.
Draw up and tie off the stitches.
Sew in the yarn ends.
"
( Repito, la autoría y derechos son de la página Wildlife Rescue Nets)
Listado de sitios a los que enviar ( vereis que en España aún no hay, habrá que buscarlo y ofrecerlo ): https://www.facebook.com/notes/902338813164020/
Source :
http://wildliferescuenests.weebly.com/
https://www.facebook.com/notes/902338813164020/
https://www.facebook.com/wildliferescuenests