Goodness guys I can’t believe how crazy it has been here! With school holidays, tutorial writing, wildlife carer helping and general mum life I feel like I haven’t sat down for the whole of January. On top of that Peter and I have decided to walk 5km a day so honestly at some points I couldn’t have sat down if I tried lol.

Today I am sharing my quilted nest pattern with you, it has been sitting here finished for a while but I have only just managed to carve the time out to get it up here. This pattern has been written at the request of the lovely admins at the Animal Rescue Craft Guild and designed with the input, advice and feedback of local carers. You may notice that the images I have used are of crochet nests – that is because nothing like this has ever really existed in a wildlife capacity so there were no cute photos to use.  Updated lists of what is still required are put up in the group weekly so please keep an eye out there for what is needed.

Why quilted nests? Well unlike their crochet counterparts they wash up really well and will last longer. Like the Wildlife Pouch tutorial you can make removeable liners for them so that washing is easier long term. Nests aren’t just used for birds – in fact so many sweet wee animals can use them while recovering from squirrels to kangaroo joeys to Tasmanian devils. For that reason they are a fantastic addition to a wildlife carer’s collection and can be put into use all over the world! If you are not in Australia but have the need to help then please reach out to your local carers – I know they will be so grateful for any help they receive too.

Right its tutorial time! As always this tutorial can be downloaded for free by “purchasing” it through the shop. This will give you a copy to keep on your computer. The order will be sent to you as an email to download (check spam if it isnt in your inbox)

QUILTED NEST TUTORIAL

“PURCHASE” THE FREE PATTERN IN MY SHOP HERE

Before we begin:

This pattern is best suited to a confident beginner.

4 sizes templates and fabric requirements have been included for some basic nest sizes however I cannot stress enough that you can make your own simply and easily using a plate as a template. (templates will be downloaded with the pattern when “purchased”)

If making your own from a template, simply follow these simple instructions to get the necessary dimensions to complete the nest (read through the pattern first so this all makes better sense):

• Once you have selected your template simply measure it across the diameter (width) and enter that value into the online calculator below to work out the circumference of the circle.
  https://www.omnicalculator.com/math/circumference
• Once you have worked out the circumference of your circle, add an extra 13cm (5”) to account for the length your strip will need to be to create the wall. The height of the wall will be half the diameter plus 1 ½ cm (½”) to allow for seams.
  Eg – your circle template measures 40cm (16”) across. Using the calculator above we know the circumference is approx. 126cm (51”). So, our strip to make the wall needs to be 56” long and 8.5” high to attach to the quilted bottom circle.
  Note: Cut the strip wider and longer before quilting to allow for shrinkage as you go 
• If you use a fabric thicker than quilting cotton for your nest (eg drill or denim) you may not need to interface the fabric before quilting.
• It is so much easier to quilt a square slightly larger than our cut circle will be and then cut your shape out once all quilting is done. The instructions below will help you through this part. This also means that all quilting lines will be properly encased in your seams. I highly recommend you keep this same approach for your wall of the nest as well – cutting your strip longer and wider prior to quilting and then trimming to size once quilted. This will waste some fabric but give a better quality and easier sew in the end.

With every nest you send make sure you add 4-5 liners, this means that the nests can remain in use while the carers are washing them.

Fabric Requirements:

Fabric Notes:

Liners should be 100% natural fibres – no polyester, synthetics or fabrics that have plastic or glitter. Breathability and softness are the priority. Flannelette, light cotton or jersey is recommended. Flannel is recommended for animals in cooler areas or through winter. The liner in this tutorial is made using a secondhand cotton flannel sheet.

Quilted nests in this tutorial are made from 100% quilting cotton, 100% cotton wadding and iron on interfacing. Please reuse and recycle where you can and reduce the impact on the environment. Thicker fabrics will mean interfacing will not need to be used.

PLEASE PRE-WASH ALL FABRIC BEFORE STARTING THIS PROJECT

Instructions:

If using my provided templates, open the selected PDF template and print, setting the print scale at 100% and making sure the box “Scale to Fit” isn’t checked. The 1” test square on Page 1 will help to ensure the printing has been done correctly.

