Philippine Flag Blanket

Skill: Intermediate
Finished size: 50" wide × 100" long (127 × 254 cm), official 1:2 flag ratio, after blocking
Construction: Single panel, rows of double crochet tapestry/intarsia, sun and stars added in yellow

A large worsted blanket of the Philippine flag: royal blue over the hoist-side white triangle (upper fly), scarlet red below, golden sun and three five-pointed stars.

Abbreviations (US)

ch – chain
st(s) – stitch(es)
sc – single crochet
dc – double crochet
sl st – slip stitch
fpdc – front post double crochet
bo – bobble (see Special Stitches)
RS / WS – right / wrong side
yo – yarn over

Special Stitches

Bobble (bo): Yo, insert hook in st, yo, pull up loop, yo, draw through 2 loops; [yo, insert hook in same st, yo, pull up loop, yo, draw through 2 loops] 3 times (5 loops on hook), yo, draw through all 5 loops. Ch 1 to close (ch-1 does not count as a st).

Color change: Work last yo of the stitch with the new color. Drop unused color to WS.

Materials

• Worsted weight (#4) acrylic or wool blend
  • Color A (Blue): 800 yd / 730 m
  • Color B (Red): 800 yd / 730 m
  • Color C (White): 450 yd / 410 m
  • Color D (Yellow/gold): 150 yd / 137 m
• Hook I/9 (5.5 mm) or size to obtain gauge
• Stitch markers
• Yarn needle
• Blocking mats and pins

Gauge

15 dc × 8 rows = 4" (10 cm) in dc, blocked.
Swatch: Ch 20, dc in 4th ch from hook and across (18 dc). Work 10 rows dc. Measure center 4". Adjust hook if needed.

Notes

• Flag is worked from the fly (right edge as you look at the finished RS with hoist on the left) or follow the chart mentally: Row 1 is the bottom (red) edge; the white triangle grows from the left (hoist).
• This pattern orients hoist on the LEFT of RS rows: white triangle on the left, blue on the upper right, red on the lower right.
• Multiple: any even count; here 188 dc every row.
• Work dc in each st. Do not skip the turning ch (turning ch-3 counts as first dc).
• Carry C only in the triangle; A and B only in their bands. Use separate balls for A and B if preferred (intarsia) to avoid long floats.
• Peace orientation: Blue on top when hanging horizontally.

Body

With B (red), ch 191.

Row 1 (RS): Dc in 4th ch from hook (3 skipped ch count as dc) and in each ch across. 188 dc. Turn.

Rows 2–100: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in each st across. 188 dc. Turn.
These 100 rows = 50" of red (lower half of fly). Entire width is still solid red until the triangle is introduced—see triangle overlay below.

Color layout (read with Row 1 = bottom edge):

Work 200 rows total (100"). Split as follows on the fly (right) side; the left side is always the white triangle growing from 1 st to 94 sts.

Triangle rule (hoist = LEFT on RS):
On RS rows, work W white sts, then remaining sts in the band color for that half (red for rows 1–100, blue for rows 101–200).
On WS rows, work band color first, then W white sts at the left edge (end of WS row).

W (white stitch count):

• Rows 1–2: W = 2
• Increase W by 1 stitch every row (both RS and WS) until W = 94 at Row 93.
• Rows 93–200: W = 94 (triangle has reached half width; remaining rows keep a vertical white hoist panel 94 sts wide).

Band color:

• Rows 1–100: remaining sts after/before white = B (red)
• Rows 101–200: remaining sts = A (blue)

Row 101: Change to A for all non-white stitches. Continue W = 94. 188 dc.

Rows 102–200: As established. Fasten off A, B, and C at end of Row 200.

Check: 200 rows × 0.5" = 100" ✓. 188 sts × 4/15 ≈ 50.1" ✓. White hoist panel 94 sts ≈ 25" (half width) ✓.

Sun (Color D)

Sun sits in the center of the white triangle, about 12" from the left edge and vertically centered (around rows 90–110).

Disc: With D, make a magic ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 3, 11 dc in ring, sl st to top of ch-3. 12 dc.
Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each st. 24 dc.
Rnd 3: Ch 3, dc in next st, *2 dc in next, dc in next; rep from * around. 36 dc.
Rnd 4: Ch 3, dc in next 2 sts, *2 dc in next, dc in next 2; rep from *. 48 dc. Fasten off, leave 20" tail.

Rays (8 major + 8 minor):
Join D in any st. Ch 10, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next, hdc in next 2, dc in next 3, tr in last 2, skip 2 sts on disc, sl st in next disc st (major ray). Minor ray: Ch 6, sl st in 2nd ch, sc, hdc, dc, tr, skip 1 disc st, sl st. Alternate 8 major and 8 minor around. Fasten off.

Sew disc + rays to white triangle, rays pointing as on the flag (one ray toward each vertex of the triangle and toward the fly). Optional texture: work fpdc over every other disc stitch when sewing through so the disc sits raised.

Stars (make 3, Color D)

Each star sits in a corner of the white triangle (one toward the hoist corners and one toward the fly tip of the triangle).

Star: Magic ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, 5 sc in ring, sl st.
Point: *Ch 5, sl st in 2nd ch, sc, hdc, dc, skip 0, sl st in next sc of rnd 1; rep from * 5 times. Fasten off.

Sew one star near each triangle corner, about 3–4" in from the edges. For extra texture, work a bo in the center of each star when attaching.

Border

Join C at any corner, RS facing.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc evenly around (3 sc in each corner). Aim ~3 sc per 2 row-ends on sides. Sl st to first sc.

Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in each sc, 3 sc in each corner sc. Sl st. Fasten off C.

Rnd 3 (optional gold): With D, sl st loosely in each sc around. Fasten off.

Finishing

1. Weave in all ends on WS; lock color-change tails with a duplicate stitch if needed.
2. Wet block: Soak, pin to 50" × 100" rectangle, keep hypotenuse of white triangle straight, dry flat. Do not crush bobbles/fpdc; steam hover only if using acrylic.
3. Check orientation: blue on top, white triangle at hoist (left).

Yarn used (approx.): A 800 yd, B 800 yd, C 450 yd, D 150 yd — total ~2200 yd worsted.

Enjoy your Philippine flag blanket.