Nesting
Designed and knit by Kala Hotakainen This was such a fun set to design, I hope it will be fun for you to knit! A perfect decoration or gift for any time of year, the mama bird with all her baby and accessories is sure to get a smile. All of the yarns called for in this pattern are by Crystal Palace, but the birds and eggs are great for using up any bits of sock yarn in your stash. The nests are also a great use for any novelty yarn that you weren't sure what to do with.
Mama Bird
Materials:
1 skein of Crystal Palace's Panda Cotton in Blueberries-Grapes. Small amount of Crystal Palace's Panda Cotton in Red Cinnamon Small amount of Crystal Palace's Panda Cotton in Black Fiberfill Needles: Set of US size 2 $(2.75\mathrm{mm})$ dpns, US size 2 straight needles (optional you could also use 2 dpns as straight needles). Gauge: 8 stitches to the inch in stockinette in the round. Abbreviations: CO: cast on, sts.: stitches, k: knit, kfb: knit into the front and back of stitch, ssk: slip, slip, knit, k2tog: knit two stitches together, BO: bind off.
Instructions:
Body: CO 24 sts. with Blueberry-Grapes and join for working in the round. Arrange sts. so that there are 6 on each of 4 needles. Rnd 1: K Rnd 2: kfb, k to last stitch on needle, kfb - repeat on each needle. Repeat these two rounds four more times. Work 17 rounds of stockinette stitch. At this point, weave the tail from the CO through the CO stitches, pulltight to close hole so that you may begin to stuff the bird, adding more stuffing as you work the decrease rounds. Note: the tester found it easier to finish the body, sew up the top, then sew in the beak and wings, and then stuff the body and sew up the bottom. Decreases: Rnd 1: SSK, k to end of needle, k2tog - repeat on each needle. Rnd 2: K Repeat these last two rounds 4 more times. Break off yarn and draw through remaining sts.
Wings (make 2):
Wings are worked flat. CO 10 sts. Work 10 rows of garter st. SSK, k6, k2tog. SSK, k4, k2tog. SSK, k2, k2tog. SSK, k2tog. BO last 2 sts. Repeat for second wing. Beak: Beak is worked flat. With Red Cinnamon, CO 4 sts. Work 3 rows of garter st. SSK, k2tog. RN
Finishing:
Use whip stitch to attach the wings to the sides of the body. Use the black yarn to embroider small eyes on the face. Whip stitch the beak to the face. Weave in all ends.
Nest for Mama Bird
Materials:
For Smaller Nest:
· 1 skein of Crystal Palace's Splash in color #7185. · 1 skein of Crystal Palace's Bamboozle in Black.
For Larger Nest:
· 1 skein of Crystal Palace's Squiggle in Chocolate Almonds. · 1 skein of Crystal Palace's Bamboozle in Copper. · 1 skein of Crystal Palace's Poof in color #9377. Needles: US size 11 (8mm) straight needles. Gauge: Gauge is not important for this project.
Instructions:
Holding both (or all 3 for the larger nest) strands together, CO 25 sts Work rows 1-5 in garter st Row 6: K2tog, k to last two stitches, K2tog Row 7: Knit Row 8: \*K2tog, K5\*...K2tog Row 9: Knit Row 10: K2tog across row...K1 Row 11: Knit Break yarn leaving about a $10^{\circ}$ tail. Using Bamboozle only, seam the side of the nest using whip stitch. Weave in ends.
Eggs
Materials:
1 skein or leftovers of Crystal Palace's Panda Cotton, Maizy, or Panda soy in any color. Examples shown are knit in Strawberry-Limes and Blueberry-Grapes. Small amount of fiberfill Needles: Set of US size 2 $(2.75\mathrm{mm})$ dpns Gauge: 8 stitches to the inch in stockinette in the round.
