Crochet pattern for Traffic Light Gabu Nest

MATERIALS:
3 gabus in bright red, yellow and green (free pattern at Roxycraft.com)
1 ball of black worsted weight yarn
cardboard or plastic mesh piece 9.5 inches tall x 5.5 inches wide
optional: fabric glue (if you are just making 1 back piece)
size F crochet hook or same hook used for making gabus

I made this in half double crochet, so that it would work up faster than single crochet. However, it is easy to do in single crochet:  make 1 or 2 back pieces 9.5" x 5.5". Each cubbyhole strip is ~1.75" wide.

In this pattern, the turning chain does not count as a stitch. There is no need to make a hdc at the end of the row into the turning ch of the previous row.

Back: (make 1 or 2**)
Ch 19.
Row 1: Make hdc in 3rd chain from hook. Continue to make a hdc in each chain across. 17 hdc.
Row 2: Turn, ch 2 (this is the turning chain). Hdc in same stitch as the turning chain. Continue making hdc across row. 17 hdc.
Repeat Row 2 for 22 times, or until rectangle is ~9.5 inches long with ample space for 3 gabus.
Single crochet evenly around the edges of the rectangle to make a smoother edge, if you wish.
Make a chain and attach to corners of the top end so that you can hang the nest. I made ~20 chain stitches and made a slip stitch into each chain to make it sturdier.

Cubbyhole: (make 3)
Ch 9.
Row 1: Make hdc into 3rd chain from hook. Continue to make a hdc in each chain across. 6 hdc.
Row 2: Turn, ch 2 (this is the turning chain). Hdc in same stitch as the turning chain. Continue making hdc across row. 6 hdc.
Repeat Row 2 for 15 times or until you can curl the rectangle into a circle which fits SNUGLY around your gabu. It should be a little too small, so that the gabu will stay tucked in nicely and not fall out! That would be tragic.
Leave a long tail for sewing up before you cut your yarn.

Sew each cubby so that it forms a circle. Pin each cubby in place on the back. If you made the circle too big you can adjust it a bit now to fit snugly around the gabu. Sew cubbies to the back piece. I used simple overcasting stitch. To firm up the back for hanging on a wall, door, or just hanging around, use fabric glue to attach stiff cardboard or plastic canvas mesh. **You can also make 2 back pieces, sandwich a piece of cardboard/canvas in between, and single crochet around the edges (through both pieces) to seal the cardboard in, like luv2stitch on Ravelry.com did.

Ta da! The gabus are ready to move in their new home!