CRAFT YARN COUNCIL OF AMERICA - Project of the Month

Ha-Chi-Yu, Jason Jordon and Naima Davis, New York City residents and members of Team Bravo, hold the American Flag Throw. Team Bravo was part of a group of local volunteers who assisted the NYFD and NYPD at Ground Zero during the first three days after the collapse of the Twin Towers. They have started a project, "Stitches for Peace," to benefit the American Red Cross. For more information visit the Bond-American Web site and click on "Special Events."

American Flag Throw Pattern for Machine Knitters
Pattern Courtesy of Bond-America
(www.bond-america.com)

We've all searched the stores for American flags but to no avail. But there's plenty of red, white and blue yarn in the stores and you have your Sweater Machine, so knit a flag. The 13 stripes and blue background for the stars are done in stripes and intarsia respectively. The stars are duplicate-stitched after the flag has been knitted. This pattern includes two options for finishing: a hem (or casing) on both top and bottom (through which you can also insert dowels to hang your flag) with a backwards crochet at the ends. Or you can work a backward crocheted edge around all sides (in either gold or the flag colors).
Note that this pattern requires having two Sweater Machine beds bolted together since you will need 192 needles.
Remember that you are knitting mirror image, so the blue background will be on your right as you knit. Start your knitting on the left so the cut ends from the stripes are on the LHS so the yarn ends will be at the left edge rather than abutting the blue section. Option A gives instructions for the stars in the blue section to be knitted in using the Fair Isle or intarsia technique. (Remember to catch in the long floats between the stars if you are using Fair Isle.) Option B gives instructions for the stars to be duplicate-stitched after the throw has been knitted.

MATERIALS: Caron One Pound (worsted-weight yarn): 1 skein each red, white, navy. Optional: gold color for crocheted edge. "H" crochet hook, yarn darner tapestry needle.
NUMBER OF NEEDLES REQUIRED: 192
HELPFUL: 3-prong transfer tool.
INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1:
Option #1: Hem or casing edge:
1. Bring forward 192 needles to HP and cast on as many stitches with WY.
2. COL. K 4 R. Break off.
3. With red, K 12 R.
4. Using 3-prong tool (1-prong tool is optional), lift up stitches from first row MY to needles across row.
5. K 8 R. Break off.
6. With white, K 14 R. Break off.
7. With red, K 14 R.
8. Repeat steps 6 & 7 until a total of 6 stripes have been knitted, ending with white stripe.
Option #2: Crocheted edges:
1. Bring forward 192 needles to HP.
2. Using closed-edge, CO loosely with red.
3. K 14 R. Break off.
4. With white, K 14 R. Break off.
5. Repeat steps 3 & 4 until a total of 6 striped knitted, ending with white stripe.
Step 2:
Option #1 or 2: Blue background:
1. Using intarsia technique, K 84 sts in blue, 108 in red.
2. Option #A: For stars knitted in Fair Isle or intarsia methods: maintaining 108 in red and 84 in blue and following the chart for the placement of stars, K until 14 R of red knitted. Break off red.
3. Option #B: For stars to be duplicate-stitched after throw has been knitted: maintaining 108 in red and 84 in blue, K until 14 R of red knitted. Break off red.
4. Maintaining 108 in red and 84 in blue, K until 14 R of red knitted. Break off red.
5. Maintain the stripes on the LHS and the blue section on the RHS.
6. After a total of 13 stripes from the beginning have been knitted, finish throw using a hem/casing or crocheted edge as follows:
Step 3:
Option #1: Hem or casing:
1. Maintaining stripes and blue section, K 6 more R. Break off, leaving a 3-ft. end.
2. K 4 R WY.
3. Remove work from machine.
Option #2: Crocheted edge:
1. BO across loosely in chain stitch or backstitch.
FINISHING
Steam or wash the throw.
Option #1: Hem or casing:
1. Fold over top edge of extra 6 rows to wrong side.
2. Slip stitch through last R MY and back of flag.
3. Work 1 row sc along one end and work 1 row backward crochet along row of sc.
4. Repeat step 3 along opposite end.
Option #2: Crocheted edge
1. With gold (or changing colors to match flag colors), work 1 row sc around entire edge.
2. Then work 1 row backward crochet along row or sc around all edges.
Stars
1. Work stars in duplicate stitch, following chart.

MATERIALS:
Worsted-weight yarn-25 ozs. white, 20 ozs. red, 20 ozs. navy, 11 ozs. gold; hot glue (optional); tapestry needle; G hook or hook needed to obtain gauge.

GAUGE:
7 sc = 2"; 8 sc rows = 2".
NOTE: When changing colors, drop first color to wrong side of work, pick up when needed.

