This week marks the first anniversary of our sojourn to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show … and our appointment with Queen Elizabeth II … One year ago to the day we walked onto this amazing site to start work on what was to be a spectacular installation. We were both elated and exhausted after a full on year of rehabilitating the nets following the torrential rain in Melbourne on Anzac Day 2015 … a herculean effort by anyone’s standards. Plus there was the making of an additional 20,000 poppies on stems by an incredibly dedicated team of stem specialists all over Australia and in the UK.
It feels like a year … and it feels like it was yesterday.
And I still marvel at how this lovely little community project projected itself into the lives of so many wonderful people … who took up the gauntlet and made it their own.
5000 Poppies had become a project with two sides to the story essentially bound by its original purpose. To honour our servicemen and women, their families and their communities … AND the galvanising of community working with incredible heart and commitment towards a common purpose.
It’s astounding on so many levels.
So .. a lot has happened since Chelsea … and we are now (still) working towards 2018 … creating an additional 50,000 lapel poppies for the RSL … AND creating another amazing installation with Phillip and his team … this time for the Australian War Memorial to commemorate the Centenary of the end of the Great War.
What a beautiful evolving and meaningful work of art we have all created … full of love and honour and respect and remembrance.
LEST WE FORGET
5000 POPPIES 
It was a tremendous experience on so many levels, and utterly wonderful!
Wonderful work it was a pleasure to be involved with the knitting of the poppies and what you have done with them
Is there a special pattern for the poppies needed for the RSL
Hi Noelein,
There are many patterns suitable.
I have included a couple of very simple knit and crochet ones here. These are not posted on the blog yet … they are being tested. However, feel free to have a play.
Lynn
Ing’s Hybrid Hybrid Front Post Crochet Poppy
Pattern written up by Sue Taylor – Smocknbird
Black and red 8 ply (dk) yarn
3.50mm crochet hook, Scissors, Darning needle, Decorative button if required
This poppy can be started with either a Magic Ring or the more traditional chain start.
Using BLACK yarn, attach yarn to hook with a slip knot. Make 4 chain and join with a sl st to form a circle OR work round 1 over a magic ring – whichever is your chosen method.
Round 1 : 3 ch (counts as the first treble), 11 treble into the ring. Join with a sl st to the 3rd ch. 12 treble. Fasten off black yarn.
Round 2 : Using RED yarn join into the top of any treble from round 1. Chain 3 (first treble), into same space as ch 2 work 1 treble, *work 2 trebles into each stitch* around and join with a sl st. 24 trebles.
Round 3 : Ch 2 (first half treble) *work 2 front post trebles around the next stitch from round 2, work 1 half treble into the top of the next stitch* repeat around and join with a sl st. Fasten off, darn in all ends, attach button if preferred.
Attach pin to back of poppy.
Repeat
Lynn’s Easy Knitted Garter Stitch Poppy
Black and red 8 ply (dk) yarn
3.25 or 3.75 needles depending on how tight your knitting is.
Scissors, Darning needle, Decorative button if required
Cast on 70 stitches
Knit 6-8 rows
Next row (slip 1, knit 2 tog, psso). Repeat across row. If there are odd stitches remaining knit together.
Next two rows : knit 2 tog across row.
Cut yarn and thread through remaining stitches and pull up to form poppy. Stitch side seam and attach centre.
NB last three rows can be done in black yarn to form centre, but a knitted centre or button works equally well. Attach pin to back of poppy.
Repeat
Lynn’s Easy Knitted Rib Stitch Poppy
Black and red 8 ply (dk) yarn
3.25 or 3.75 needles depending on how tight your knitting is.
Scissors, Darning needle, Decorative button if required
Cast on 52 stitches
Work 6-8 rows in 2 x 2 rib
Next three rows are knit 2 tog across row. Where there is an odd number of stitches knit last stitch.
Cut yarn and thread through remaining stitches and pull up to form poppy. Stitch side seam and attach centre.
NB last three rows can be done in black yarn to form centre, but a knitted centre or button works equally well. Attach pin to back of poppy.
Repeat