Free Crochet Pattern for a Happy Birthday Banner

This Happy Birthday banner is a lovely way to add a personal touch to any birthday party. I actually made it for my son's 8th birthday this October. He watched me while I was crocheting it and after seeing just a few of the letters, quickly realised that it was supposed to say Happy Birthday. He was so happy when he realised I was making something special just for his birthday. Seeing how excited he was made me realise that all the work was definitely worth it.

What I really like about this banner is that you can choose the colours to suit your own taste. I decided to use lots of different colours to make the letters nice and colourful. Of course, you could also use just two or three colours that go well together. I also think it would be a lovely idea to use the birthday child's favourite colours.

If you want to use the banner again every year, you could also choose colours that match the rest of your birthday decorations. I always think it is nice about handmade decorations that you can make them exactly the way you like them. This makes every banner a little different and something special.

Size:
Each individual letter flag measures approximately 12 x 13 cm.
The Happy banner is approximately 100 cm long and the Birthday banner is approximately 180 cm long.

Material:
3.5 mm crochet hook
Cotton Aran yarn in various colours (50 g = 75 m)
White: approx. 150 g
Various colours for the letters: approx. 2 g per letter, around 26 g in total for all 13 letters.

For this banner, I used Aran weight cotton yarn, which is one of my favourite types of yarn to work with. I really like using cotton for crochet projects because it is easy to work with, and the stitches look nice and neat. The Aran weight also gives the banner a nice, firm shape, which is just what I wanted for this project. I also love that cotton yarn comes in so many different colours, making it easy to create something colourful and unique.

As the letters are quite small, you don't need much yarn for each colour. I think this is a great project for using up leftover yarn from other projects. I often have small amounts of yarn left over, especially when I work with lots of different colours, so it is always nice to find a way to use them instead of letting them sit in my yarn stash.

Abbreviations: (I use US Terms)
ST: Stitch
SC: Single Crochet
CH: Chain stitch
DC: Double Crochet
SS: Slip Stitch
Inc: Increase. Work 2 single crochet stitches into the same stitch. All increases are worked in white.

A: Colour A, always white in this pattern
B: Colour B, the colour of the letter. You can use whichever colour you like best for each letter.

Important information’s for the pattern:
The beginning chain stitch does not count as a stitch.
Odd-numbered rows are right side rows, even-numbered rows are wrong side rows.
All stitches are single crochet stitches.
All increases are worked in white.

A basic understanding of tapestry crochet is essential, as the technique is not explained in this pattern. You should know how to carry yarns and how to work a colour change.

Beginning of all flags:
(All flags are worked the same way from Rows 1 to 12.)

1. Row: 2 Ch, 1 Sc in the 2. Ch from the hook in A (1 St)
2. Row: 1 Ch, Inc (2 St)
3. Row: 1 Ch, 2 A (2 St)
4. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, Inc (4 St)
5. Row: 1 Ch, 4 A (4 St)
6. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 2 A, Inc (6 St)
7. Row: 1 Ch, 6 A (6 St)
8. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 4 A, Inc (8 St)
9. Row: 1 Ch, 8 A (8 St)
10. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 6 A, Inc (10 St)
11. Row: 1 Ch, 10 A (10 St)
12. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 8 A, Inc (12 St)



The Letter H:
Work this 2x



13. Row: 1 Ch, 1 A, 4 B, 2 A, 4 B, 1 A (12 St)
14. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 1 A, 2 B, 4 A, 2 B, 1 A, Inc (14 St)
15. Row: 1 Ch, 3 A, 2 B, 4 A, 2 B, 3 A (14 St)
16. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 2 A, 2 B, 4 A, 2 B, 2 A, Inc (16 St)
17. Row: 1 Ch, 4 A, 8 B, 4 A (16 St)
18. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 3 A, 8 B, 3 A, Inc (18 St)
19. Row: 1 Ch, 5 A, 8 B, 5 A (18 St)
20. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 4 A, 2 B, 4 A, 2 B, 4 A, Inc (20 St)
21. Row: 1 Ch, 6 A, 2 B, 4 A, 2 B, 6 A (20 St)
22. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 5 A, 2 B, 4 A, 2 B, 5 A, Inc (22 St)
23. Row: 1 Ch, 6 A, 4 B, 2 A, 4 B, 6 A (22 St)
24. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 20 A, Inc (24 St)
25. Row: 1 Ch, 24 A (24 St)

Do not cut the yarn yet. I will explain how to work the border after the instructions for all the letters.