AFGHAN
Row 1: Starting at top, with red, ch 124, drop red, with navy, yo, pull through lp (see ill.), ch 100, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 98 ch changing to red in last st made, sc in each ch across, turn (125 red and 99 navy sc). Front of row 1 is right side of work.
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in first 125 sts changing to navy in last st made, sc in each st across, turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in first 99 sts changing to red in last st made, sc in each st across,turn.
Rows 4-11: Repeat rows 2 and 3 alternately. At end of last row, fasten off red.
Row 12: Join white with sc in first st, sc in next 124 sts changing to navy in last made, sc in each st across, turn.
Row 13: Ch 1, sc in first 99 sts changing to white in last st made, sc in each st across, turn.
Row 14: Ch 1, sc in first 125 sts changing to navy in last st made, sc in each st across, turn.
Rows 15-22: Repeat rows 13 and 14 alternately. At end of last row, fasten off white.
Row 23: Ch 1, sc in first 99 sts changing to red in last st made, sc in each st across, turn.
Rows 24-33: Repeat rows 2 and 3 alternately. At end of last row, fasten off red.
Row 34: Repeat row 12.
Rows 35-44: Repeat rows 13 and 14 alternately. At end of last row, fasten off white.
Row 45: Repeat row 23.
Rows 46-55: Repeat rows 2 and 3 alternately. At end of last row, fasten off red.
Row 56: Repeat row 12.
Rows 57-66: Repeat rows 13 and 14 alternately. At end of last row, fasten off white.
Row 67: Repeat row 23.
Rows 68-77: Repeat rows 2 and 3 alternately. At end of last row, fasten off red and navy.
Row 78: Join white with sc in first st, sc in each st across, turn.
Rows 79-88: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. At end of last row, fasten off.
Row 89: Join red with sc in first st, sc in each st across, turn.
Rows 90-99: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. At end of last row, fasten off red.
Rows 100-143: Repeat rows 78-99 consecutively. At end of last row, do not turn. Fasten off.

BORDER
Rnd 1: Working around outer edge in sts and in ends of rows, with right side facing you, join gold with hdc in first st, 2 hdc in same st as first hdc, (hdc in next 222 sts, 3 hdc in next st, skip next row, hdc in next 141 rows, skip next row), 3 hdc in next st; repeat between ( ), join with sl st in top of first st (738 hdc).
Rnd 2: (Sl st, ch 4, dc) in next st, (ch 1, skip next st, dc in next st) 111 times, ch 1, skip next st, (dc, ch 2, dc) in next st, (ch 1, skip next st, dc in next st) 71 times, ch 1*, skip next st, (dc, ch 2, dc) in next st, (ch1, skip next st, dc in next st) 112 times; repeat between first *, join with sl st in 3rd ch of ch 4.
Rnd 3: (Sl st, ch 3, 3 dc) around post of first st on rnd 2, *(sl st, ch 3, 3 dc) around post of next st; repeat from * around, join with sl st in joining sl st on rnd 2.
Rnd 4: Working in sts and in ch sps of rod 2, ch 1, sc in each st and in each ch-1 sp around with 3 sc in each ch-2 sp, join with sl st in first sc.
Fasten off.

STAR (make 50)
Rnd 1: With white, ch 2, 10 sc in 2nd ch from hook, join with sl st in first sc (10 sc).
Rnd 2: For points, (*ch 5, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, hdc in next ch, dc in next ch, skip next st on rnd 1*, sl st in next st) 4 times; repeat between first *, join with sl st in first ch of first ch 5.
Fasten off.
Sew or glue Stars on navy, alternating rows of 6 Stars and 5 Stars beginning and ending with a row of 6.

Knits managing editor Ann Budd designed the Ladder of Life Socks to honor the men and women who work to save lives in our communities during times of need, not only during national crises like the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, but every day. We hope that you will join us in a rally of appreciation by knitting them for your local firefighters and/or other rescue workers.

Finished Size 8 (9 1?2)" (20.5 [24] cm) around foot and 9 (10 3?4)" (23 [27.5] cm) long from back of heel to toe. To fit a woman's (man's) foot.

Materials:
Yarn Worsted-weight yarn: About 350 (400) yd (325 [365] m).
Needles Upper leg-Size 9 (5.5 mm): Set of 4 double-pointed (dpn). Lower leg and foot-Size 8 (5 mm): Set of 4 dpn. Adjust needle sizes if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.
Notions Marker (m); stitch holder; tapestry needle.

Gauge: 10 sts and 13 rnds = 2" (5 cm) in stockinette stitch worked in the round.

