Knit Nests Needed for Baby Birds

This sounds like one of those knitting sweaters for penguins things, but apparently it’s actually true that a wildlife refuge in San Rafael is looking for people to knit bird’s nests for the abandoned baby birds they care for.

WildCare says it would like to collect about 1,200 of the nests, which are basically just knit bowls. They’re placed into plastic bowls then lined with tissue to help keep the birds warm and cozy.

The refuge says about half of the animals they rescue each year are birds. They have patterns for felted and unfelted bowls of various sizes and ask that nests that are unfelted be knit very tightly so the birds won’t get caught in them and be made of machine washable materials because baby birds eat and poop a lot.

What a fun project this would be fun a scout troop or a science club! Or just make some yourself and pass them along. You might even look locally and see if there’s a close to home refuge that could use the nests as well. Looking for more Baby Knitting patterns? Check these out on Etsy.

[Photo by Alan Dep/Marin Independent Journal.]

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Not too long ago my daughter and I had a discussion about what a chestnut really looks like. The nut itself is small and brown, of course, but on the tree they’re covered with this weird kind of spiky, kind of fuzzy shell. It’s a wonder anyone ever figured out they were edible.

If you didn’t know that, you might wonder why this project is call Chestnut balaclava, but now you know.

This fun design from Yevheniia Pyroh is covered with spikes just like a chestnut shell, and is even the same color, though of course you can make yours whatever color you like. It uses two strands of fingering weight yarn held together (which it says is fingering weight but you could try a light/DK yarn and see if you get gauge with it if you’d rather).

There are two different design options in the pattern. One is a more fitted balaclava style hat (it doesn’t cover the face but does go around the neck) and a looser fit hood.

It’s worked primarily in garter stitch, with shaping done by knitting and purling in the same stitch and through various decreases (including a knit 3 together).

The pattern is charted but also explained in words. It’s worked flat to the size you want, and then joined into a hood shape with ribbing at the neck. The opening for the face is finished with I-cord.

This hood/balaclava would definitely be a conversation starter and in different colors it might read more dinosaur than chestnut, which could also be fun. The sizing is totally custom so you can make it fit whatever head you’re stitching for.

If you want to try it for yourself (and I’d love to hear about it if you do!) you can download the free pattern from Ravelry.

[Photo: Yevheniia Pyroh]

Balaclava Knitting Patterns

Colorwork Balaclava Knitting Pattern [Knitting]

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