*** Please work with heavy tension on the yarn, as this makes for tighter, more stable nests that are less likely to get toes or claws caught in them.

Tips

• To make sure the nest is tight and washable, use two strands of washable yarn (using two different colors to make counting stitches easier). Use three strands if the yarn is very fine.
• Use double-pointed needles—just about any size, from 5 through 9, depending on the weight of the yarn. You can use circular needles if you prefer.
• When doing K2tog, it seems to be easier to knit through the back loops rather than the front. If you’re still having problems with K2tog, try using a crochet hook to pull the yarn through.
• Only decrease to the point where you have a small, easily closed gap in the bottom of the nest; otherwise there can be a bump on the bottom that can make the nest unstable.
• Directions given are for nests that are about 8” across.
• The yarn should not be fuzzy so toes don’t get caught

Adapted from the original 4 inch nest design by Barbara Johnson, friend of Native Songbird Care and Conservation.