Monmouthshire knitters are being encouraged to contribute hand-made textile poppies for a large-scale commemorative WW1 installation to be displayed at the Royal Welsh show ground in Builth Wells in 2018.

Organisers of Wonderwool Wales are encouraging individuals, groups and schools to knit commemorative poppies for a massive textile installation to mark the centenary of the end of the war in 2018.

During World War 1, one of the ways women at home showed their patriotism and ‘did their bit’ to support the troops overseas was by knitting - making gloves, scarves, balaclavas and particularly socks for the soldiers.

All the poppies will be strung together into a ’Curtain of Poppies’ and the intention is that it will include 887,858 textile poppies, to commemorate each person from the UK who died serving their country.

The curtain will be put on display at Wonderwool Wales 2018, the annual showcase for wool and natural fibres which is being held at the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells on April 28 and 29, 2018.

Anyone can join in and send a poppy and for those who don’t knit, poppies can also be crocheted, woven or sewn from felt.

Organiser Jane Veevers said, ‘Every poppy we receive takes us one step further towards our goal, so please get busy with those knitting needles – or if you prefer, use one of our alternative patterns.’

Volunteers are invited to use a range of patterns, available on the Wonderwool Wales website. To find out more and to find the patterns for the textile poppies visit www.wonderwoolwales.co.uk.