MAKE A REMEMBRANCE POPPY USING A KNITTING NANCY/FRENCH KNITTING

 

Me, in Tasmania on the Centenary of Armistance Day 11/11/2018

 Having been an invetorate poppy maker, when we stopped at Oatlands for the memorial service, I saw a poppies made using the old Knitting Nancy many of us had as a child, so I decided to make one myself. This is a white one in honour of the medical staff - doctors, nurses, medics - who served so bravely, and still do, for our country. I prepared a lengththat I thought would be appropriate and tied it off. I left a good length of wool at both ends. I am afraid I didn't measure it, but if you want to make one, I would suggest about 35cm woud do it!

 As you can see, I wound it around in a circle, leaving the length of wool on the top.
 

 I woud it fully, then stitched it together from the back, using a strong white thread and weaving my way between the threads, so no thread was visible.
 

 I then threaded a botton using a wool needle. It is not obvious in this picture, but the button is a decorative metal with white edging.

 Oops, there are my thongs, I like Havianas best! Forgive me, it was 45c+ degrees that day. Anyway, I pulled the thread through using my wool needle, sort or giving some shape as I pull the top thread to the back.

 I bring in the end thread to the middle to join the beginning thread, pulling in the end of the end of the the knitting in with it to try to hide it as much as possible.

That's it - a basic poppy. I was in a hurry to post this (at last), so haven't added any embroidery or beads around the poppy button, but I do plan to.

The great thing about using this method is that it can be adapted for us who aren't the best at knitting, or crochet (but make great quilts!) to make other flowers for Lyn Berry's new spring floral project!

Helen - who promises to do more on this blog in 2019, inspired by more travels, now that hubby has retired, and also inspired by plans for our daughter's wedding on the 1st of December this year.

Helen (Riordan) Evans