Poppy knitting pattern

Get ready for Remembrance Day 2020 and make a poppy to wear on your lapel or donate to a local display. Below you’ll find three easy poppy knitting patterns that would be suitable for new knitters, plus a more detailed knitted poppy brooch pattern that will keep experienced knitters busy. And for those who’d prefer a crochet version, we have a free pattern for a crochet poppy too!

1. Poppy knitting pattern

If you’ve got a spare few minutes and some scrap red yarn from your stash, then why not use this poppy knitting pattern to make a poppy for Remembrance Day?

This free pattern was provided by Cirencester Parish Church, which in 2017 teamed up with the Cirencester branch of the Royal British Legion and crafters from all over the country to decorate the church with 17,000 knitted poppies. The Royal British Legion provides support to the Armed Forces community, including serving and ex-serving personnel and their families. Visit their website to find out more about the charity and Remembrance Day events near you.

This poppy knitting pattern is quick to make using small amounts of any DK yarn, or you could use whatever you find in your stash to make flowers of different sizes. Learning how to knit a poppy won’t take long with this beginner-friendly pattern, so give it a try today.

To knit a poppy you will need:

• A pair of 4mm (US 6) needles
• Any red DK yarn
• A small black button

How to knit a poppy

This pattern uses our standard knitting abbreviations. Tension is not important for this project.

Cast on 60 sts using 4mm needles and red DK yarn.

Rows 1-8 (K2, P2) to end.

Row 9 (K2tog) to end. [30 sts]

Row 10 (S2kpo) to end. [10 sts]

Break off yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread tail through remaining 10 sts and pull tight, then fasten off yarn.

Join the edges of the poppy together and sew the black button in the centre of the poppy.

Download a poppy knitting pattern PDF

We also have a PDF version of this poppy knitting pattern, which you can download here: Poppy knitting pattern PDF

BBC Nottingham called out to knitters to help knit 11,000 poppies in commemoration of Nottingham soliders who lost their lives during WW1. The target was to knit and crochet 11,000 poppies to mark each of the 11,000 Nottinghamshire men who died during the Great War. Many knitters contributed to help commemorate those who lost their lives in WW1.

Their two poppy knitting patterns are both easy for beginners to knit and can be used to create brooches or to donate to local displays. For the best finish, knit with a double knit (DK) yarn. The size of needle you choose will determine how big the poppy will be, but we recommend 3½mm or 3¾mm. If you have different yarn left in your stash, just use that and the appropriate needle size.

2. Easy poppy knitting pattern for beginners

To knit a poppy you will need:

Yarn A One ball of red DK yarn (This will make a lot of poppies!)
Yarn B Scrap of black yarn or a black button

Body of poppy

This pattern uses our standard knitting abbreviations. Tension is not important for this project.

Cast on 120 stitches using Yarn A and 3½mm needles.

Rows 1-4 Knit.

Row 5 Knit 3 stitches together across the row. [40 sts]

Rows 6-9 Knit.

Row 10 Knit 2 stitches together across the row [20 sts]

Rows 11-14 Knit.

Row 15 Knit 2 stitches together across the row. [10 sts]

Cut yarn leaving a tail of about 20cm.

Thread tail through yarn needle and slip all the remaining live stitches onto the yarn tail and pull tight. Pull around into a circle and then mattress stitch (or use whatever stitching you normally use) to seam for an invisible seam. Sew in ends.

Centre of poppy

Cast on 16 sts using Yarn B.

Cast off.

Coil into a tight spiral and sew base to the centre.

Alternatively, use a black or green button with 4 holes and sew to centre of poppy.

Add pin.

3. Easy ribbed poppy knitting pattern

To knit a poppy you will need:

Yarn A One ball of red DK yarn (This will make a lot of poppies!)
Yarn B Scrap of black yarn or a black button

Body of poppy

This pattern uses our standard knitting abbreviations. Tension is not important for this project.

Cast on 60 stitches using Yarn A and 3½mm needles.

Rows 1–10 K2, P2 across whole row. (For a slightly smaller poppy do 8 rows of rib.)

Row 11 Knit 2 stitches together across the row. [30 stitches]

Row 12 Slip 1 stitch, knit 2 stitches together then pass the slip stitch over. Repeat across the whole row. [10 sts]

Break off yarn with long tail and thread back through remaining stitches and pull tight. Join edges with mattress stitch.

Centre of poppy

Cast on 16 sts using Yarn B.

Cast off.

Coil into a tight spiral and sew base to the centre.

Alternatively, use a black or green button with 4 holes and sew to centre of poppy.

Add pin.

4. Knitted poppy brooch pattern

Add a dash of scarlet to your smart winter coat, or perk up a plain denim jacket with this knitted poppy brooch pattern by Monica Fuertes. It was first available as a cover kit with Simply Knitting magazine issue 191.

You have a choice of two poppy brooches to make, a small and a large one. The key to getting a great finished result from this pattern lies in the making up, so Monica has provided detailed instructions below to help guide you.

To make this knitted poppy brooch you will need:

• Hayfield Bonus DK (100% acrylic 100g/280m)
  For the Little Poppy Apple:
  Yarn A Ladybird (0698)
  Yarn B Sunflower (0978)
  Yarn C Lemongrass (0699)
  For the Large Poppy:
  Yarn A Ladybird (0698)
  Yarn B Black (0965)
  Yarn C Lemongrass (0699)
  Buy the yarn for this project from Deramores
• A pair of 3mm (US 2/3) knitting needles
• 21 black glass seed beads
• 2 brooch pins

How to knit a poppy brooch

Tension

13 sts and 18 rows to measure 6 x 6cm (2½ x 2½in) over stocking stitch using 3mm needles

Our standard knitting abbreviations are used in this pattern.

