🧵 The Maker Behind the Masterpiece

The famous 15-star, 15-stripe flag that flew during the Battle of Baltimore was hand-sewn by Mary Pickersgill, a professional flag maker from Baltimore, Maryland.

• A Massive Undertaking: Commissioned in 1813 by Major George Armistead, the flag measured a staggering 30 by 42 feet — so large that the British could see it from a distance across the harbor.
• Family Effort: Mary sewed the flag alongside her daughter, two nieces, and an indentured African American servant, completing the massive project in just six weeks.
• The Fabric: They used roughly 400 yards of heavy wool bunting, meticulously piecing together stars that measured two feet from tip to tip.

🌟 Evolution of the Star Arrangement

Before the 20th century, there were no strict, standardized rules on how the stars had to be arranged on the blue canton.

• The Pickersgill Design (1814): The stars on the actual Star-Spangled Banner were arranged in five staggered rows of three stars each, pointing symmetrically.
• Pre-1912 Freedom: For over a century, flag makers and military units designed their own star configurations. Common arrangements included circular patterns (like the Betsy Ross circle), star-shaped clusters (the “Great Star” pattern), and varying staggered rows.
• The 1912 Standardization: The variation ended on June 24, 1912, when President William Howard Taft issued Executive Order 1636, officially standardizing the flag’s proportions and mandating that stars be arranged in parallel rows pointing upward.

Shop the 15-Star Flag

We carry the Star-Spangled Banner in three constructions to suit every need and budget:

• Cotton with Embroidered Stars — Authentic cotton bunting, designed in the USA, available in 2x3 and 3x5
• Nylon Printed, Made in USA — Available in sizes from 12x18 inch through 20x30 ft
• Nylon Appliqué Cut & Sewn, Made in USA — Museum-grade Collins/Eder construction, available in 3x5, 4x6, and 5x8