Make a Red Poppy Brooch

Tomorrow is ANZAC Day and for those readers not familiar with this, it is a day that evokes many emotions in Australia. You can read all about it here!

The red poppy is taking a special place this year as we remember the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli Campaign. I actually found myself ‘lost’ in reading about the history surrounding the red poppy and I once again regretted that History was not an option for my high school studies – it obviously clashed with my Maths or something and I became another Historian never to be!

Today, as I am not feeling well enough to quilt, I have decided to make a red poppy brooch for Mum and I to wear to the Anzac service to be held at the Aged Care Facility where Dad is a resident. Anzac day has always been a special day to Dad and you can read about it here.

You still have time to make one too – it is so easy!

What You Need:

Red Felt

Matching embroidery floss

Black embroidery floss

A button (try to find one with a textured look)

A Brooch Pin

Sewing needle

Lets Sew!

1. Find the pattern here.

2. Cut the shapes from the felt

3. Using 2 strands of the red embroidery floss, Stitch around the shapes using blanket stitch. I pulled each stitch firmly to try to create an ‘edge’ on the petals.

4. Run a row of stitches across the centre of the petals

5. Gather it up and secure.

6. Put the small petals on top of the large petals and secure. (I just sat the button on to see how it would look – it is not attached!)

7. Take 2 threads of the black embroidery floss and, starting at the centre, backstitch a line out. I tried to follow the ‘gathers’ and made sure the lines went out far enough to be seen when the button is added. Don’t pull the stitches tightly or they will disappear into the felt (ask me how I know). I ended each with a Colonial Knot.

8. I thought the Poppy was looking a bit too flat, so to give it more dimension, I turned back the top petals and pulled the bottom petals together a little and stitched them together: