Sew an American Flag, Free Sewing Craft Projects

Cut out 1 white strip for hanging the flag - fold-over on left side one strip 2 ½ inches wide and 35 ½ inches long (finished width would be 1 ¾ inches wide)
Cut out one blue square 20 1/4 inches x 26 inches
Cut out Stars based on Instructions on Betsy Ross Site
Update: 11/29/02 - One of our readers has provided us with a more precise star pattern. Click here for the pattern as a pdf file.

Star placement: on blue background before sewing to stripes

50 stars in 9 total rows of stars, alternating 6, then 5, then 6, etc.
Distance between center of stars horizontally is 3 7/8"
Distance between center of stars vertically (for same number rows) is 3 7/8" -- meaning that the vertical distance between the center of the stars for the rows with 6 stars in them is 3 7/8" (spanning over a row with 5 stars in it)
Stars start 1" from the top (row of 6) and 3 3/4" from the left
Row of 5 stars starts 3" from the top and 5 3/4" from the left

All seam allowances are 1/2”
Sew all seams together using a Flat Fell Seam.
No raw-edged seams can be visible.
Sew stars to blue background. Because the stars must appear on both sides of the blue fabric, here are some options for applying the stars:
- Zig-zag stitch the stars in place on the blue fabric, then carefully cut out the blue fabric on the reverse side so that the white shows through.
- Create 100 stars and sew to both sides of fabric OR
- Use fusible webbing so even if they had 'raw' edges, the webbing should
  prevent fraying. Measure each line of stars individually, then mark a dot for the top, west, and east points of each star. A mini-iron would be great for this project, or use Roxanne's basting glue to set everything in place prior to stitching. (many thanks to Kathy Hough for this idea!) OR
- Fuse white fabric to Heat and Bond, draw the stars on the paper side of the Heat and Bond, cut out the stars and iron on to the fabric.
Sew short stripes together.
Attach short stripes to blue background on left side seam only.
Sew long stripes together.
Sew long strips to short and blue sections together.
Attach stabilizer to the left (white) band, then attach the band to the left side of the flag. Fold over band and topstitch in place. Use 2 grommets or sew two buttonholes approximately 3/4” from the top and bottom of the band.
Add narrow-hems and topstitch.

Stitch by stitch, you are transforming the sorrows of past events into the symbol of our freedom -- the American flag. Fly it with pride

Flag Measurements

Finished Flag size: 35 3/4" x 56"

Long red and white stripes: 2 3/4" x 54 3/4"
Short red and white stripes: 2 3/4" x 29 3/4"
Blue area : 18 7/8" x 25"
Stars: 1 7/8" x 1 7/8"

About the Author:

This Sewing Project is courtesy of The Home Sewing Association