Every year, we commemorate Armistice Day or Remembrance Day on 11^th November, marking the day World War One ended in 1918 and to acknowledge the courage and sacrifice of those who served their country.

Every year, I tell myself I’m going to crochet a poppy but until this year, I have never had the time, favouring the paper poppies that I inevitably crumple or lose before Remembrance Day.

I’m sure there are so many patterns out there for poppies but I have created this one myself. If you are making your poppy this year, you can still make a donation to The Royal British Legion here.

Click UK or US for your chosen crochet terms, depending on your preference. I like to use Ricorumi DK 100% Cotton and a 3.5mm crochet hook but really, any DK yarn will work just as well.

Pattern – UK crochet terms

Abbreviations
dc – double crochet
sts – stitches
ch – chain
htr – half treble
tr – treble
ss – slip stitch

Poppy

1^st round: Make a magic ring. dc 11 sts into the ring. Join last dc to first stitch with a slip stitch.

2^nd round: ch1. *In 1^st dc (dc, htr, tr), in 2^nd dc 2 tr, in 3^rd dc, 3tr, in 4^th dc (tr, htr, dc), ss into next dc*.   Repeat from * to *.

3^rd round: ch1. In 1^st st of previous round (dc, htr, tr). In next 10 sts 1tr, 2tr, 1tr, 2tr, 1tr, 2tr, 1tr, 2tr, 1tr, 2tr. In next stitch (tr, htr, dc). ss into next stitch.

You should now be on the other half of the round (the second petal). In next stitch (dc, htr, tr). 1tr into next 9 sts. In next stitch (tr, htr, dc). ss into last stitch. Cast off and sew in the ends.

Leaf

1^st row: ch 6. Starting from the 2^nd ch from your hook, work the following sts: 1dc, 1htr, 2tr, 1htr, 1dc. ch1 at the end of the row and make a ss back on yourself into the 2^nd ch from the hook to form a picot.

2^nd row: working along the other side of the chain, work the following sts: 1dc, 1htr, 1tr, 1htr, 1dc. Cast off and sew in the ends leaving a tail to attach the leaf to the flower.

Finishing

Attach your leaf to the back of the flower by sewing into the back loops of the poppy so that the green stitches cannot be seen from the front.
Using black cotton, attach a simple black button to the centre of your poppy.
Finally, attach a safety pin to the back of your poppy and your poppy applique is complete!

Pattern – US crochet terms

Abbreviations
sc – single crochet
sts – stitches
ch – chain
hdc – half double crochet
dc – double crochet
ss – slip stitch

Poppy

1^st round: Make a magic ring. sc 11 sts into the ring. Join last sc to first stitch with a slip stitch.

2^nd round: ch1. *In 1^st sc (sc, hdc, dc), in 2^nd sc 2dc, in 3^rd sc, 3dc, in 4^th sc (dc, hdc, sc), ss into next sc*.            Repeat from * to *.

3^rd round: ch1. In 1^st st of previous round (sc, hdc, dc). In next 10 sts dc, 2dc, 1dc, 2dc, 1dc, 2dc, 1dc, 2dc, 1dc, 2dc. In next stitch (dc, hdc, sc). ss into next stitch.

You should now be on the other half of the round (the second petal). In next stitch (sc, hdc, dc). 1dc into next 9 sts. In next stitch (dc, hdc, sc). ss into last stitch. Cast off and sew in the ends.

Leaf

1^st row: ch 6. Starting from the 2^nd ch from your hook, work the following sts: 1sc, 1hdc, 2dc, 1hdc, 1sc. ch1 at the end of the row and make a ss back on yourself into the 2^nd ch from the hook to form a picot.

2^nd row: working along the other side of the chain, work the following sts: 1sc, 1hdc, 1dc, 1hdc, 1sc. Cast off and sew in the ends leaving a tail to attach the leaf to the flower.

Finishing

Attach your leaf to the back of the flower by sewing into the back loops of the poppy so that the green stitches cannot be seen from the front.
Using black cotton, attach a simple black button to the centre of your poppy.
Finally, attach a safety pin to the back of your poppy and your poppy applique is complete!

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.