Summer is around the corner and I couldn’t be more excited! My favorite time of year is the 4th of July so I wanted to create an American Flag crochet blanket pattern. This blanket screams long summer days by the lake filled with picnics, fireworks, parades, and campfires.
Inspiration
Every summer over the 4th of July our family heads to our cabin in Northern Wisconsin. We spend our days boating and fishing on the lake and evenings are spent around the campfire. To commemorate this special time that we spend over the holiday I knew I wanted to create an American Flag crochet blanket pattern. This blanket is perfect for summer picnics, firework watching, and snuggling up by the campfire. It also looks stunning on the couch!
GET PDF PATTERN – CROCHET BLANKET PATTERN
This crochet blanket free pattern uses simple stitches that are repeated, making it perfect for anyone new to crochet. The crossed double crochet gives this blanket such a great look and texture, while leaving it loose enough to be lightweight. This pattern is easy enough for someone new to crochet and an enjoyable pattern for the experienced crochet maker.
Yarn
When choosing the yarn for this crochet pattern I wanted a yarn that wasn’t too heavy. First, I knew we would be using this during summer so I wanted it to be fairly lightweight. Caron Simply Soft Yarn was the perfect choice. Second, this yarn is so soft with almost a silky look. Third, it is widely available at all craft stores and has a great price point. Finally, this yarn is often on sale at Joann Fabrics and typically has a coupon that can be used.
Project Details
Yarn – Caron Simply Soft, Weight 4 Medium, (100% Acrylic,
315yds/288m/6oz/170g), Color – (A) Harvest Red – 3 skeins,
(B) White – 4 skeins, (C) Dark Country Blue– 2 skeins.
Hook Size – J and F
Gauge – 4” square = 14 sts x 9 rows
Finished size – 64” W x 40” H
Will need a tapestry needle and scissors.
Abbreviations
ch chain
dc double crochet
hdc half double crochet
rep repeat
sc single crochet
sk skip
sl st slip stitch
st(s) stitch(es)
yo yarn over
Stitch Description
Crossed double crochet: Yarn over, skip next stitch and insert hook into next stitch, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull though the first two loops, yarn over and pull through the last two loops.
Working in front of the first dc made yarn over and insert hook in the stitch that you skipped, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through the first two loops, yarn over and pull through the last two loops.
Pattern Notes
- Multiples of 2 + 1
- Ch 1 at the beginning of the row does not count as a stitch.
- Do not skip first stitch in each row.
- After ch 225, work in back bump for Row 1. Rotate the chain toward you and insert your hook though the back bump loop.
Pattern
Begin: with color A ch 225.
Row 1: dc in second ch from hook, crossed dc across, dc in last ch; ch 1, turn. (224)
Row 2: sc across; ch 1, turn.
Row 3: dc, crossed dc across, dc in last st; ch 1, turn.
Rows 4 – 7: rep rows 2-3.
Rows 8 – 15: join color B,rep rows 2-3.
Rows 16 – 23: join color A,rep rows 2-3.
Row 24 – 31: join color B,rep rows 2-3.
Rows 32 – 39: join color A,rep rows 2-3.
Rows 40 – 47: join color B,rep rows 2-3.
Row 48: join color A, sc 131, join color C, sc 93; ch 1, turn.
Row 49: dc, crossed dc 92, join color A, crossed dc 130, dc.
Rows 50 – 55: rep rows 48-49.
Rows 56 – 63: join color B, rep rows 48-49.
Rows 64 – 103: join color A, rep rows 48-63. Fasten off after 13 full stripes.
Weave in all ends with tapestry needle.
Stars
Make 50 (You may want to use stitch markers or scraps of yarn to determine the placement of all 50 stars before attaching them. The traditional arrangement is 11 columns of stars. The first column has 5 stars, the next has 4. Alternate this pattern so that the last column also has 5 stars.)
Ch 2, hdc 11 in second ch from hook, sl st in first hdc. *Ch 5, sl st in second ch from hook attaching to the blanket, working down the ch-5 work sc, hdc, dc, sk next hdc from center, sl st in next st. Rep * to end. Fasten off.
34 Comments
Thank you for sharing your beautiful pattern.