Knitted poppy brooch: Little Poppy apple

Flowers (make 3)

Cast on 20 sts, using 3mm needles and Yarn A.

Row 1 (RS) Knit.

Row 2 Purl.

Row 3 Knit.

Row 4 Purl.

Row 5 (K5, twist the right needle back to front) to end.

Row 6 Purl.

Change to Yarn B.

Row 7 (K2tog) to end. [10 sts]

Row 8 (P2tog) to end. [5 sts]

Row 9 (K2tog) to last st, K1. [3 sts].

Cast off.

Cut yarn and thread through remaining sts.

Sew sides together to form flower. Attach the beads using the photograph as a guide.

Leaves (Make 3)

Cast on 3 sts using 3mm needles and Yarn C.

Row 1 (WS) Purl.

Row 2 K1, yo, K1, yo, K1. [5 sts]

Row 3 Purl.

Row 4 K2, yo, K1, yo, K2. [7 sts]

Row 5 Purl.

Row 6 K2tog, K3, k2tog. [5 sts]

Row 7 Purl.

Row 8 K2tog, K1, k2tog. [3 sts]

Row 9 Sk2po. [1 st]

Fasten off.

Finishing

Sew the three Poppy Apples together and position the leaves around them, using the photograph for guidance. Attach the brooch pin securely to the back of the flowers.

Detailed making-up instructions

To sew these flowers:

1. Make a triangle shape, sew with a tapestry needle and some stitches with red colour yarn the 3 flowers together.
2. Sew the green leaves at the back part of the flowers.
3. Sew five black glass beads all around each yellow centre.
4. Sew the metallic brooch at back with a couple of stitches.

Knitted poppy brooch: Large Poppy (Make 3 per brooch)

Petals (Make 4 for each poppy)

Working in garter stitch:

Cast on 5 sts, using 3mm needles and Yarn A.

Row 1 (RS) Knit.

Row 2 Kfb, K2, kfb, K1. [7 sts]

Row 3 Knit.

Row 4 K3, kfb, K3. [8 sts]

Work 3 rows in garter st.

Row 8 K3, k2tog, K3.  [7 sts]

Row 9 K2, sk2po, K2. [5 sts]

Row 10 K1 ,sk2po, K1. [3 sts]

Row 11 Knit.

Row 12 (Kfb) twice, K1. [5 sts]

Row 13 Kfb, K2, kfb, K1. [7 sts]

Row 14 K7.

Row 15 K3, kfb, K3. [8 sts]

Rows 16 to 17 Knit.

Row 18 K3, sk2po, K2. [6 sts]

Row 19 K2, sk2po, K1. [4 sts]

Row 20 Knit.

Cast off.

Stems

Make 1 x 9cm and 2 x 7cm plaited cords with Yarn C.

Flower centres (Make 3)

Cast on 15 sts, using 3mm needles and Yarn B.

Cast off.

Roll up each centre and attach to the middle of each flower. Add embroidery: a long stitch with a French knot with Yarn B. Refer to photograph for guidance.

Calyx (Make 3)

Cast on 8 sts, using 3mm needles and Yarn C.

Row 1 (RS) Knit.

Continue working the first 2 sts only:

*Row 2 (Kfb) twice. [4 sts]

Work 2 rows in st st, beg with a K row.

Row 5 (K2tog) twice. [2 sts]

Row 6 P2tog. [1 st]

Cast off.*

Working on the next 2 sts only, rep from * to * 3 more times.

Sew each Calyx to the back of each Poppy Apple. Attach plaited stems in Yarn C, one 9cm stem to the Calyx at the back of the central flower and a 7cm stem to each flower at the sides.

Leaves (Make 2)

Cast on 3 sts, using 3mm needles and Yarn C.

Row 1 (WS) Purl.

Row 2 K1, yo, K1, yo, K1. [5 sts]

Row 3 Purl.

Row 4 K2, yo, K1, yo, K2. [7 sts]

Row 5 Purl.

Row 6 K3, yo, K1, yo, K3. [9 sts]

Row 7 Purl.

Row 8 Sk2po, K3, sk2po. [5 sts]

Row 9 Purl.

Row 10 K2tog, K1, k2tog. [3 sts]

Row 11 Sk2po. [1 st]

Fasten off.

Finishing

Sew the Poppies together and the Leaves around them. Refer to photograph for guidance. Attach brooch pin securely to the back of the Poppies.

Detailed making-up instructions

To sew these flowers:

1. Make a triangle shape, sew with a tapestry needle and some stitches and red colour yarn the three flowers one beside the other.
2. Sew the yellow centres (chains) to make a circle shape, one yellow centre at each flower.
3. Embroider the pistils with black yarn and a tapestry needle. Each flower has 12 pistils, so three pistils for each petal. Sew three back stitches at each petal (three long stitches) and embroider a French knot at the top of each pistil.
4. Sew at back part of each flower the four tiny green leaves. Sew these leaves at the middle and at the tips with green colour yarn and a tapestry needle.
5. Make the green cords (stems) and sew one stem at the middle of each calix (group of four tiny leaves).
6. Sew the metallic brooch with green colour yarn and a couple of stitches.

Download the poppy brooch knitting pattern

Get a PDF version of this brooch pattern here: Knitted poppy brooch pattern

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