The Letter A:
Work this 2x



13. Row: 1 Ch, 1 A, 4 B, 2 A, 4 B, 1 A (12 St)
14. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 1 A, 2 B, 4 A, 2 B, 1 A, Inc (14 St)
15. Row: 1 Ch, 3 A, 2 B, 4 A, 2 B, 3 A (14 St)
16. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 2 A, 8 B, 2 A, Inc (16 St)
17. Row: 1 Ch, 4 A, 8 B, 4 A (16 St)
18. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 3 A, 8 B, 3 A, Inc (18 St)
19. Row: 1 Ch, 5 A, 2 B, 4 A, 2 B, 5 A (18 St)
20. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 4 A, 2 B, 4 A, 2 B, 4 A, Inc (20 St)
21. Row: 1 Ch, 7 A, 2 B, 2 A, 2 B, 7 A (20 St)
22. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 7 A, 4 B, 7 A, Inc (22 St)
23. Row: 1 Ch, 10 A, 2 B, 10 A (22 St)
24. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 20 A, Inc (24 St)
25. Row: 1 Ch, 24 A (24 St)

Do not cut the yarn yet. Work the border as described below.

The Letter P:
Work this 2x



13. Row: 1 Ch, 7 A, 4 B, 1 A (12 St)
14. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 1 A, 2 B, 7 A, Inc (14 St)
15. Row: 1 Ch, 9 A, 2 B, 3 A (14 St)
16. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 2 A, 2 B, 8 A, Inc (16 St)
17. Row: 1 Ch, 5 A, 7 B, 4 A (16 St)
18. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 3 A, 8 B, 3 A, Inc (18 St)
19. Row: 1 Ch, 4 A, 3 B, 4 A, 2 B, 5 A (18 St)
20. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 4 A, 2 B, 4 A, 3 B, 3 A, Inc (20 St)
21. Row: 1 Ch, 5 A, 3 B, 4 A, 2 B, 6 A (20 St)
22. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 5 A, 8 B, 5 A, Inc (22 St)
23. Row: 1 Ch, 8 A, 7 B, 7 A (22 St)
24. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 20 A, Inc (24 St)
25. Row: 1 Ch, 24 A (24 St)

Do not cut the yarn yet. Work the border as described below.

The Letter Y:
Work this 2x



13. Row: 1 Ch, 5 A, 2 B, 5 A (12 St)
14. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 4 A, 2 B, 4 A, Inc (14 St)
15. Row: 1 Ch, 6 A, 2 B, 6 A (14 St)
16. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 5 A, 2 B, 5 A, Inc (16 St)
17. Row: 1 Ch, 7 A, 2 B, 7 A (16 St)
18. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 4 A, 6 B, 4 A, Inc (18 St)
19. Row: 1 Ch, 6 A, 6 B, 6 A (18 St)
20. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 4 A, 2 B, 4 A, 2 B, 4 A, Inc (20 St)
21. Row: 1 Ch, 6 A, 2 B, 4 A, 2 B, 6 A (20 St)
22. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 4 A, 2 B, 6 A, 2 B, 4 A Inc (22 St)
23. Row: 1 Ch, 6 A, 2 B, 6 A, 2 B, 6 A (22 St)
24. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 20 A, Inc (24 St)
25. Row: 1 Ch, 24 A (24 St)

Do not cut the yarn yet. Work the border as described below.

The Letter B:
Work this 1x



13. Row: 1 Ch, 3 A, 8 B, 1 A (12 St)
14. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 9 B, 1 A, Inc (14 St)
15. Row: 1 Ch, 2 A, 3 B, 5 A, 2 B, 2 A (14 St)
16. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 1 A, 2 B, 5 A, 3 B, 1 A, Inc (16 St)
17. Row: 1 Ch, 4 A, 9 B, 3 A (16 St)
18. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 2 A, 8 B, 4 A, Inc (18 St)
19. Row: 1 Ch, 5 A, 9 B, 4 A (18 St)
20. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 3 A, 2 B, 5 A, 3 B, 3 A, Inc (20 St)
21. Row: 1 Ch, 5 A, 3 B, 5 A, 2 B, 5 A (20 St)
22. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 4 A, 9 B, 5 A Inc (22 St)
23. Row: 1 Ch, 8 A, 8 B, 6 A (22 St)
24. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 20 A, Inc (24 St)
25. Row: 1 Ch, 24 A (24 St)

Do not cut the yarn yet. Work the border as described below.

The Letter I:
Work this 1x



13. Row: 1 Ch, 4 A, 4 B, 4 A (12 St)
14. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 3 A, 4 B, 3 A, Inc (14 St)
15. Row: 1 Ch, 6 A, 2 B, 6 A (14 St)
16. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 5 A, 2 B, 5 A, Inc (16 St)
17. Row: 1 Ch, 7 A, 2 B, 7 A (16 St)
18. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 6 A, 2 B, 6 A, Inc (18 St)
19. Row: 1 Ch, 8 A, 2 B, 8 A (18 St)
20. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 7 A, 2 B, 7 A, Inc (20 St)
21. Row: 1 Ch, 9 A, 2 B, 9 A (20 St)
22. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 7 A, 4 B, 7 A Inc (22 St)
23. Row: 1 Ch, 9 A, 4 B, 9 A (22 St)
24. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 20 A, Inc (24 St)
25. Row: 1 Ch, 24 A (24 St)

Do not cut the yarn yet. Work the border as described below.

