Easy DIY Crochet Wasp Nest Decoy

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

1. Create a MC, 6 sc in the ring
2. DC INC in each stitch around (12)
3. DC x2, Inc* (18)
4. FPDC in each st (18)
5. DCx2, Inc* (24)
6. FPDC in each st (24)
7. DCx2, Inc* (32)
8. FPDC in each st (32)
9. DC, Inc* (48)
10. FPDC in each st (48)
11. DC in each stitch (48) 
12. FPDC in each stitch (48)
13. 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

1. FPDC 5, Dec* (36)
2. DC 4, Dec* (30)
3. DC 3, Dec* (24)
4. DC 2, Dec* (18)
5. DC 1, Dec* (12) (at this point I started stuffing my nest, so I didn’t have any trouble reaching the bottom of it)
6. SC DEC* (6)
7. 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.