Celebrate Freedom

By Denise Clason

Stitch up this patriotic banner to show your colors on the Fourth -- or all year long.

Finished Size
17 x 33 inches, excluding hanger

Materials

• 44/45-inch-wide cotton print fabric
• 1 1/3 yards red background print for side and corner setting triangles and backing
• 3/4 yard blue print for block B squares and triangles, appliqués, ties and binding
• 8 x 16-inch piece tan background print for Block A triangles
• 4-inch square cream background print for center square in Block A
• 8 x 16-inch piece cream background print for Block A squares and triangles
• 3 x 20-inch strip blue tone-on-tone print for Block A
• 5 x 12-inch scrap red tone-on-tone print for Block A
• 1/6 yard cream background print for Block B
• 9-inch square red tone-on-tone print for Block B
• 20 x 36-inch piece thin cotton batting
• All-purpose thread to match fabrics
• Transparent monofilament thread
• 9 x 12-inch sheet paper-backed fusible web
• Temporary spray adhesive
• 1/4-inch presser foot
• Darning presser foot
• Rotary cutter, mat and ruler
• Basic sewing tools and equipment

Cutting

• From the red background print for the setting triangles and backing, cut one 20 x 36-inch rectangle for the backing. From the remaining fabric, cut one 18 1/4-inch square.
  Cut twice diagonally to yield four side-setting triangles. Set two aside for another project. Cut one 9 3/8-inch square. Cut once diagonally to yield two half-square corner triangles.
• From the blue print for Block B, cut three 2 1/4 x 40-inch strips for the binding. Cut three 2 x 14-inch strips for the ties. Cut two 4 1/2-inch squares. Cut one 6 7/8-inch square; cut once diagonally to make two half-square trian-gles.
• Trace the star template twice on the paper backing side of the fusible web. Cut out with a 1/4-inch margin all around. Following the manufacturer's directions, apply the star shapes to the wrong side of the blue fabric and fuse in place.
  Cut out on the traced lines.
• From the tan print for Block A, cut two 6 7/8-inch squares. Cut each square in half diagonally for four half-square triangles.
• From the cream print for the Block A background pieces, cut one 2 1/4 x 18-inch strip; crosscut four 2 1/4 x 4-inch rectangles. Cut one 3 5/8-inch square; cut twice diagonally for four quarter-square triangles. Cut one 4 5/8-inch square; cut twice diagonally for four quarter-square triangles.
• From the blue tone-on-tone print for Block A, cut eight 2 1/4-inch squares for the star points.
• From the red print for Block A, cut two 1 1/4 x 7 1/2-inch strips and two 1 1/4 x 9-inch strips.
• From the cream background print for Block B, cut one 51/4-inch square and cut twice diagonally for a total of four triangles. Also cut two 3 1/4-inch squares and two 2 1/2-inch squares. Cut two 2 7/8-inch squares; cut each in half diagonally for four half-square triangles.
• From the red print for Block B, cut seven 2 7/8-inch squares. Cut in half diagonally to make 14 half-square triangles.

Note: For ease in assembly, collect the pieces for Block B and set aside in a plastic self-sealing bag.

Block A Assembly Use 1/4-inch-wide seam allowances.
1.	On the wrong side of each 2 1/4-inch blue square, draw a diagonal line from corner. With right sides facing, sew a square to one end of each of the four 2 1/4 x 4-inch background rectangles on the drawn line. Trim 1/4 inch from the stitching and press the seam toward the blue triangle (Figure 1).
2.	Sew each of the remaining blue squares to the opposite end of each rectangle in the same manner; trim and press to make four Flying Geese units (Figure 2).
3.	Sew a Flying Geese unit to opposite sides of the 4-inch center square and press the seams toward the square. Add cream half-square triangles to each end and press toward the triangles to complete the center unit (Figure 3).
4.	Sew the remaining triangles to the remaining Flying Geese units to make the top and bottom units (Figure 4).
5.	Sew the units together to complete the center unit (Figure 5).
6.	Sew a 7 1/2-inch-long red strip to opposite edges of the center square. Press the seams toward the strips. Add the 9-inch-long red strips to the remaining edges of the square and press. Sew two of the tan triangles to opposite sides of the square and press. Add the remaining triangles and press (Figure 6).
7.	Sew a red setting triangle to two adjacent edges of the completed square (Figure 7). Set a side.

Block B Assembly Use 1/4-inch-wide seam allowances.
1.	Make four Flying Geese Units using the larger cream triangles and the red triangles (Figure 8). Press the seams toward the triangles.
2.	Make two units using the blue squares, cream squares and the Flying Geese units (Figure 9).
3.	.Arrange the remaining pieces as shown in Figure 10 and sew together; press the seams in the direction of the arrows.
4.	Add a blue triangle to each of the units from step 3 (Figure 11).
5.	Arrange the four completed units in two rows of two blocks each and sew together. Press the seam toward the blue center square in each row. Sew the rows together to complete the block (Figure 12).

