Monday, April 23, 2007

ANZAC Poppy - free crochet pattern

Lest We Forget, April 25



"In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row, "

(John McCrae)

I have designed and crocheted this little poppy to commemorate ANZAC day. The poppy measures 3 ½ cm / 1 ½ inches wide and can be pinned to clothing or accessories. They are running a competition at ETSY for a design that incorporates beads, and this is my entry as I have been thinking about ANZAC day, April 25, and its place in our Australian history. I have provided the pattern below and ask if you do download the pattern, please donate a coin to a charity that supports servicemen, women and their families.


Significance and Meaning

ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The association of the red poppy also called the Flanders Poppy or poppy of remembrance with war is interesting. The poppy is seen as a natural symbol of resurrection and remembrance as the poppy was the first plant to grow in the churned up soil of soldiers' graves in the area of Flanders during the First World War. Of the some 50,000 Australians who fought at Gallipoli, 8,709 were killed and 18,235 wounded; New Zealand suffered 2,701 killed and 4,880 wounded.

Australians now recognise 25 April as an occasion of national commemoration and respect for those who have served at war. Commemorative services are held at dawn, the time of the original landing, across the country. I went to the Dawn service in Canberra at the National War Memorial a few years back and it was a most moving ceremony. My Grandfather was a returned soldier, as was my father in Law. Both served in WWII. We have my father in laws medals for our sons. These are a prized possession. Anzac Day parades are held and it has become a day that has deep significance in Australia and New Zealand.

These moving words are a part of the tradition -

“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.”
(Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)

The last post is played by a solitary bugler, and wreaths of poppies are laid. While the poppy is symbolic and cover the wreaths, rosemary sprigs (meaning remembrance) tend to be worn on Anzac day, while the poppy is worn on Remembrance Day 11th of November.


I thought I would post the pattern for the poppy with the intention that this be used for days of remembrance, and specific fund raising for charities to do with the armed forces and their families. I have put a price on the original poppy with the intention of donating the profit to Legacy.


Australian Instructions


1.75 hook, 4 ply thread, Size 6 steel, 10 thread
Black and red thread, 12 Black seed beads, 25 Red seed beads

Stamen - starting with black
Thread 12 beads onto thread before starting. I leave about 20cm/8in of thread at the start which is used later to stitch the poppy to a pin or barrette.

1. 3ch, into first ch work 6dc, slst join.
2. Work into front loop only; (1dc, *2ch, bead to hook, 2ch, 1dc) first loop, 2ch bead to hook 2ch 1dc into next loop. Repeat from * around slst join into start dc. You should have 12 stamens with a bead on each.

For unbeaded option, omit bead and work (1dc, 5ch, 1dc) into sp, 5ch around

3. You will now work in the spare loop behind the stamens. 1dc first loop, 3ch, 1dc next loop, 3ch, around 5 times. You can miss a loop as you only need five 3ch spaces for the petals. Slst finish join, off black.



Petals – poppy red
Thread 25 red beads onto red thread.
4. Slst start in one of the 3ch loops behind the stamens. (2ch, counts as htr, 3tr 1htr) into first loop, then (1htr 3tr 1htr) in remaining 4 loops, slst join

5. The red beads are worked in this round. 2ch start, bead to hook, 1tr next st pushing bead up thread to hook after first yarn over hook, then work st in usual way. You might need to fiddle with the bead to make it face forwards. 1tr bead in next 2 st, 1htr bead next 1st, 1dc between petals (no bead), work 1htr 3tr 1htr each with a bead across each petal and 1dc (no bead) between. The petal should curl.

Slst finish off. Use start thread to stitch onto a pin.



American Instructions

1.75 hook, 4 ply thread , Size 6 steel, 10 thread
Black and red thread, 12 Black seed beads, 25 Red seed beads

Stamen - starting with black
Thread 12 beads onto thread before starting. I leave about 20cm/8in of thread at the start which is used later to stitch the poppy to a pin or barrette.

1. 3ch, into first ch work 6sc, slst join.
2. Work into front loop only (1sc, *2ch, bead to hook, 2ch, 1sc) first loop, 2ch bead to hook 2ch 1sc into next loop. Repeat from * around slst join into start sc. You should have 12 stamens with a bead on each.

