Knit a poppy for Remembrance Day

(Do It Yourself Knitting:  more process than pattern)

Remembrance Day is less than two weeks  away.  I like how people wear a
poppy not only on the day but usually as soon as November begins.  My
father served in the Second World War and I wear that  red flower very
much for him. Also I wear it as a symbol of peace.

A  donation got put  into the box of the poppy providers but , after
losing so many poppies in the past because of the slidy pin and being
pricked too many times by that pin, this year I knit a poppy.  It pins
onto my hat or coat or shawl with a safety pin.

It was very simple to make.  I used an alpaca wool blend because that is what was in my stash in red; size 4.5mm/US6 needles.

CO 3 sts.  Knit first and every odd row,  purl second and every
even row, (stockingette stitch, of course), increasing in the first and
last stitch of each row using the knit (or purl) into front and back of
the stitch to make the increase.  With this wool and those needles I
had 15 sts on the needle when it looked like half the proper size for a
petal so I started the decrease of K2tog (or P2tog) at beginning and
end of each row until 3 sts remained and then cast off those.

Make three more petals.  Wet and flatten on counter top and let dry
(blocking). Arrange the petals into a flower shape, sewing the yarn
tail back and forth around the edge of the outer petal to give it more
roundness if necessary; otherwise just weave the tails into the
petals.  Sew the petals together at the base and join each petal to the
one beside it with a few stitches. 

I used a heavier black yarn and a crochet hook to form the center by
chaining four, forming into a ring, making two single crochets into
each stitch in ring (8 sts) and then cut tail and pulled it through the
last stitch.  Sew this onto front of flower.  Pin or stitch onto
garment.

I found the petals a bit too floppy with this yarn so when the poppy
was finished I soaked it in a solution of white glue and water and it
dried more firmly but I still ended up stabilizing it with yarn
stitched across the back.  If I make another I would use a stiffer
yarn;  cotton would likely work well. Paper string might do, or
possibly hemp. 

The plan, once Remembrance Day is over,  is to  put the poppy at the
back of the 2008 calendar and when the 2009 calendar begins, to put the
poppy in November so I won't have to do a major hunt and search for it
next year.  I am pleased with how it turned out.

The above post is mostly an updated repeat of last year's at this time; it made sense to do so.