DECORATIVE BIRDCAGE

A co-worker of mine found a beautiful birdcage ornament that looked like one that her former sister-in-law made her at one time but lost.  She asked me if I could make one similar but larger.  Here is the pattern for the one that I made her.  I used lavender color for the desired color in ribbon because that was my co-worker’s favorite color.

MATERIALS:
Worsted weight yarn:  White.
B crochet hook
Tapestry needle
Aleene’s® Stiffen Quik
Plastic Wrap
Rush-proof straight pins
Metal 3” dia.-based can
1 (4” dia.) Styrofoam half-ball left in plastic wrapping
4 yds of 1/8” white ribbon
2 yds of 1/8” desired color (I used lavender) ribbon
1 yd of 5/8” ribbon matching desired color
2 miniature birds
2 miniature flowers
3 sets of 2 miniature leaves
Glue
Chenille stems (optional)

DOUBLE TREBLE (dtr):
YO 4 times, insert hook in next st, YO, pull up loop, (YO, pull through 2 loops) 5 times.

DOME TOP:
Rd 1: With white, 25 dc in magic ring, slip st in first dc.  (25)
Rd 2: Ch 2, (dc in next 5 dc, ch 3) around, join with slip st in first dc.
Rd 3: Ch 2, (dc2tog, dc in next dc, dc2tog, ch 3, 2 dc in ch-3 sp, ch 3) around, join with slip in first dc.
Rd 4: Ch 2, (dc3tog, ch 3, 2 dc in next dc, ch 2, 2 dc in next dc, ch 3) around, join with slip st in first dc.
Rd 5: slip st to first next dc, ch 2, (2 dc in next dc, ch 2, 2 dc in next dc, ch 2, 2 dc in next dc, ch 2, 2 dc in next dc, ch 2, skip next dc3tog) around, join with slip st in first dc.
Rd 6: slip st to between next 2 dc cluster, ch 2, 2 dc in space between 2 dc, ch 2, (2 dc in space between next 2 dc cluster, ch 2) around, join with slip st in first dc.
Finish off leaving a long tail.  Place DOME TOP on Styrofoam half-ball.  Spray with stiffener without get any on long tail.  Let set at least 24 hours to dry.

CAGE:
SUGGESTION BUT OPTIONAL:  DO EVERY OTHER DTR OF RDS 9 THRU 11 AROUND A PIECE OF CHENILLE STEM TO ADD STABILITY.
Rd 1: With white, 8 dc in magic ring, join with slip st in first dc.  (8)
Rd 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in each dc around, join with slip st in first dc.  (16)
Rd 3: Ch 2, 2 dc in each dc around, join with slip st in first dc.  (32)
Rd 4: Ch 2, (dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc) around, join with slip st in first dc.  (48)
Rd 5: Ch 2, (dc in next 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc) around, join with slip st in first dc.  (64)
Rd 6: Working in back loops only, ch 1, sc in each dc around, join with slip st in first sc.  (64)
Rd 7: Ch 2, dc in same sc as ch-2, (ch 1, skip next sc, dc in next 3 sc) 15 times, ch 1, skip next sc, dc in next 2 sc, join with slip st in first dc.
Rd 8: slip st to next ch-1 space, ch 2, dc in same ch-1 space, (ch 3, skip next 3 dc, dc in next ch-1 space) 15 times, ch 3, skip next 3 dc, join with slip st in first dc.
Rd 9: Ch 11 (Counts as first dtr and ch 3 here and throughout), (dtr in next dc, ch 3) around, join with slip st in 8th ch of beg ch.
Rd 10: Ch 11, (dtr in next dtr, ch 3) 5 times, dtr in next dtr, ch 20, skip next 4 dtr, (dtr in next dtr, ch 3) 5 times, join with slip st in 8th ch from hook.
Rd 11: Ch 11, (dtr in next dtr, ch 3) 5times, dtr in next dtr, ch 3, (skip next 3 ch, dtr in next ch, ch 3) 4 times, skip next 3 ch, (dtr in next dtr, ch 3) 5 times, join with slip st in 8th ch of beg ch.
Finish off.  Weave in ends.  Wrap metal 3” dia..-based can in plaster wrap.  Wrap CAGE around plastic-wrapped can using straight pins to keep up.  Strap with stiffener.  Set aside to allow stiffener to dry for 24 hours.

BOTTOM:
Rd 1: With white, 8 dc in magic ring, join with slip st in first dc.  (8)
Rd 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in each dc around, join with slip st in first dc.  (16)
Rd 3: Ch 2, 2 dc in each dc around, join with slip st in first dc.  (32)
Rd 4: Ch 2, (dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc) around, join with slip st in first dc.  (48)
Rd 5: Ch 2, (dc in next 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc) around, join with slip st in first dc.  (64)
Rd 6: Ch 1, (sc in next dc, skip next dc, 5 dc in next dc, skip next dc) around, join with slip st in first sc.
Finish off leaving a long tail.  Lay BOTTOM on flat piece of plastic wrap.  Without getting any stiffener on long tail, strap BOTTOM.  Set aside to allow to dry for 24 hours.

ASSEMBLY:
Once pieces have completely dried and are at desired stiffness, this may take more than one coats of stray stiffener, slowly remove from plaster wrapped support items.
Using white 1/8” ribbon and tapestry needle, feed ribbon through Rd 1 of DOME TOP.  Tie both ends together first at dome and then again about 3 inches above first knot.
Using an equal piece of white and desired color ribbon, tie bow just below first of knot of hanger.  Use a little glue to secure center knot.6

Glue 5/8” desired color ribbon over Rd 8 of CAGE.

Sew BOTTOM to bottom of CAGE.  Using sc, evenly sc Rd 6 of DOME TOP and Rd 11 of CAGE together.  Finish off and weave in ends.

Once Decorative Birdcage is fully assembled, but before gluing birds, leaves, and flowers on, I suggest hanging Birdcage from something and stray with stiffener again and allow to let completely dry.

Glue birds, leaves, and flowers at various places on DECORATIVE BIRDCAGE.

This crochet pattern is an original pattern and is © by Christjan Bee (March 2016).  Please do not claim this pattern as your own.  If you wish to share this pattern, you may link to this pattern but please do not reprint/repost it on your site.  You may print and keep a copy for your own personal use but you may not sell or distribute it, or sell items made from this pattern.