Cutting the top and left side of each pattern page layout as per image below

Tape the pattern together lining up edges and the shape (don’t forget to put tape on the back too).

Cut out the circle you would like to work with.

Note: If planning on making a series of different sized nests simply cut from large to small to make the post of your template and to save on printing.

 

CREATING THE NEST

Take your cut squares and strips of fabric and interface the back using a light iron on interfacing (thick fabrics like drill or denim will not need interfacing).

Place your interfaced fabrics on top of your wadding and, using a longer stitch length, quilt as desired. I quilted lines approximately ¼” apart to add structure and stability to the nest.

Take your 2 quilted squares and cut out your circle for the base of the nest. You can use either the provided templates or make your own as described above.

Trim your strips of extra wadding to the size stated in the fabric requirements table, or from your own calculations.

Take one of the cut circles and place right side up on the machine. Take a quilted strip and place it on top of the circle, right sides together.  Leaving a 3” tail at the beginning slowly attach the strip to the base taking care as you move around the circle. Stop around 3-4” from the start.

Overlap your two tails and mark a point where they overlap within the space left on the circle. Make sure you mark both tails and the point on the circle where they overlap.

Using a ruler, draw lines across both tails from your marked point.

Carefully line up your drawn lines and stitch along it, making sure to lock stitches beginning and end. Cut off excess.

Finish attaching to the circle using the mark drawn to line up your seam.

Your nest outer shell will now look like this. DO NOT TURN RIGHT SIDE OUT.

Repeat the process with your second circle and strip so you have both an outer and inner shell. Turn your inner shell RIGHT SIDE OUT.

Place the inner shell inside the other shell RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER. Slightly offset your seams to allow for ease of attaching by reducing bulk.

Stitch around the top of your shells leaving a 2-3” gap for turning.

Turn right side out, making sure the inner shell sits neatly inside the outer. Top stitch around the top TWICE making sure the turning gap is properly closed.

Congratulate yourself – the quilted nest is DONE!

CREATING THE REMOVEABLE LINER

 The removeable liner creates a system where mess can be quickly cleaned up without needing to wash the entire nest. Making 4-5 ensures the carer can keep washing better under control.

Take your strip of fabric and mark a line 1” from the top.

Using your iron fold the top of the strip down to the drawn line and press. Fold over again and press to create a neat hem. Stitch down.

Place your liner circle RIGHT SIDE UP on the machine. Take a quilted strip and place it on top of the circle, right sides together.  Leaving a 3” tail at the beginning slowly attach the strip to the base taking care as you move around the circle. Stop around 3-4” from the start.

Overlap your two tails and mark a point where they overlap within the space left on the circle. Make sure you mark both tails and the point on the circle where they overlap.

Using a ruler, draw lines across both tails from your marked point.

Carefully line up your drawn lines and stitch along it, making sure to lock stitches beginning and end. Cut off excess.

Finish attaching to the circle using the mark drawn to line up your seam.

Overlock or zig zag stitch the raw edges.

Your liner is now finished. Place inside your quilted nest and fold down.

And there you have it – one more tutorial finished and ready to be used and donated. I have thoroughly enjoyed writing these and have a couple more to put up in the series to help you all support the amazing carers around you who do such a phenomenal job day in and day out with little to no support.

Speaking of which – this photo of the beautiful Tanami was sent to me yesterday by a carer the Animal Rescue Cooperative is currently helping. The name Tanami means “never die” which I love and you guys that sweet little tongue is EVERYTHING!

And for those of you still waiting for me to return to normal quilting programming – well that is due to resume very soon too I promise.

Sarah x

Fine print:

This tutorial has been created by Sarah Scott of Piccolo Studio and is intended for personal use only.  The pattern must not be reproduced, distributed or sold in part or whole in any form. Please credit Piccolo Studio as the original creator of the tutorial at time of sale and in any online promotion.  Piccolo Studio reserves the right to change or end this policy at any time. Please do not share photos of this tutorial but rather links or the entire PDF. This stops people missing parts of instructions and getting confused

 

Completed nests can be sent to:

Nicole Blums
c/- The Rescue Collective
4/55 Tenby St
MOUNT GRAVATT QLD 4122
AUSTRALIA