The Letter R:
Work this 1x



13. Row: 1 Ch, 1 A, 3 B, 5 A, 2 B, 1 A (12 St)
14. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 2 B, 4 A, 3 B, 1 A, Inc (14 St)
15. Row: 1 Ch, 4 A, 3 B, 3 A, 2 B, 2 A (14 St)
16. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 1 A, 2 B, 2A, 3 B, 4 A, Inc (16 St)
17. Row: 1 Ch, 5 A, 8 B, 3 A (16 St)
18. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 2 A, 9 B, 3 A, Inc (18 St)
19. Row: 1 Ch, 4 A, 3 B, 5 A, 2 B, 4 A (18 St)
20. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 3 A, 2 B, 5 A, 3 B, 3 A, Inc (20 St)
21. Row: 1 Ch, 5 A, 3 B, 5 A, 2 B, 5 A (20 St)
22. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 4 A, 9 B, 5 A Inc (22 St)
23. Row: 1 Ch, 8 A, 8 B, 6 A (22 St)
24. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 20 A, Inc (24 St)
25. Row: 1 Ch, 24 A (24 St)

Do not cut the yarn yet. Work the border as described below.

The Letter T:
Work this 1x



13. Row: 1 Ch, 3 A, 6 B, 3 A (12 St)
14. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 2 A, 6 B, 2 A, Inc (14 St)
15. Row: 1 Ch, 6 A, 2 B, 6 A (14 St)
16. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 5 A, 2 B, 5 A, Inc (16 St)
17. Row: 1 Ch, 7 A, 2 B, 7 A (16 St)
18. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 6 A, 2 B, 6 A, Inc (18 St)
19. Row: 1 Ch, 8 A, 2 B, 8 A (18 St)
20. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 7 A, 2 B, 7 A, Inc (20 St)
21. Row: 1 Ch, 5 A, 1 B, 3 A, 2 B, 3A, 1 B, 5 A (20 St)
22. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 4 A, 10 B, 4 A Inc (22 St)
23. Row: 1 Ch, 6 A, 10 B, 6 A (22 St)
24. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 20 A, Inc (24 St)
25. Row: 1 Ch, 24 A (24 St)

Do not cut the yarn yet. Work the border as described below.

The Letter D:
Work this 1x



13. Row: 1 Ch, 4 A, 7 B, 1 A (12 St)
14. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 8 B, 2 A, Inc (14 St)
15. Row: 1 Ch, 3 A, 3 B, 4 A, 2 B, 2 A (14 St)
16. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 1 A, 2 B, 5 A, 3 B, 1 A, Inc (16 St)
17. Row: 1 Ch, 3 A, 3 B, 5 A, 2 B, 3 A (16 St)
18. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 2 A, 2 B, 5 A, 3 B, 2 A Inc (18 St)
19. Row: 1 Ch, 4 A, 3 B, 5 A, 2 B, 4 A (18 St)
20. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 3 A, 2 B, 5 A, 3 B, 3 A, Inc (20 St)
21. Row: 1 Ch, 6 A, 3 B, 4 A, 2 B, 5 A (20 St)
22. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 4 A, 8 B, 6 A, Inc (22 St)
23. Row: 1 Ch, 9 A, 7 B, 6 A (22 St)
24. Row: 1 Ch, Inc, 20 A, Inc (24 St)
25. Row: 1 Ch, 24 A (24 St)

Do not cut the yarn yet. Work the border as described below.



Border:
Continue working with Colour A for the border. Start by crocheting 1 chain stitch, then work 25 single crochet stitches along the left edge. At the bottom point, crochet another chain stitch and then work 25 single crochet stitches up along the right edge. To finish, crochet 1 chain stitch and join the border with a slip stitch into the first stitch of Row 25.



Joining the Letters:



I started with a chain of 40 stitches and then began with the last letter of “Happy”, the Y. I crocheted the chain directly onto the Y and worked 24 single crochet stitches across the top of the flags.

At the end of the Y, I crocheted 3 chain stitches and then attached the next letter, the P. Again, I worked 24 single crochet stitches across the top of the flag. I continued in the same way with the remaining letters of “Happy” until all 5 letters were joined together. After that, I crocheted another 40 chain stitches.

To make a small loop for hanging the banner, I worked a slip stitch into the 9th chain from the hook.
At the beginning of the chain, I used a sewing needle to sew the starting yarn tail into the 9th chain from the hook to make a loop on this side as well.



Finally, I sewed in all the loose ends.

I worked the “Birthday” banner in the same way, but started with a chain of 80 stitches and finished with another 80 chain stitches. I also kept the 3 chain stitches between each letter and made the hanging loops in the same way.



I would love to hear your comments or feedback if you worked the decoration. In the future, you will find many more free patterns on my blog at Crazypatterns. Just click on the “Posts” tab at the top. To make sure you don’t miss any updates, follow me here—you’ll always stay up to date!
I have lots of other patterns in my store too, so feel free to have a look. You might find something you like or get some inspiration for your next project.