Give a cheer for the red, white and blue with this patriotic pillow. It’s perfect as a décor piece and is sure to spruce up any 4th of July party. Designed by Kristen Stoltzfus.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: 17” x 17” (43 x 43 cm)

Gauge: 14 sts = 4” (10 cm); 8 rows of sc = 2 ½” (6.5 cm)

Materials

Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver (100% acrylic; 364 yards [333 meters]/198 grams): #0319 Cherry Red (A, 1 skein), #0316 Soft White (B, 1 skein), #0385 Royal (C, 1 skein)
Hook: US size H/8 (5.0 mm) hook
Notions: Yarn needle, stitch marker, 18” square pillow form

Special Stitches

Picot: Ch 2, slip st in top of last tr made.

Pattern Notes

Flag is worked in rounds starting at the bottom edge. The open edges are sewn together, and the stars are appliquéd onto the pillow. Pillow is reversible. The red stripes and blue field are worked in a spiral, without joining. Join other rounds with a slip st in first hdc unless otherwise stated.

Pattern

With A, ch 121, being careful not to twist ch, join with slip st in first ch to form ring.

First Red Stripe

Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in first ch, sc in each ch around; do not join, work in a spiral. (121 sc) Mark first st of round, moving marker up as work progresses.
Rnd 2: *Sc in next sc, sc in back loop only of next sc; repeat from * around; do not join.
Rnd 3: *Sc in back loop only of next sc, sc in next sc; repeat from * around; do not join.
Repeat Rounds 2-3 until First Red Stripe measures 3” (7.5 cm) from beginning, slip st in next st. Fasten off A.

First White Stripe

Rnd 1: With right side facing, join B with a slip st in any st, ch 1 (does not count as a st), hdc in first st, hdc in each st around; join with a slip st in first hdc. (121 hdc)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, hdc in first st, hdc in each st around; join with a slip st in first hdc.
Repeat Round 2 until First White Stripe measures 3” (7.5 cm) from beginning. Fasten off B.

Second Red Stripe

Rnd 1: With right side facing, join A with a slip st in any st, ch 1, sc in first st, sc in each st around; do not join.
Repeat Rounds 2-3 of First Red Strip until Second Red Strip measures 3” (7.5 cm) from beginning.

Second White Stripe

Repeat Round 2 of First White Strip until Second White Strip measures 3” (7.5 cm) from beginning.

Blue Field

Rnd 1: With right side facing, join C with a slip st in any st, ch 1, sc in first st, sc in each st around; do not join.
Repeat Rounds 2-3 of First Red Stripe until blue field measures 5½” from beginning. Fasten off C.

Star (Make 10)

With B, ch 4; join with slip st in first ch to form ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 1 (does not count as a st), *3 hdc in ring, ch 1; repeat from * 4 times; join with a slip st in first hdc. (15 hdc)
Rnd 2: Ch 2, *hdc in first hdc, tr in next hdc, picot, hdc in next hdc, ch 1, slip st in next ch-1 space, ch 1; repeat from * around; join with a slip st in first hdc. Fasten off, leaving a long sewing length – 5 points.

Finishing

Weave in ends except long sewing ends. Flatten pillow cover. With A, whipstitch bottom edge closed. Insert pillow form, making sure corners are aligned with bottom corners, using C, whipstitch top edge closed. Weave in ends. Block stars. With sewing lengths, sew 5 stars evenly spaced on Blue Field, on both sides of pillow.