14 blue buttons
Yarn
PT Petunia from Rauma Ullvarefabrikk (cotton)
200g (7oz) white no. 296
100g (31⁄2oz) red no. 256
50g (13⁄4oz) blue no. 277
3.5mm and 3mm (size 4 and 3) crochet hooks
Using 3.5mm (size 4) crochet hooks: Work 122 ch with red yarn, plus one extra when you turn, and crochet 6 rows sc back and forth. Switch to white yarn and continue with dc. When you turn you have to crochet 2 extra ch, which will be the first dc on the next row. Continue until the work measures 28cm (11in).
Switch back to red yarn and crochet 4 rows dc back and forth. Switch to white yarn and crochet 4 rows back and forth. Continue in this way until you have 3 red and 3 white stripes in the flag.
*Switch back to red, but this time only crochet 74 dc before you switch to blue yarn and crochet the remaining 48 dc. Turn, crochet 48 blue dc and 74 white. Repeat until you have 4 rows of dc in total. Switch to white yarn and crochet 74 white dc and 48 blue, turn and crochet 48 blue and 74 white, repeat these 2 rows until you have 4 rows*. Repeat from * to * 31⁄2 times. The last stripe in the flag should therefore be red. You are now finished with the front piece. Continue with the top part of the back piece by switching to white yarn and crocheting with this for the entire row, 122 sts. Crochet dc back and forth until the back piece measures 12cm (41⁄2in). Switch to red yarn and crochet 3 rows sc. Then crochet 7 sc, *3 ch, skip 3 sc and crochet 6 sc*, repeat from * to * 12 times and finish the row with 7 sc.
Next row crochet 7 sc, *3 sc around the ch loop, 6 sc*, repeat from * to * 12 times and finish with 7 sc. Then crochet 2 rows of sc.
Crochet star:
Use white yarn and 3mm (size 3) crochet hook
Round 1: Crochet 4 ch, make a ring with 1 sl st in first ch, 1 ch.
Round 2: Crochet 6 sc in the ring, finish with 1 sl st in first sc, 1 ch.
Round 3: 2 sc in each sc = 12 sc, finish with 1 sl st in first sc, 1 ch.
Round 4: *1 sc, 1 ch (= small star loop),
1 sc in next st, 4 ch, 1 sc in the fourth ch from the needle, 1 ch*, repeat from * to * (= 6 small star loops) finish with 1 sl st in first sc.
Cut off the thread and pull through.
Crochet 13 stars in total.
Assembly:
Sew in all loose ends. Press (iron) the pieces carefully and sew the 13 stars in five rows, to the blue background (3 + 2 + 3 + 2 + 3).
Place front and back pieces right sides together and sew together the sides. The top back piece should lie 2–3cm (3⁄4–11⁄4in) above the bottom piece. Attach the blue buttons.