For unbeaded option, omit bead and work 1sc, 5ch, 1sc, 5ch around

3. You will now work in the spare loop behind the stamens. 1sc first loop, 3ch, 1sc next loop, 3ch, around 5 times. You can miss a loop as you only need five 3ch spaces for the petals. Slst finish join, off black

Petals – poppy red
Thread 25 red beads onto red thread.
4. Slst start in one of the 3ch loops behind the stamens. (2ch, counts as hdc 3dc, 1hdc) into first loop, then (1hdc 3dc 1hdc) in remaining 4 loops, slst join

5. The red beads are worked in this round. 2ch start, bead to hook, 1dc next st pushing bead up thread to hook after first yarn over hook, then work st in usual way. You might need to fiddle with the bead to make it face forwards. 1dc bead in next 2st, 1hdc bead next 1st, 1sc between petals (no bead), work 1hdc 3dc 1hdc each with a bead across each petal and 1sc (no bead) between. The petal should curl.

For unbeaded version, omit the beads. Slst finish off. Use start thread to stitch onto a pin.

© copyright crochetroo 2007. Do not reproduce pattern by any means. You may use it for personal use, gifts and charity fundraising. Do not sell to make a personal profit as this is inappropriate.


11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi there :-) Found your pic via Etsy site (I too am an Etsy seller - "pallinadesigns" from NZ). My grandfather was posted overseas for 4 years during WWII. He survived two of the biggest battles of that war - El Alamein and Monte Cassino. He sadly passed away in October last year. We too have a set of his medals to pass down to my son, they're very special. Pop was lucky enough to return to Cassino on the 60th anniversary of the battle there, only 2 years ago. I believe it bought him great peace, and he met up with his old Commanding Officer (who is now well into his 90's!) so it was very special to him. Thanks for remembering them, all of them. They truly were our heroes and they all deserve our respect.

Kiki said...

Hi Cupcake, thank you for the pattern! We have a very similar ceremony and remembrance here in Canada on November 11th. The poem "In Flander's Fields" was written by a Canadian soldier and doctor who served in WWI. It is recited at almost every remembrance ceremony, along with the laying of wreaths and the last post. I think it is so important that we remember and make our young people aware of the sacrifices of those who have gone before them. Poppies are worn here as well, on the left lapel, over the heart.

jaymo said...

Gorgeous poppy!

I have been trying to buy patterns from you on Etsy but nothing gets put in a shopping cart. I tried contacting you through etsy, but that link didn't work either. I

Can you contact me through email?
I can't wait to try out your patterns!

jaigirlmi at aol dot com

Maria said...

Cupcake thank you so much for the poppy pattern....I love it and plan to make a few to wear in November here in Canada as that is when our Remembrance Day is!

Anonymous said...

While travelling round Turkey at the moment, I see lots of poppies and am reminded of your lovely design. I think I will make it up when I get home for remembrance of all sorts of things.

Anonymous said...

I am the secretary for a VFW Post auxiliary in Texas. These would be wonderful to make and give out when we are having our Buddy Poppy drive (to remember our veterans. Thank you for the directions.

marjorie said...

Thank you for the pattern. It was interesting to learn about the significance of Rosemary and ANZAC day. I plan to make one for our poppy chairman.

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Sue said...

wow - just found your site after googling flowers for my daughter's girl Guide group - I am going to teach them how to crochet flowers, using the Art of Flowers cheapie issue 1 mag supplies! I need to make up some flower samples to inspire them to greater things and this one is my no.1 to make - obviously Anzac day is important to the Girl Guides (and to us as a family, so I am sure my daughter will want to make one of these to wear herself - and maybe make up a couple to send to her Gran and Great Gran in the UK, in time for their November remembrance day - what a treasure that will be for them!) I'll put your site addresses (fab to have an aussie one!) also for this flower, on their instruction sheet, so they can look you up. You might be the start of an Aussie Girl Guides Crochet flower frenzie! Sue

panavia999 said...

Thanks for the sweet little pattern. I will make some for Nov 11 in the USA.