Some of these patriotic free Crochet patterns can be used for either 4th of July DIY or as Martin Luther King Jr. Day Crafts.
Martin Luther King’s Day in 2010 is Monday, the 18th of January. That’s just over a week from now.
In honor of his bravery and inner power, and as encouragement to us all, I am hoping to inspire you to some Martin Luther King Jr. Day crafts today that go beyond 24 hours.
Remember Martin Luther King’s “I have a Dream”-speech? I have always loved the words and found them really inspirational, still today.
Martin Luther King Jr was a Baptist minister, who was the source of power that realized constitutional racial equality in the ‘60’s. With his "I Have a Dream" speech he mobilizing supporters of desegregation and prompted the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Martin Luther King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize the year after.
I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
So, in tribute to Martin Luther King Jr, I came up with 2 craft ideas, that kind of go together:
1. ‘I Have A Dream’ Crochet Letters
2. Stars & Stripes Crochet Afghan.
Either of these are projects that could be worked on by a person alone, or made as group projects in the classroom over the next week.
Here are the free crochet patterns for your use.
1. I Have A Dream
It just popped in my mind that it would be cool to crochet Martin Luther King’s inspirational words ‘I Have a Dream’. I have them spelled here in crochet letter patterns you can either filet crochet or embroider.
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My initial idea was to crochet the letters onto an afghan. Subsequently, I thought it would be fun to make them ahead of time as separate letters, and then on Martin Luther King Day itself, hang them up as an inspirational garland. Now thinking about it more, with the letters you can create also create a little kitchen curtain, a pillow cover, or even a pencil case. And could probably think of even more applications.
These free crochet letter patterns are courtesy of About.com (https://crochet.about.com/library/blcheckd.htm)
Stars & Stripes Afghan
Easy American Flag Crochet Craft
And here is your free crochet pattern for this project:
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.
FINISHED SIZE:
38 1/4" x 67".
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.
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of these instructions. We cannot be responsible, however, for variances in individual techniques, human errors or typographical mistakes.
The free stars & stripes afghan crochet pattern was offered free at the Craft & Yarn Council (https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/proj_stars_n_stripes.html) courtesy of Annie’s Attic. This is a repost.
OK. That was my craft suggestion for the day. May you have a lovely Sunday and an Inspired Martin Luther King Day next week.
What’s Next?
SHARE this article on ‘Martin Luther King’s Day Drafts’ and follow me on Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, Technorati, Digg, or wherever else you are.
Make some fast Martin Luther King Day crafts? Try my ‘I have a dream’ tiny paper garland.
Feel like crocheting something else? OK. Click here for other Beautiful, Free Crochet Patterns that you are sure to love.
