Faux Hornets Nest Free Pattern

Speaking of hornets......

Do you have pesky wasps flying around your favorite outdoor places?  If so, this sweet little pattern might be helpful in keeping them away without killing them or risking a sting.

I have been reading that a fake hornet's nest will repel wasps from the area.  Having tried it on our back patio, we think it is working.  Haven't seen a wasp since we put ours up, and we usually see at least 2 or 3 each time we go out.

So if you would like to give it a try, here is the pattern I came up with for one.  It is about 15 inches long from top to bottom with about a 3 inch loop for hanging.

This is worked in a spiral and I use a running stitch marker to keep track of rounds.  Instructions between ** are to be repeated to end of round or number of times specified.

Materials:
Chunky Yarn.  (I used a couple of skeins of old rug yarn I had laying around.)
#7.0 hook
Polyfil stuffing (You can stuff this with anything you like. )


Abbreviations:
MC- magic circle or ring.
ST- stitch
SC-  single crochet
DC- double crochet
FPDC-  front post double crochet
INC- increase
DEC- decrease
CH- chain

1.  Make 6 sc in a magic ring.

2.  DC in each st.  (6)
3.  DC INC in each st.  (12)
4. * DC, DC INC*  (18)
5.  FPDC in each st.  (18)
6.  *DC 2, INC*  (24)
7.  *FPDC in each st.  (24)
8.  *DC 2, INC*  (32)
9.  FPDC in each st.  (32)
10.  *DC, INC*  (48)
11.  FPDC in each st.  (48)
12.  DC in each st.  (48)
13.  FPDC in each st.  (48)
14.  *DC in 6, DEC*  (42)

At this point, turn the nest inside out.  You can now see the ridges that the FPDC's have made!  You will continue  working in rounds, but now from the inside out.  

15. *FPDC 5, DEC*  (36)
16.  DC 4, DEC.  (30)
17.  DC 3, DEC.  (24)
18.  DC 2, DEC  (18)  Stuff nest at this point.
19.  DC 1, DEC  (12)
20.  SCDEC X's 6.  (6)
Do not cut yarn but  chain 15 and attach the end back into the last round to form a loop for hanging your nest.

If you don't have a bulky or chunky yarn, you could use several strands of whatever yarn you have on hand to make up the bulk needed to make this nest.

And there you have it!  Your own faux hornet's nest.




I hope you enjoy making this as much as I enjoyed designing it for you!  
Be blessed!
Reny

Murder Hornet FREE Crochet Pattern

Well, friends, here it is!    Hope you enjoy it, and if you have any questions, feel free to message me on my facebook page Yarn Varmints.

This pattern is crocheted in sc and in rounds.  I use a piece of contrasting color yarn as a running stitch marker.  It's a good idea to stuff as you go.  Instructions between ** are to be repeated the number of times stated or to the end of the round.

Materials:
Acrylic yarn in 2 colors
Size D, 3.5mm hook
Polyfil stuffing
2 large shank buttons for eyes, or may use safety eyes.
Several black chenille stems for legs and antenna.

Murder Hornet

Head  With yellow or gold yarn.

1.  Make 6 sc in a magic ring.
2.  Sc in each st. (6)
3.  *Sc, inc*  (9)
4.  Sc in each st.  (9)
5.  *Sc 2, inc.*  (12)
6.  Sc in each st.  (12)
7.  *Sc 2, inc*  (16)
8.  *Sc 2, dec*  (12)
9. Sc in each.  (12)
10.  Dec x's 6.  (6)
Finish off leaving a long enough tail to weave through loops of final round and pull closed.  Secure with a stitch and hide end of  yarn inside head stuffing.  Stitch eyes to sides of head using brown yarn.  When eyes are secure, bring yarn down through the center of round 1 and use the same yarn to embroider the facial features.  Weave in tail when done.

To make the antennae, cut a 4 inch length of chenille stem. fold about 1/3 of the stem and using your hook, pull the stem through 2 stitches at the top of the eye level.  (See pic).  I added a few drops of fabric glue at the spots where the chenille stem entered and exited the head to secure the antenna in place.

Thorax   With brown or black yarn.

1.  Make 6 sc in a magic ring.
2.  Inc. x's 6.  (12)
3.  *Sc, inc*  (18)
4.  Sc in each st.  (18)
5.  *Sc 2, inc*  (24)
6-13.  Sc in each st.
14.  *Sc 2, dec*  (18) 
 Between rounds 8 and 9 insert hook with 6 stitches between entry and exit of hook.  Pull a chenille stem through as you did for the antenna.  Now, pull up a loop from the inside of the thorax and twist the loop.  Then stuff the twisted loop back inside the thorax.  Stuff the thorax, finish rounds and  finish off.
15. *Sc, dec*  (12)
16.  Dec.  x's 6.  (6)
Finish off the same way you finished off the head.  Attach the head to the thorax.

