A WORLD War One commemorative artwork made by knitters from the UK and around the world will be on display for the first time at Wonderwool Wales this weekend.

The Curtain Of Poppies, which has more than 65,000 handmade knitted poppies, was pulled together with contributions from all over the UK, Europe and even as far as North America.

The wool and natural fibres showcase will make its debut at the Royal Welsh Showground on April 28 and 29. Some poppies were received with cards, photos and notes explaining the contributors’ reasons for getting involved.

Launched at last year’s show, the initiative encouraged today’s community of knitters to recreate the united determination of the women at home during World War One, who ‘did their bit’ to support the troops overseas by knitting gloves, scarves, balaclavas and socks.

Poppies from knitting and craft groups, schools, WIs and individuals were strung together into the commemorative WW1 installation.

A Curtain of Poppies will be displayed in Hall 3, where The Royal British Legion will have a stand and will be collecting donations.

Curtain of Poppies organisers, mother and daughter Olwen and Jane Veevers are delighted at the way the project caught the imagination of so many. Jane said: “We would like to thank everyone who has got involved, from individuals like a serving soldier who sent in a single embroidered felt flower, the first hand-made item she had ever made, to whole communities like Ludlow who sent in 2,500, to teenage textile enthusiasts from Porthcawl Comprehensive School who contributed more than 3,000. We also received a wonderful donation of nearly 2,000 from Merched y Wawr on Anglesey and Cymdeithas Brodwaith Cymru in Gwynedd and North East Wales.

“One school in Cheshire invited parents to come into school and sew a poppy with their children, giving each child the name of a soldier from the town who died during the First World War and encouraging them to research the soldier’s regiment and their age when they lost their life.”

“Our grateful thanks also go to volunteers from Bridstow Spinners, Ross-on-Wye who worked furiously to link together piles of poppies which arrived unstrung,” said Olwen.

A Curtain of Poppies will become a travelling exhibition and it will be at Powys County Council’s County Hall during May and the National Wool Museum of Wales from May 26 until the end of June.