Whatever our politics, I think we can all agree that America really lucked out in the flag department. Our flag just embodies great design. It's bold and distinctive and jaunty. It's happy, but not insipid; spunky, but not undignified. I think it perfectly suits us as a country.

This Fourth of July, I'm celebrating the fresh graphics of the American flag with some flag-inspired hot pads. Your Fourth of July barbeque may be an ideal place to debut them, but they'll certainly fulfill their function year round! The striped hot pad is very easy, a great start for beginners. And the star version is a good a place to either learn or to perfect intarsia techniques with our new Intarsia Knitting Tutorial.

To make a set, please visit my Stars + Stripes Felted Hot Pads Project Journal. Thanks! - Whitney