Have you had enough passive screen-time and want to make something with your hands, maybe learning a new skill in the process? Join us in contributing to a gallery display of Griffith Park in crochet, with the help of these how-to videos.   

As part of our exhibition Investigating Griffith Park we’re inviting the Autry community to make pieces to represent various aspects of the park, from nature to recreational activities, and mail them into the Autry (or drop them off in person once the museum re-opens, if you prefer). We’ll then add your art to the gallery, around a crocheted Griffith Park sign, to capture the essence of the park and create a post-pandemic community display.  

This week’s video shows you how to make a California Poppy, the state flower and just one of the many wildflowers found in Griffith Park.

You don’t need experience with crochet, as instructor Julie Kadoi walks you through the basic stitches, and for those more comfortable with working from written instructions we have included the pattern below. So, pick up those hooks and yarn, make a California Poppy (or maybe a leafy daisy kite, or a butterfly from previous videos) and look for future videos in the coming weeks.  

Download Directions as PDF File

Materials

• 2 slightly different hues of acrylic yarn to resemble California Poppies, in colors such as orange, yellow, or red
  • Small amount of sport or lace-weight (#2 or #1)
  • Small amount of DK-weight (#3)
• 1 – 2.75 mm (C) crochet hook
• 1 - 3.5 mm (E) crochet hook
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors

Stitches and Techniques

• back loop only (BLO): Indicates the location of where to place a stitch. Out of the two loops in the top of a stitch, only work under the one which is further away from the crocheter.
• chain stitch (ch): To make, draw yarn through the active loop on the hook.
• fasten off: cut the yarn 3 to 4 inches from the last stitch and draw the end through the active loop. Pull tightly to secure.
• front loop only (FLO): Indicates the location of where to place a stitch. Out of the two loops in the top of a stitch, only work under the one which is closest to the crocheter.
• slip stitch (sl st): To make, insert your hook into the indicated stitch, draw up a loop, draw the top loop on the hook through the bottom loop.
• single crochet (sc): To make, insert your hook into the indicated stitch, draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through both loops. 
• slip knot: To make, cross the tail end over the yarn to make a loop, draw up yarn from the yarn ball side through the loop and tighten, making sure the cut end is not pulled through.
• stitch (st): a generic stitch, usually designates the location in the previous row in which a particular stitch, such as a single crochet, will be made.
• tail: the unworked cut end of the yarn.
• treble crochet (tc): To make, yarn over twice, insert the hook into the designated stitch, draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through two loops three times.

Pattern notes

• The flower center and petals are worked in the round.
• The stamens are worked separately and attached at the end.

Pattern

Flower center and petals

• Using the thicker yarn and larger hook, make a loose (do not tighten) slip knot to use as a center ring and make a chain (ch) to secure.
• Round 1: Work 6 single crochet stitches (sc) in the center ring. Pull on tail to shrink the center ring. Sl st to 1^st st of round.
• Round 2: Ch 1. Work 2 sc in each stitch (st) around. Sl st to front loop only (FLO) of 1^st st of round.

Round 3-A: Work all st in the front loop only (FLO) for this round.

• Petal 1: [(Ch 5, 2 tr in same st as chain 5). 3 tr in next st, (2 tr, 5 ch, sl st) in next st, sl st in next 4 st].
• Petal 2: [(Ch 5, 2 tr in same st as chain 5). 3 tr in next st, (2 tr, 5 ch, sl st) in next st, sl st in next 3 st].

Round 3-B: Throughout this round, work in the back loops (back loop only, BLO) which remain from the same stitches worked in Round 3A.

• Petal 3: Sl st in BLO of 1^st st from Round 3A behind petal 1 (front loop was already worked in 3A). Sl st in next 2 st behind petal 1, (sl st, ch 5, 2 tr) in next st, 3 tr in next st, (2 tr, chain 5, sl st) in next st.
• Petal 4: Sl st in next 3 st behind petal 2. (sl st, ch 5, 2 tr) in next st, 3 tr in next st, (2 tr, chain 5, sl st) in next st. Sl st to 1^st st of the round.
• Fasten off. Weave in the ends.

Stamens

• Using thinner yarn and smaller hook, make a (regular, tight) slip knot.
• 1^st stamen: Ch 7, sk 1 ch, sl st in all remaining ch.
• 2^nd-5^th stamens: Ch 6, sk 1 ch, sl st in all remaining ch, sl st in 1^st ch from 1^st stamen.
• Fasten off. Do not weave in ends.

Assembly

• Attach the stamens to the flower center by drawing the tail ends of stamens through the center ring (already pulled closed) to the back of the flower center and knotting the ends just underneath as closely as possible to the center ring. Do not weave in the stamen ends as they will be used for attaching poppies to the Yarnscape.

---

 

Mailing Submissions 

Please mail your California Poppy submissions to:  

YARNSCAPE AT THE AUTRY 
Autry Museum of the American West 
4700 Western Heritage Way 
Los Angeles CA 90027 

If you prefer you may drop them off when the Autry reopens to the public.