Tampa woman honors veterans by knitting U.S. flag

TAMPA, Fla. (FOX 13) - For Dawn Barker, knitting the U.S. flag has become an obsession.

"I do it everywhere," Barker told FOX 13. "The only time I don't do it is when I am at work."

Barker is knitting the flag to honor military veterans for their service. 

"Everybody that has served and fought for us and died, it's not for nothing," she said.

Barker started the process of knitting the flag more than a year ago, and her dedication would make Betsy Ross proud.

"One day it just started and I didn't realize how big it was going to be," she said. "I didn't think that it would turn into this."

The flag measures approximately 39 feet by 26 feet; Barker said the blue portion alone measures 15 feet by 12 feet.

Barker said stitching the flag is her way of giving back to the country she loves.

"This is just my contribution to America, that's all it is," she added. "That's all I'm trying to do."

Barker will donate the flag to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. She hopes to get into the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest knitted U.S. flag.