Easy DIY Crochet Wasp Nest Decoy
Well, it’s officially spring time here in the south and man did I miss the nice weather and sunshine. I started cleaning out my flower beds and planning my spring cleaning schedule this week. And while I was trying to enjoy a cold glass of sweet tea on my front porch I saw them, the worst thing about the weather getting warm, a wasp. The bane of my perfect spring day existence. I mean really, what are they good for? Nothing! (I have no idea if that’s true, I’m sure nature has a reason for them, but stick with me for dramatic effect ok?) So I knew when one of my favorite craft groups swore by a DIY Crochet Wasp Nest Decoy I had to see if that would work.
You see, apparently, wasps are very territorial creatures, and they won’t hang around a nest that isn’t their own. Fascinating right? Well, I quickly made 3 of them, one for my front porch, one for my back, and one for by the swing my child uses. Ya’ll, I haven’t seen a wasp in my yard in WEEKS. I can’t believe something that took me less than a few hours to make could help so much! I just need I had to share it with you, let’s check out the pattern shall we?
Here is how to make my super easy DIY crochet wasp nest decoy
You Will Need:
- A skein of natural color yarn (think tans, light browns, deep browns, grey, etc)
- 7mm crochet hook
- Plastic bags (for stuffing, you could also use polyfill or yarn scraps. I liked the way the plastic bags gave the nest a more natural shape)
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
Here is the pattern I used to make my easy DIY crochet wasp nest decoy
Abbreviations:
CH-Chain
MC- Magic Circle
ST-Stitch
SC- Single Crochet
DC- Double Crochet
INC- Increase
DEC- Decrease
FPDC- Front Post Double Crochet
- Create a MC, 6 sc in the ring
- DC INC in each stitch around (12)
- DC x2, Inc* (18)
- FPDC in each st (18)
- DCx2, Inc* (24)
- FPDC in each st (24)
- DCx2, Inc* (32)
- FPDC in each st (32)
- DC, Inc* (48)
- FPDC in each st (48)
- DC in each stitch (48)
- FPDC in each stitch (48)
- DC in 6, DEC* (42)
At this point, you should be able to see the ridges you have crested when doing your FPDC, flip your work inside out and begin working on the outside row
- FPDC 5, Dec* (36)
- DC 4, Dec* (30)
- DC 3, Dec* (24)
- DC 2, Dec* (18)
- DC 1, Dec* (12) (at this point I started stuffing my nest, so I didn’t have any trouble reaching the bottom of it)
- SC DEC* (6)
- At this point go ahead and cut your yarn (I used a long tail that I used to hang the nest up by after I fastened off) and sew your nest closed with your tapestry needle. Use your remaining tail to hang up your nest on your front porch!
And you are done! These decoy nests work up super quickly and from my person account, and the account of many others, they work SO well. It has rained twice since I have put mine up and they still look great, and not a wasp to be seen. It’s a win-win in my book.
If you make one of your own please come back and tell me how it works for you! Don’t forget to check out my other crochet posts, one is 7 tips for beginners and the other is my favorite places to shop for supplies! Then follow us on facebook, twitter or pinterest! We love to have friends all over the world.
Krista
Love this pattern! It’s so easy to follow and works up super fast. Made 2 for a neighbor who’s having trouble with wasps, and it’s working beautifully. Thank you!
Dina
yay! Thank you so much!
Janis
Regarding the wasp nest … why make FPC ridges when you turn the nest inside out so you can’t see them?
Rebecca Fairless
I made two of these about three years ago and hung them on each end of my deck. I see an occasional wasp around the house but none of them have built nests. These really work and have continued to work for years!
Dina
that’s great! I love when things like this work without using chemicals.
Marla
What if you already have wasps? Do you need to get rid of them first and then put up the decoy?
Dina
I would try to get rid of them first. Otherwise the fact that they see wasps are already there may not work. If that makes sense.
Rosemarie Stephenson
I think that where the instructions say FPDC it should read FLDC. My nest doesn’t look anything like the photo!