For the best finish, knit with a Double Knit (DK yarn). The size of needle you choose will determine how big the poppy will be, but we recommend 3.5mm or 3.75mm (UK9).
If you have different yarn left in your stash, just use that and the appropriate needle size.
Option 1: Easy garter/knit stitch pattern for beginners
Body of poppy
Red (one ball will make a lot of poppies!). Scrap of black or a black button.
- Using red cast on 120 stitches
- Rows 1-4 Knit
- Row 5 Knit 3 stitches together across the row (40 stitches)
- Rows 6-9Knit (at this stage you can change to black for the centre)
- Row 10 Knit 2 stitches together across the row (20 stitches)
- Rows 11-14 Knit
- Row 15 Knit 2 stitches together across the row (10 stitches)
- Cut yarn leaving a tail of about 20cm
- Thread tail through yarn needle and slip all the remaining live stitches onto the yarn tail and pull tight
- Pull around into a circle and then mattress stitch (or use whatever stitching you normally use) to seam for an invisible seam
- Leave ends to tie to installation
Alternative centres
- Centre of poppy using black, cast on 16 stitches
- Cast off
- Coil into a tight spiral and sew base to the centre
- Use a black or green button with 4 holes and sew to centre of poppy
Option 2: Rib
- Cast on: 50 stitches
- 1st Row: (Right Side) Knit into back of each stitch
- 2nd Row: (Wrong Side) * P2, K1, P2 *, rep from * to *, to end
- 3rd Row: (Right Side) *K2, P1, K2 *, rep from * to *, to end
- Repeat last two rows 3 more times, and the 2nd Row once (8 rows in all)
- Optional: Change to black wool
- 9th Row: *K2 tog, repeat form * to the end…. 25 sts
- 10th Row: *k2 tog, repeat from * to last st., K1…. 13 sts
- 11th Row: *k2 tog, * repeat from * to last st., K1…. 7 sts
- Cut a tail and thread through 7 sts., and pull tight
- Then sew up the Poppy
- Leave ends to tie to installation
- Optional: sew on button
- Alternatives: use 72 stitches or P2, K2 or P1, K1 - be inventive!
Crochet poppies
Option 1: Easy
Materials: DK yarn and a size H8 hook. You will also need a button, approx. 1" in diameter.
Abbreviations: ch – chain, slst - slip stitch, sc - single crochet, tr - treble
Special Stitches: Double Treble Crochet (dtr): yo 3 times, insert hook into the next st, draw up a lp and pull through (5 lps on hook). [Yo and pull through 2 lps] 4 times.
- Rnd. 1: with Red, ch2, 4sc in 2nd ch from hook, join with slst to beginning sc. 4sc
- Rnd. 2: ch1, 2sc in each sc around, join with slst to beginning sc. 8sc
- Rnd. 3: ch1, sc in first sc, ch3, skip next sc, *sc in next sc, ch3, skip next sc*, repeat from *to* twice, join with slst to beginning sc. 4 ch-3 sps
- Rnd. 4: *Sl st in next ch-3 sp, ch4 (counts as first tr), 13tr in same sp, ch 4, sl st in same ch3 sp*, repeat from *to* in each ch-3sp. 60 tr
- Rnd. 5: Ch, sc in skipped sc from rnd 2, ch3, *sc in next skipped sc, ch3*, repeat from *to* around, join with slst to beginning sc. 4 ch-3 sps
- Rnd. 6: *sl st in next ch-3 sp, ch5 (counts as first dtr), 13dtr in same sp, ch 5, sl st in same ch-3 sp*, repeat from *to* in each ch-3sp, weave in ends. 60 dtr
- Note: for smaller flower, omit Rnds. 5-6.
Option 2
Colour A - red. Colour B - black.
Abbreviations: UK/AUS Ch – chain Sl st - slip stitch St – stitch Dc - double crochet Tr – treble Fptr - front post treble (yarn over, hook from right to left of treble post, yarn over, pull thru 2 st, yarn over, pull thru remaining 2 st)
- Colour B - 4 ch 9 tr into first ch (4th from hook) sl st to join and fasten off
- Colour A - join at top of any tr st
- R1 : Dc + 1ch into same st (this is 1st tr)*Fptr into next st, 1 tr into top same tr*. Repeat from * to *, fptr into next st, sl st to top of 1ch, 1ch
- R2: 1dc 1ch into same as sl st, 1 tr into next (fptr), *1 fptr into same tr post, 1 tr in next 2tr*, repeat from * to * fptr into next st, sl st to top of 1ch, 1ch
- R3: 1dc 1ch into same as sl st, 1 tr into next 2 tr, *1 fptr into same tr post, 1 tr in next 3tr*, repeat from * to * fptr into next st, sl st to top of 1ch Fasten off.
- Decorate centre with small button, embroider or leave black as preferred.