Free Pattern: Poppy Plant Stick

Lynne Rowe [right] works full time as a knit and crochet designer and says she "couldn't imagine a day without picking up needles or hook and creating something fab and funky."

As well as designing for a variety of publications and recently releasing her first book "Fun Hats", Lynne teaches knit and crochet in Cheshire, UK.

See Lynne's designs for Inside Crochet at www.insidecrochet.co.uk/patterns/browse/designer/lynne-rowe/

POPPY PLANT STICK

"We wear a red poppy over any other flower because it grows wild in many fields in northern France and Belgium. This is where some of the deadliest battles of World War One took place and many men died. Poppies are tough flowers, and can grow anywhere, but are also delicate. It is thought they are a fitting emblem to remember those who died.

The Royal British Legion is one of the main charities associated with Remembrance Sunday. It explains that the red poppy is an emblem of remembrance and hope. It stresses it is not 'blood' red or a sign of support for war and death. Neither should it be seen as a symbol of religion or politics, the charity states on its website." - BBC

If you're making your own Poppy or plan to wear it instead of a traditional one, please consider donating to The British Legion or making a purchase of any size from The Poppy Shop.

MATERIALS

• Oddments of red and black DK yarn
• 3.5mm hook
• 1 x plant stick for each poppy
• Paper or card to make embellishments

PATTERN

With 3.5mm hook and black yarn, make an adjustable loop and work Round 1 into the loop, pull tail end of yarn to tighten and close the loop.
Rnd 1: 3ch (counts as first tr), 11tr in loop, join with a sl st to 3rd of first 3ch – 12 sts.
Cut Yarn A and fasten off.
Make a second disc following instructions above.
Next, hold the 2 discs together with WS together and RS facing out. You will join the discs together by working into the back loops only of each disc (unless otherwise stated).

PETAL 1

Make a slip knot onto hook with red yarn and join with a sl st to the back loops only of any 2 corresponding sts.
Rnd 1 (RS): 3ch, 1dc into same set of sts, 2tr in the back loops only of each of the next 5 sets of sts, 1dc in back loops only of next set of sts, 3ch, sl st in same st, turn (leaving remaining 5 sets of sts unworked).
Rnd 2: 2ch, 1htr in 3ch space, 2tr in next dc, 2tr in each of the next 10 tr, 2tr in next dc, 1htr in 3ch space, 2ch, sl st into same 3ch space.
Cut yarn and fasten off.

PETAL 2

Hold poppy with RS facing, upside down (petal is at the bottom). Make a slipknot onto hook with red yarn and join with a sl st into the base of the last stitch on right-hand side of first petal.
Rnd 1 (RS): 3ch, 1dc into same st, 2tr in back loops only of next set of sts, 2 tr into back loop of each of the next 3 sts of front disc only (to create a gap in the disc for the plant stick), 2tr in back loops only of next set of sts, 1dc in base of stitch on left-hand side of first petal, 3ch, sl st into same stitch, turn.
Rnd 2: As Rnd 2 of first petal.

FINISHING
Weave all loose ends of yarn into WS and trim. The ends of the second petal should sit on top of the ends of the first petal. If desired, spray flowers with spray starch to stiffen. Leave to dry completely.  Slide the flowers onto the rounded end of a plant stick and use paper or card-making embellishments to decorate the front of the stick with sentiments, such as “Lest We Forget”, “In Remembrance”,  “Never Forget” or a loved one’s name and year of death.