Leg
With larger needles, CO 40 (48) sts. Place marker and join, being careful not to twist sts. Work k1, p1 rib until piece measures 1" (2.5 cm). Work Ladder of Life patt as foll: Rnds 1-5: *K5, p1, k1, p1; rep from *. Rnd 6: *P6, k1, p1; rep from *. Rep Rnds 1-6 until piece measures 31?2 (41?4)" (9 [11] cm) from beg. Change to smaller needles and cont in patt until piece measures 7 (81?2)" (18 [21.5] cm) from beg.
Heel: K10 (12), turn, p20 (24). Place rem 20 (24) sts on spare needle or holder to work later for instep.
Heel flap: Work back and forth on 20 (24) heel sts as foll: Row 1: (RS) *Sl 1 pwise with yarn in back (wyb), k1; rep from *. Row 2: *Sl 1 pwise with yarn in front (wyf), purl to end. Rep Rows 1 and 2 until a total of 20 (24) rows have been worked-10 (12) chain edge sts.
Turn heel: Work short rows as foll: Row 1: (RS) K12 (14), ssk, k1, turn. Row 2: Sl 1 pwise wyf, p5, p2tog, p1, turn. Row 3: Sl 1 pwise wyb, knit to 1 st before gap, ssk (1 st from each side of gap), k1, turn. Row 4: Sl 1 pwise wyf, purl to 1 st before gap, p2tog (1 st from each side of gap), p1, turn. Rep Rows 3 and 4 until all heel sts have been worked, ending with a WS row-12 (14) sts rem.
Gusset: K12 (14) heel sts and with same dpn (needle 1), pick up and knit 1 st in each of the 10 (12) chain edge sts along the heel flap; with another dpn (needle 2), pick up and knit 1 st at base of heel flap, k20 (24) instep sts from holder, pick up and knit 1 st at base of heel flap; with another dpn (needle 3), pick up and knit 1 st in each of the 10 (12) chain edge sts along the other edge of heel flap, k6 (7) heel sts-54 (64) sts total; 16 (19) sts each on needles 1 and 3, 22 (26) sts on needle 2. Rnd begins at center back heel. Rnd 1: On needle 1, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1; on needle 2, ssk, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog; on needle 3, k1, ssk, knit to end-50 (60) sts rem. Rnds 2 and 4: Knit. Rnd 3: On needle 1, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1; on needle 2, knit all sts; on needle 3, k1, ssk, knit to end-2 sts dec'd. Rep Rnds 3 and 4 until 40 (48) sts rem.
Foot: Cont even until foot measures 7 (81?2)" (18 [21.5] cm) from back of heel, or 2 (21?4)" (5 [5.5] cm) less than desired total length.
Toe: Rnd 1: On needle 1, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1; on needle 2, k1, ssk, work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1; on needle 3, k1, ssk, work to end-4 sts dec'd. Rnd 2: Knit. Rep Rnds 1 and 2 until 20 (24) sts rem. Rep Rnd 1 only until 10 (12) sts rem. At end of last rnd, knit sts from needle 1 onto needle 3-5 (6) sts on each of 2 needles.
Finishing: Using the Kitchener st, graft rem sts tog. Weave in loose ends. Block

Measurements:
Flag Finished Size: Approx 8" x 5H" [20.5 x 14 cm]
Materials:
Lily Sugar & Cream 4 Ply Cotton
Pot Holder
Main Color (MC) (red #95) 1 ball
Contrast A (white #01) 1 ball
Contrast B (bright navy #09) 1 ball
Size 4.50 mm (U.S. 7) crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge.

Instructions:
With MC, ch 37
1st row: 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch to end of row. 36 sts. Turn.
2nd row: Ch 1. 1 sc in back loop of each sc to end of row, changing to A at end of last sc. Turn.
3rd row: Ch 1. 1 sc in back loop of each sc to end of row. Turn.
4th row: Ch 1 . 1 sc in back loop of each sc to end of row, changing to MC at end of last sc. Turn.
5th row: Rep as for 3rd row.
Rep 2nd to 5th rows once more.
Rep 2nd to 4th rows once.
13th row: With MC ch 1. 1 sc in back loop of each of next 21 sc, changing to B at end of 21st sc. With B 1 sc in back loop of each of last 15 sc. Turn.
14th row: With B ch 1. 1 sc in each of next 15 sc, changing to MC in 15th sc. With MC, 1 sc in bock loop of each of last 21 sc, changing to A at end of last sc. Turn.
15th row: With A, ch 1. 1 sc in back loop of each of next 21 sc. Change to B. Work 1 sc in back loop of each sc to end. Turn.
16th row: With B, 1 sc in back loop of each of first 15 sc. Change to A. 1 sc in back loop of each sc to end, changing to MC at end of last sc. Turn.
Rep 13th to 16th rows twice more.
Then rep 13th and 14th rows once, omitting color change at end of 14th row. Fasten off.

With A, work French Knots for stars as illustrated. If desired work hanging loop as follows: Join B with ss to top left corner of Flag. Ch 9. Join with ss to joining sp. Fasten off

EVERY EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO HAVE THE DIRECTIONS CONTAINED IN THIS PATTERN ACCURATE AND COMPLETE; HOWEVER, WE CANNOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS, MISINTERPRETATION, VARIANCE OR ERRORS IN WORKMANSHIP OF THE INDIVIDUAL.