Insert hook like this.

Hook chenille like this.

Pull chenille stem through.

Pull loop from inside thoras.

Twist loop and push back inside piece.

Tail  Alternate gold or yellow with brown or black to make stripes.

1.  Make 6 sc in a magic ring.
2.  Inc.  x's 6.  (12)
3.  Sc in each st.  (12)
4.  *Sc, inc*   (18)
5.  Sc in each st.  (18)
6.  Sc in each st.  (18)
7.  *Sc 2, inc*  (24)  Change color
8.  Inc,  sc 11,  dc,  sc 10  (24)
9.  Inc,  sc 11,  dec,  sc 10.  (24)
10 -14  Inc,  sc 11,, dec,  sc 10  (24)
15.  Sc 10,  dec x's 2,  sc 10...(22)
16.  Sc 9,  dec x's 2,  sc 9  (20
17.  Sc 8,  dec x's 2,  sc 8  (18)
18.  Sc in each st.  (18)
19.  Sc in each st.   (18)
20.  Sc 7,  dec x's 2,  sc 7.  (16)  Place legs as described above.
21.  Sc 6, dec x's 2,  sc 6.  (14)
22.  Sc 5,  dec x's 2,  sc 5.  (12)   Stuff
23.  Dec x's 6.  (6)
Attach open end of tail to thorax.  If you want to add a 'stinger' just attach yarn to end of tail, chain 2 chains and slip stitch in 1 chain.  Fasten off and weave in ends.

To make the wings you need some clear, rigid plastic.  The containers that your spring mix  and baby spinach salad mixes come in work very well.    Just print off the pic of the wings and trace them onto the plastic.  Add the 'veins', cut them out and either glue them on or punch a couple of holes in the top end of the wings to stitch them to the back of the thorax.

These wings are designed to be printed  on an 8 X 11 sheet of paper.    Just copy and paste into whatever program you use.  Then print it and you should be good to go!

Thanks for visiting my blog!   Have fun making this hornet!

For more patterns please visit my  Etsy shop.

Be blessed!
Reny

'HORNET WARNING!' Murder Hornet, Scary Murder Hornet, Run for cover!

As a crochet designer, I sometimes get requests for some strange items.  But none have been stranger than my most recent commission,   A MURDER HORNET! 

These scary insects are getting some viral publicity lately.  So it was not hard to do the research and find plenty of images to study this murderous bee!

It seems they originate in Asia, so they are not a new species.  And contrary to what you might think from all the press they are getting, only one has been found in the US up to now.  And that one was dead.

They say the sting from this beast is horrifically painful and that it sounds like a helicopter when it is flying.  They also say these bees will not sting unless provoked.

I thoroughly enjoyed my brief research on this bee, and was able to find enough information to begin formulating a plan for designing one to crochet.

I started with the head as it looked to be the most complex and detailed.  I also knew that the rest of the hornet needed to be in appropriate proportions to the head.  The eyes would have to be large and menacing, so I used 20mm shiny black shank buttons.  The antenna and the legs were a bit of a conundrum as they have to be ultra skinny.  It's extremely fussy to crochet a tube that small so I compromised with myself and used chenille stems.  The thorax and body of the hornet were just a matter of shaping.  The wings, though, were a different story.  After collaborating with my favorite sister, Kathy                                                                                              Bates, we came up with a workable solution. 

The wings needed to be translucent with a bit of rigidity.  A plastic lettuce container seemed to be a perfect fit for this.  Sis cut them out, traced on the veins and mailed them to me!  All I had to do was decide how they would be attached.

I ended up punching holes in the wings and stitching them on to the thorax.   A bonus is that they are a bit movable.

I couldn't resist posing him on my tissue house!  He is a monster!

Don't try this at home!

Alas!  I am terrified of bugs!  In my opinion, the only good bug (or snake) is a dead one.  So here is Murdy playing dead.  Such a good boy!


All in all, I had a blast making this one! 

Sorry, no pattern, but if I get enough requests for one I might be persuaded to write one up.

Be blessed!
Reny

Not a Murder Hornet but....delightful bug buddies!

Summer is almost here and in our part of the midwest that means insects of all kinds.  Crawling, flying, jumping insects!  Many are helpful, some are scary.  But some are just plain fun!

And that is the case with this pair of delightful bug buddies.    They are just cute, cuddly buggy fun!

These are made with worsted weight yarn and the pattern is your's for free! 

The same pattern can be used for both.  You can easily adjust the pattern to make your bugs look different.  Make the wings a little longer.  Change the antenna to make them longer or shorter.  Add length to the arms, legs or wings for unique looking bugs.

I invite you to get creative and post pics of your unique creations on my    Facebook page.

You can find the basic pattern here, 

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.  

Have fun and be blessed!

Reny