Instructions:
CO 6 stitches and join for working in the round Rnd 1: K. Repeat for all odd-numbered rounds. Rnd 2: \*kfb, k1\* (9 sts.) Rnd 4: \*kfb, k1\*...to last stitch, kfb (14 sts.) Rnd 6: \*kfb, k1\* (21 sts.) Rnd 8: \*kfb, $12^{*}$ (28 sts.) Rnd 10: \*kfb, $k3^{*}$ (35 sts.) Rnds. 11 - 17: K Rnd. 18: $^{\ast1}\mathrm{k}2$ tog, $k3^{*}$ (28 sts.) At this point, weave the tail from the CO through the CO stitches, pull tight to close hole. Rnd. 20: \*k2tog, $k2^{*}$ (21 sts.) Rnd. 22: $^{\ast1}\mathrm{k}2$ tog, $k1^{*}$ (14 sts.) At this point, start stuffing the egg, adding more stuffing as needed as you work more decrease rounds. Rnd. 24: \*k2tog, $k1^{*}$ .to the last 2 s., k2tog (9 sts) Rnd. 26: \*k2tog, $k1^{*}$ (6 sts.) Break yarn, leaving about a $10^{\circ}$ tail. Thread yarn through remaining 6 sts. and pull to close. Weave in ends.
Baby Bird
Materials: 1 skein of Crystal Palace's Panda Cotton in Blueberries-Grapes. Small amount of Crystal Palace's Panda Cotton in Red Cinnamon Small amount of Crystal Palace's Panda Cotton in Black Fiberfill Needles: Set of US size 2 $(2.75\mathrm{mm})$ needles. Gauge: 8 stitches to the inch in stockinette. Instructions: Body: CO 12 sts. and join for working in the round. Arrange the sts. so that there are 3 sts. on each of4 needles. Rnd 1: K Rnd 2: kfb, knit to the last stitch on the needle, kfb - repeat on each needle. Repeat these last two rounds 2 more times. Work 8 rounds in stockinette stitch. At this point, draw the tail from the CO edge through the CO sts. and pull closed. Now you can begin stuffing the bird, adding more stuffing as you work the decreases. Decreases: Rnd 1: SSK, knit to last two stitches on needle, k2tog - repeat on each needle. Rnd 2: K Repeat these two rounds once more. Break yarn and draw through remaining sts. Wings (make 2): Wings are worked flat. CO 5 sts. Work 5 rows of garter st. SSK, k1, k2tog. BO, Repeat for second wing. Beak: Beak is worked flat With Red Cinnamon, CO 3 sts. Work 3 rows in garter st.
BO
Finishing:
Use whip stitch to attach the wings to the sides of the body. Use the black yarn to embroider small eyes on the face. Whip stitch the beak to the face. Weave in all ends.
Mini Nests for Baby Bird
Materials:
For Pink Nest:
· 1 skein of Crystal Palace's Party in Strawberry-Limes · 1 skein of Crystal Palace's Fizz Stardust in color #3733 For Blue-Green Nest: · 1 skein of Crystal Palace's Party in Misty Greens · 1 skein of Crystal Palace's Fizz Stardust in color #4212 Needles: US size 8 straight needles. Gauge: Gauge is not important for this project.
Instructions:
Holding both strands of yarn together, CO 25 sts. Work 5 rows of garter stitch. K2tog, kto last 2 sts., ktog. K. \*K2tog, k\*...k2tog. Break yarns leaving about a $10^{\circ}$ tail. Seam the side of the nest using whip stitch. Weave in all ends. Thanks so much for purchasing this pattern, if you have any problems or questions, feel free to contact me on Ravelry or e-mail me at craftytofu@yahoo.com. This pattern is for personal use only, please do not sell any items made from this pattern or reproduce this pattern in any way. Don't make me send the flying monkeys after you! And a special thanks to my fabulous test knitter Yuliya Sullivan! Check out her patterns on Ravelry http://www.ravelry.com/stores/happy-kniting and her Etsy shop, http://JustForYouHandKnits.etsy.com