Finishing Use 1/4-inch-wide seam allowances.
1.	Apply a light coat of temporary spray adhesive to the wrong side of the red backing rectangle. Center and smooth the batting rectangle in place on top. Apply a light coat of adhesive to the exposed batting, and then center the wall hanging, face up, on the batting. Smooth into place, making sure to keep the short and long edges straight and perpendicular to each other. In lieu of spray adhesive, layer the backing, batting and wall hanging and pin-baste the layers together for quilting.
2.	Hand-or machine-quilt the layers together as desired. On the wall hanging shown, free-motion stitching in a swirling pattern was used. (For best results, stitch in the ditch of the seams in and around each of the two blocks to set the pieces and attach the layers before adding additional all-over quilting stitches.) Note: For machine quilting, change the presser foot to the darning foot and lower the feed dogs. Use transparent thread in the needle, and thread to match the backing fabric in the bobbin. Practice on layered scraps of batting, backing and fabric first to make sure that the bobbin thread does not show on the front. If it does, loosen the top tension so the bobbin thread will pull the transparent thread into the inner layers of the quilt sandwich.
3.	Trim excess batting and backing even with the wall hanging edges, making sure there is a 1/4-inch-wide seam allowance beyond the points of both squares at the side and upper edges of the wall hanging.
4.	Remove the paper backing from the blue star appliqués. Center each one in a red side-setting triangle and fuse in place. Adjust the machine for a narrow-width satin stitch and stitch over the raw edges, pivoting carefully at the points.
5.	Sew the blue binding strips together using bias seams; press the seams open. Fold the strip in half lengthwise with wrong sides facing and press.
6.	Beginning on one long edge of the wall hanging, pin and sew the binding strip in place. Miter the corners and points as you reach them. Trim excess binding strip before making a neat join where the ends meet on the side where you started.
7.	Wrap the binding to the back of the wall hanging over the raw edges, mitering the corners and points; slipstitch in place.
8.	To make the ties, turn under and press 1/4 inch at each short end of each 2 x 14-inch blue strip. Fold each one in half lengthwise with wrong sides facing and press. Turn the long raw edges in to meet the fold and press. Stitch along all edges. Fold each tie in half and press.
9.	Position the ties on the backing side of the wall hanging at the upper edge and pin in place. Stitch in the ditch of the binding seam from the right side to attach them. Backstitch across the width of each strip and then forward again to anchor securely (Figure 13).
10.	Tie the completed wall hanging to a decorative hanger and hang on your porch or front door to welcome the Fourth of July holiday in your home.

Flag Hanger Assembly
Make a wooden hanger like the one shown -- or have your favorite woodworker make it for you!

Materials

• 1 piece wood, 1 1/2 x 24 x 3/8 inches, for the rod
• 2 pieces wood, each 6 x 3 1/4 x 1/4 inches, for the flags
• 100-grit sandpaper
• Tack cloth
• Delta Ceramcoat acrylic paint (2-ounce containers)
• Territorial Beige #2425
• Tompte Red #2107
• Golden Brown #2054
• Dark Night Blue # 2414
• Brown Iron Oxide #2023 (for stain medium
• Delta Gel stain medium
• Delta all-purpose sealer
• Delta satin varnish
• Wood glue
• Tracing paper
• Transfer paper
• Paintbrushes
• 1/2-inch wash
• 1-inch wash
• 3/8-inch angular
• Paper towels
• 2 metal hangers with nails
• 2 purchased wooden stars

Assembly
1.	Sand all wooden pieces including the stars and remove the sanding dust with the tack cloth.
2.	Using the 1-inch wash brush, seal the wood with the all-purpose sealer and allow to dry completely. Clean the brush well with soap and water.
3.	Trace the flag pattern onto tracing paper. Using transfer paper and following the manufacturer's directions, transfer the flag to the two wooden pieces.
4.	Using the 1-inch wash brush, paint the rod and flag section behind the star with Dark Night Blue paint and allow to dry. Clean the brush. Add a second coat of paint when the first is dry.
5.	Using the 1/2-inch wash brush, paint the stripes, alternating with the Territorial Beige and Tompte Red. Allow to dry and clean the brush. Add a second coat of each color and allow to dry.
6.	Using the angular brush, paint the star with the Golden Brown paint and allow to dry. Clean the brush. Add a second coat after the first has dried and clean the brush thoroughly. Note: If desired, sand the edges of the flag and rod for an "antique" look.
7.	Mix equal parts of the gel stain medium and the Brown Iron Oxide paint.
8.	Using the 1-inch wash brush, paint the stain over the entire surface of each of the three painted pieces of wood for the hanger.
9.	Apply a light coat of wood glue to the back of each star. With the glue side up, carefully position the face of the rod down into position on the stars. Allow to dry flat.
10.	Use the 1-inch brush to apply a coat of Satin Varnish to the entire piece and allow to dry. Clean brushes thoroughly.
11.	Attach metal hangers to the back of the rod behind each flag.

Please note: To view or download the images in this free pattern, you will need Adobe® Reader®.

Copyright © July 2007 Clotilde's Sewing Savvy. All rights reserved.