Update on the progress of my American Flag afghan:
I started attaching the blue hexagon stars together by holding them right sides together and whip-stitching in the front loops only.  I had sewn them together into seven strips that way but realized they were coming out way too long to be able to be attached to the stripes portion.  I then saw that the pattern suggested holding them wrong sides together and whip-stitching through both loops.  I couldn't take them apart as I had woven in the ends as I went along.  So now I am starting over and making all new hexagon stars.  I made a couple and attached them the way the pattern suggested and can tell this is making a much smaller space between the hexagons. It will take extra time to redo all of them but thank goodness I have plenty more of the white and blue yarn.