Poppy Fields Tote

Every year, on a headland overlooking the sea between Polly Joke and Crantock on the north coast of Cornwall, for a few weeks the green fields turn red. Hundreds of thousands of poppies bloom.. and I couldn't resist recreating those poppies in yarn, to enjoy them all year round. The Poppy Fields Tote features ruffled poppies sitting on neat hexagons which are joined using a flat slip stitch join, before adding two thermal stitch handles. Finished size is approximately 28cm wide and 28cm long, with handles measuring 55cm (21 1/2") end to end. Two versions of the pattern are provided; one written in U.S. terms and one in U.K. terms. No experience of using the flat slipstitch join or thermal stitch are necessary - full instructions are given. For this project you'll need approximately 600m/650yds of DK weight yarn in three contrasting colours, for a tote measuring approximately 28cm x 28cm. I used 284g Deramores Studio Organic Cotton (100% cotton, 105m/115yds per 50g); colours shown here are Pepper, Obsidian and French Vanilla. You could substitute for any cotton or cotton blend yarn - and for a larger bag, aran/worsted weight yarn would be great too! I chose a traditional red for my poppies, but wouldn't this look fab in pinks, purples, oranges, blues.. you could really get creative!