What you need
· Metallic yarn in black (A), 4ply yarn in a green-yellow shade (B) and pale pink or red (C)
· 2.5mm (UK12:US-) crochet hook
· 33 sequins
· Small amount of toy stuffing
· Length of hat elastic to fit head
· Blunt-ended yarn needle
· Sewing needle
· Sewing thread
Size
Approximately 6in (15cm) across petals
Tension
26 sts and 26 rows to 10cm (4in) over double crochet using 2.5mm hook and A.
Use larger or smaller hook if necessary to obtain correct tension.
Instructions
This very large bloom uses the long treble and double treble stitches to form the petals.
The repetitive pattern around each petal makes this a great project with which to practise the more complicated stitches. The sequinned centre is worked first and attached to the petals to finish the poppy. A brooch bar can be sewn to the back of the flower to wear as a corsage.
Notes
1 ch at beg of the round does not count as a st throughout.
3 ch at beg of the round counts as a st throughout.
Poppy centre
Thread 33 sequins on to yarn A.
With 2.5mm hook and A, make a magic loop.
Round 1 (RS): 1 ch, 1 dc into loop, 3 ch, 10 tr into loop, sl st to 3rd of 3 ch with B. Pull tightly on short end of yarn to close loop (11 sts).
Carry yarn A on WS of work.
Rounds 2–3: 3 ch, 1 tr in each tr, sl st to 3rd of 3 ch with A.
Continue with A.
Round 4 (inc): 3 ch, 1 tr in same st as sl st, (tr2inc) 10 times, sl st to 3rd of 3 ch, turn to WS (22 sts).
Continue on WS of work. The sequins will appear on the RS.
Rounds 5–7 (WS): 3 ch, (bring sequin to hook, 1 ch, 1 tr in next 2 tr) 10 times, sequin to hook, 1 ch, 1 tr in next tr, sl st to 3rd of 3 ch.
Round 8: 3 ch, 1 tr in each tr, sl st in 3rd of 3 ch.
Round 9 (dec): 3 ch, 1 tr in next tr, (tr2tog) 10 times, sl st to 3rd of 3 ch (12 sts).
Rounds 10–11: 3 ch, 1 tr in each tr, sl st to 3rd of 3 ch.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail of both yarns.
Stuff the yellow part of the centre. Thread the tail of yarn B around the lower edges of the centre piece, between rounds 3 and 4, pull tightly on the yarn to gather the stitches and fasten off. Thread the tail of yarn A through the last round of stitches, pull tightly on yarn to close the opening and fasten off.
Push the yellow centre inside the sequinned black section, which will form a collar around the stuffed centre. Stitch in place by pushing the needle several times right through the work, from the base of the sequinned section to the metallic tip of the yellow centre.
Petals
With 2.5mm hook and A, make 6 ch and join with a sl st to first ch to form a ring.
Round 1 (RS): 3 ch, 2 tr into ring, (9 ch, 3 tr) 3 times, 9 ch, sl st to 3rd of 3 ch (12 tr and 4 9-ch sps).
Round 2: *Skip next tr, 1 dc in next tr, skip next tr, (4 dc, 2 htr, 2 tr, 5 dtr, 2 tr, 2 htr, 4 dc) into next 9-ch sp*; rep from * to * 3 more times, sl st to first dc, sl st up next 4 dc of first petal. Join C in last sl st.
Continue with C.
Round 3 (inc): *1 htr in next 2 htr, 1 tr in next tr, (dtr3inc, dtr2inc) 3 times, dtr3inc, 1 tr in next tr, 1 htr in next 2 htr, skip next 4 dc down side of petal, skip 1 dc in between petals, skip 4 dc up side of next petal*; rep from * to * 3 more times (96 sts).
Round 4 (inc): *1 htr in next 2 htr, 1 tr in next tr, dtr2inc in next 18 sts, 1 tr in next tr, 1 htr in next 2 htr*; rep from * to * 3 more times, sl st to next htr, turn to WS (168 sts).
Round 5 (WS) (inc): *Skip next htr, 1 htr in next htr, 1 tr in next tr, dtr2inc in next 36 sts, 1 tr in next tr, 1 htr in next htr, skip next htr*; rep from * to * 3 more times, sl st in next st (304 sts).
Fasten off.
Making up
Attach the poppy centre to the middle of the petals on the RS. Weave in all the yarn ends. Sew the length of hat elastic to the base of the poppy.
Published with permission from “Little Crochet Treasures”
Little Crochet Treasures by Vanessa Mooncie, GMC Publications, RRP $26.99, available online and from all good bookshops.
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