Thank you. Hope you have fun with this pattern.
Hello, I am new to crocheting and found this pattern and just love it. I had a question though. I am struggling with getting my tension tight enough. Is a J hook what I should be using for the stripes? Thank you for your blog and your help. 🙂
Thank you! Yes, you will use the J hook for the whole blanket. The F hook is only used on the stars.
Thank you. I am really having a difficult time with counting stitches. Can you explain the foundation chain and exactly what I need to do to do in order to have success with this project? That would be so helpful. The pattern says to chain 225. Does that include the chain one and slip knot or no?
Start by making a slip knot, the slip knot does not count as a chain. You then chain 225 exactly. Do not chain one after your do your chain 225. When you start row 1 you will make a double crochet in the second chain space from your hook. Then, proceed with the crossed double crochet across. After i complete row 1, I always make sure that I have crocheted the 224 stitches. I hope this helps.
Thank you so much for your help and patience with me. :). I did have another question. As I am doing the different rows I think I keep dropping a stitch somewhere and then I have to go back and undo what I have done. But this is especially happening as I have worked on the first white stripe. I go from having 224 stitches to 222 now I have 221. How can I tell which stitch is the end of the row or beginning of the row?
The end and beginning of the rows are the double crochets. You will start and end on the beginning double crochet and end on the last double crochet.
Ok. Does it matter that I keep loosing a stick somewhere even though the pattern with ending and starting each row with a double crochet seems to be right?
I am confused by the pattern. As written the first stripe has 7 rows while the remaining stripes have 8. That would make a total of 103 rows. Your pattern goes to 91 rows. That divided by 13 stripes is 7 rows per stripe.
Can you clear this up? As it is I needed to purchase more of the red and am trying to determine if 2 of the blue are enough.
Thank you in advance!
When doing strips suppose to end with sc row to attach new color. First stripe was 7 rows,second is 8 rows.will not end with a sc row.
Which specific rows are you talking about in the pattern?
Hi, Love your pattern 🙂 It would be great if you had a couple more pics or a little video of how to make the stars. You created an awesome flag ♥️ Thank you 🤗
Thank you. Part of my summer to-do does include a full video tutorial with the stars. I will get posted as soon as I finish.
Did you put stars on both sides?
I only put the stars on one side.
I only put stars on one side.
Only on one side.
Do I fasten off each color section or carry yarn?
I fasten off each color section.
Your American Flag blanket is beautiful and easy to follow pattern. Just need to figure out the stars. Is there a pattern for the stars?
Thank you! I don’t have a separate pattern just for the stars, but the explanation on how to make them is in the pattern.
How did you space out the stars and when you attach them do you do it before, during, or after the sl st? Then how to you attach the rest of the star?
I eyeball the spacing of the stars. When attaching the stars I attach during, while making the sl st. I go under a blue piece of yarn on the blanket and sl st to the blanket. Then continue making the star and attach each point with a sl st.
I recently purchased your pattern for the flag. I’m having trouble with placement of the stars. Also do you do stars on both sides? I’ve seen some with 50 on one side & 13 on the other? Do I need a border for this?
What you can do is take shorter pieces of white yarn and use them as placeholders by loosing tying them to the blanket. Or you could use stitch markers to better visualize your spacing. I do not put the stars on both sides, just one. I did not do a border on the blanket but you sure could!
Thank you for the pattern. I’ve purchased the yarn but I’m questioning the size, width to be specific. 40″doesn’t seem wide enough to me. Can each section have two added rows and still look right? Would that require more yarn or did you have plenty left over?
You can certainly add to it. I would just make sure the stitch count of the blue stays in proportion to how many more stitches you add. My guess is this will add more yarn. Most likely you would need more white and red, but you may be fine with the amount of blue!
Thanks for your reply! I’m thinking of not adding but I did write another question on a different matter today. My grandson is crazy for the American Flag. He will love this!
When adding blue do u continue on with white or red.
Yes, you just join in the red or white.
I am wanting to make a little bit smaller one so I chained 170 plus one using a 6 mm hook. I am using black yarn which is hard to see the back bump after chaining. Can I just do it the normal way instead of the back bump starting out?
Yes of course!