Christmas is a coming.....

It is Remembrance day here - November the 11th, Lest We Forget. I had my minutes silence and remembered my grandfather and father in law who both served in the second World War. Both were men of substance, ANZACs who have now left us. I will never forget them.





The next big event down under is Christmas. When I was at the post office last week they had a sign up "52 days till Christmas". EEK I thought, that leaves me with about 50 days t make stuff!

Every year I try and make as many gifts as I can. I like things that I can include with the cooked goodies I bake. My favourite recipes are ginger bread men, rum balls, and chocolate brownies. Last year I did a heap of pot holders and kitchen towels so this year I thought I would try something new.

So here are my table toppers. A selection of Christmas themed coasters and napkin rings. They work up quick and are nice and festive.

I was thinking today that I might work some of the coasters in thread ans a smaller hook to make some appliques for the hand towels and serviettes.

When it comes to setting the Christmas Table I am a bit obsessional. I always like lots of decoration and bling! I reckon there is no such thing as too many Christmas Lights or too many ornaments.

So this is what the neighbours and friends are getting with their baked goodies this year: a set of Christmas Coasters. Because it is our summer we drink quite a lot at Christmas. There is always a bowl of punch, some chilled wine, beer and soft drinks. As a kid Christmas was the only time of the year we had soft drink. I remember the glass bottle of orange and lime and rasberry on my Nana's Christmas table. It is funny the things we remember that made us feel good as a kid.

I have written up the patterns for the Table Toppers including the coasters and napkin rings. These have been tested by some very kind people, and the patterns are available at my etsy store for anyone interested.

I am predicting a very home made Christmas this year with all the toy recalls. That is great for the crafters and should keep everyone busy!

(c) crochetroo - please do not take my ideas or images. Direct links are welcome, and I love reading the comments!

ANZAC Poppy - free crochet pattern

Lest We Forget, April 25



"In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row, "

(John McCrae)

I have designed and crocheted this little poppy to commemorate ANZAC day. The poppy measures 3 ½ cm / 1 ½ inches wide and can be pinned to clothing or accessories. They are running a competition at ETSY for a design that incorporates beads, and this is my entry as I have been thinking about ANZAC day, April 25, and its place in our Australian history. I have provided the pattern below and ask if you do download the pattern, please donate a coin to a charity that supports servicemen, women and their families.


Significance and Meaning

ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The association of the red poppy also called the Flanders Poppy or poppy of remembrance with war is interesting. The poppy is seen as a natural symbol of resurrection and remembrance as the poppy was the first plant to grow in the churned up soil of soldiers' graves in the area of Flanders during the First World War. Of the some 50,000 Australians who fought at Gallipoli, 8,709 were killed and 18,235 wounded; New Zealand suffered 2,701 killed and 4,880 wounded.

Australians now recognise 25 April as an occasion of national commemoration and respect for those who have served at war. Commemorative services are held at dawn, the time of the original landing, across the country. I went to the Dawn service in Canberra at the National War Memorial a few years back and it was a most moving ceremony. My Grandfather was a returned soldier, as was my father in Law. Both served in WWII. We have my father in laws medals for our sons. These are a prized possession. Anzac Day parades are held and it has become a day that has deep significance in Australia and New Zealand.

These moving words are a part of the tradition -

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.”
(Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)

The last post is played by a solitary bugler, and wreaths of poppies are laid. While the poppy is symbolic and cover the wreaths, rosemary sprigs (meaning remembrance) tend to be worn on Anzac day, while the poppy is worn on Remembrance Day 11th of November.

I thought I would post the pattern for the poppy with the intention that this be used for days of remembrance, and specific fund raising for charities to do with the armed forces and their families. I have put a price on the original poppy with the intention of donating the profit to Legacy.

Australian Instructions

1.75 hook, 4 ply thread, Size 6 steel, 10 thread
Black and red thread, 12 Black seed beads, 25 Red seed beads

Stamen - starting with black
Thread 12 beads onto thread before starting. I leave about 20cm/8in of thread at the start which is used later to stitch the poppy to a pin or barrette.

1. 3ch, into first ch work 6dc, slst join.
2. Work into front loop only; (1dc, *2ch, bead to hook, 2ch, 1dc) first loop, 2ch bead to hook 2ch 1dc into next loop. Repeat from * around slst join into start dc. You should have 12 stamens with a bead on each.

For unbeaded option, omit bead and work (1dc, 5ch, 1dc) into sp, 5ch around

3. You will now work in the spare loop behind the stamens. 1dc first loop, 3ch, 1dc next loop, 3ch, around 5 times. You can miss a loop as you only need five 3ch spaces for the petals. Slst finish join, off black.

Petals – poppy red
Thread 25 red beads onto red thread.
4. Slst start in one of the 3ch loops behind the stamens. (2ch, counts as htr, 3tr 1htr) into first loop, then (1htr 3tr 1htr) in remaining 4 loops, slst join

5. The red beads are worked in this round. 2ch start, bead to hook, 1tr next st pushing bead up thread to hook after first yarn over hook, then work st in usual way. You might need to fiddle with the bead to make it face forwards. 1tr bead in next 2 st, 1htr bead next 1st, 1dc between petals (no bead), work 1htr 3tr 1htr each with a bead across each petal and 1dc (no bead) between. The petal should curl.

Slst finish off. Use start thread to stitch onto a pin.

American Instructions

1.75 hook, 4 ply thread , Size 6 steel, 10 thread
Black and red thread, 12 Black seed beads, 25 Red seed beads

Stamen - starting with black
Thread 12 beads onto thread before starting. I leave about 20cm/8in of thread at the start which is used later to stitch the poppy to a pin or barrette.

1. 3ch, into first ch work 6sc, slst join.
2. Work into front loop only (1sc, *2ch, bead to hook, 2ch, 1sc) first loop, 2ch bead to hook 2ch 1sc into next loop. Repeat from * around slst join into start sc. You should have 12 stamens with a bead on each.

For unbeaded option, omit bead and work 1sc, 5ch, 1sc, 5ch around

3. You will now work in the spare loop behind the stamens. 1sc first loop, 3ch, 1sc next loop, 3ch, around 5 times. You can miss a loop as you only need five 3ch spaces for the petals. Slst finish join, off black

Petals – poppy red
Thread 25 red beads onto red thread.
4. Slst start in one of the 3ch loops behind the stamens. (2ch, counts as hdc 3dc, 1hdc) into first loop, then (1hdc 3dc 1hdc) in remaining 4 loops, slst join

5. The red beads are worked in this round. 2ch start, bead to hook, 1dc next st pushing bead up thread to hook after first yarn over hook, then work st in usual way. You might need to fiddle with the bead to make it face forwards. 1dc bead in next 2st, 1hdc bead next 1st, 1sc between petals (no bead), work 1hdc 3dc 1hdc each with a bead across each petal and 1sc (no bead) between. The petal should curl.

For unbeaded version, omit the beads. Slst finish off. Use start thread to stitch onto a pin.

© copyright crochetroo 2007. Do not reproduce pattern by any means. You may use it for personal use, gifts and charity fundraising. Do not sell to make a personal profit as this is inappropriate.