Lest We Forget

It is that time of year again when we start to see poppies everywhere, in commemoration of Armistice Day. Armistice Day also known as Remembrance Day is on November 11th each year and commemorates the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front, which took effect at eleven o’clock in the morning – the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” of 1918.

Due to many different issues I have not been able to make poppies to sell this year as I have done in previous years, but I have made a small handful to give to friends and to wear myself, giving a donation to The Royal British Legion on their behalf.

There are many free patterns out there for poppies but I made this one up myself as I was sat with my wool basket at my side and a sleeping kitten on my lap and couldn’t reach the iPad for a tutorial.

If you would like to make your own, the pattern went something like this 

(UK Crochet Terms)

Poppy

1^st round: Ch2, In second chain from hook, dc 11, join last dc to first with a slip stitch (10 sts)

2^nd round: Ch1, *in 1st dc (dc, htr,tr), in 2nd dc 2 tr, in 3^rd dc 3tr, in 4^th dc (tr, htr, dc), ss into next dc* repeat from *to* (24 st)

3^rd round: Ch1, in 1^st st of previous round (dc,htr, tr), in next 10 stitches tr, 2tr, tr, 2tr, tr, 2tr, tr,    2tr, tr,2tr, in 12^th stitch of previous round (tr,htr,dc) ss into next dc.  

In 14^thst of previous round (dc,htr,tr) tr into next 9 st, into 23^rd st of previous round (tr, htr, dc) ss into last st of previous round.

Bind off and sew in ends.

Leaf

1^st row: Ch 6, In 2^nd chain from hook, work 1dc, 1htr, 2tr, 1ht,1dc, ch1 at end of row ss into back of second chain from hook to form picot, turn,

this is where you ss into the back of the stitch can you see where I've placed the needle for clarity?

2^nd row:, working along the other side of the chain, work 1dc, 1htr, 1tr, 1htr, 1dc.

Bind off and sew in ends, leaving a tail to attach leaf to flower.

Finishing:  I added a small circle of black felt with a small 6mm dolls eye as the centre, but you can simply sew a nice black button in the middle.  Using black cotton add the stamen and add a simple french knot at the end of each stamen.

Attach your leaf to the back and tack in place, add a brooch back (or a safety pin) to the back and you are done.

I covered my button and gave it a spritz of spray starch to set it.

As I said I made this up as I went with a paper poppy as a guide but as it is a standard poppy shape it is likely that there are very similar patterns out there, this is my own.

 Please feel free to use this pattern to make poppies for your own use or to sell for charity. Please do not make poppies to sell for personal profit from this pattern.

If you are planning to make yourself a poppy instead of buying one you can make a donation to the Royal British Legion directly here.

The Exhortation

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, not the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

When you go home tell them of us and say,

For your tomorrow we gave our today

Back Soon

n.b. thanks for the feedback I have made an amendment to pattern 06.11.14 Kandi x

Another Scarf

I found some lovely grey Rowan purelife and snaffled up 3 100g balls of beautiful British Wool to make another of the chunky cable scarves.

I have had to model it for you as my little model Thomas was out playing in the snow!

I had about 3/4 of a ball left and in my madness I attempted to make an ear warmer (following a pattern here recommended by the lovely Jacey ~ thanks!). Well after about two hours of crochet it dawned on me I didn't have enough wool to complete it, so I had to rip it all back (and it was all puff stitches which took ages) *gently weeps*.

I was a bit sad and instead I decided to make a huge grey wool flower to add to the scarf in the form of a brooch. I followed the pattern for the flower from the headband tutorial and I was quite pleased with it.

I attached a kilt pin type brooch back so that it can be used with the scarf, it's quite huge, I'm wearing it below as a brooch to give you an idea of how big it is!

(eta. looking at this again it does not look that big but trust me it is, my boobage makes it seem small ~eek!)

I think I will make more of these flowers they are lovely.

~ ♥ Back Soon ♥ ~

Still Hookin'

Well I am continuing on the crochet theme, it has gotten a hold on me. From the magazine I bought that I made the spooky doll from, I followed the pattern for the hats and came up with these. I need to get some practice in for making baby bits and pieces for my friend's baby.

This one was made following the pattern:

For this one I amended the pattern and used two rows of double crochet and 1 row of treble crochet repeated.

These were all made with the wool supplied with the magazine, and they are infants hats aged up to 6 months. They were really easy to do and I loved making them.

These I made using the double and treble stitches and using a cream and white wool which has turned out quite neuteral.

I made a little flower to add, but I have not attached it yet. If I made these for a little boy I would have to leave the flower off or add something else. Any ideas of what I could add for a little boy?

I need to find a pattern for some mittens now.

~ ♥ Back Soon ♥ ~