Plush Football

Now that it is football season, I decided to make another plush football. I changed my previous pattern very slightly and added this new pattern to ETSY. This stuffed football is so cute and fun! You can use it as a cute room/desk decoration, a baby gift, a gift for an avid football fan, or a toy – have fun tossing it around! It’s soft, so it can be played with inside as well as outside! My kids were playing “hot potato” with it the other day. There are so many possibilities and it would be really cool in your favorite team’s colors! If you are interested in making one, see below for my pattern.

FOOTBALL PATTERN

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

– Approximately 7 inches long

MATERIALS

– 4.00mm (G) hook
– Worsted weight yarn in brown (I used Loops & Threads Impeccable yarn in Chocolate)
– Worsted weight yarn in white (I used Loops & Threads Impeccable yarn in White)
– Fiberfill
– Tapestry needle for sewing and weaving in ends
– Scissors

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ABBREVIATIONS

– ch = chain
– chs = chains
– dc = double crochet
– sc = single crochet
– sc2tog = sc 2 stitches together (sc decrease)
– slst = slip stitch
– st = stitch
– sts = stitches

GAUGE

5 sc = 1 inch; 5 rounds = 1 inch

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

– Join each round with a slip stitch.
– The first stitch of each round is done in the same stitch as the beginning chain. (All rounds start in same stitch as beginning chain 1).

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DIRECTIONS

Rnd 1: Make a magic ring, ch 1, work 5 sc in the magic ring, pull circle closed, join to first sc with a slst. (5 sc)

Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around, join to first st of round with slst. (10 sc)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join to first st of round with slst. (10 sc)
Rnd 4: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around, join to first st of round with slst. (20 sc)
Rnd 5: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join to first st of round with slst. (20 sc)
Rnd 6: Ch 1, sc in next 9 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 9 sts, 2 sc in last st, join to first st of round with slst. (22 sc)
Rnd 7: Ch 1, sc in first st, 2 sc in next st, repeat [sc in next st, 2 sc in next st] around, join to first st of round with slst. (33 sc)
Rnd 8: Ch 1, repeat [sc in 10 sts, 2 sc in next st] around, join to first st of round with slst. (36 sc)
Rnd 9: Ch 1, repeat [sc in 5 sts, 2 sc in next st] around, join to first st of round with slst. (42 sc)
Rnd 10: Change yarn color to white, ch 1, sc in each st around, join to first st of round with slst. (42 sc)
Rnd 11: Ch 1, repeat [sc in 13 sts, 2 sc in next st] around, join to first st of round with slst. (45 sc)
Rnd 12: Change yarn color back to brown (or main color), ch 1, sc in each st around, join to first st of round with a slst. (45 sc)

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Rnd 13: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join to first st of round with a slst. (45 sc)
Rnd 14: Ch 1, repeat [sc in 14 sts, 2 sc in next st] around, join to first st of round with slst. (48 sc)
Rnds 15-17: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join to first st of round with a slst. (48 sc)
Rnd 18: Ch 1, repeat [sc in 23 sts, 2 sc in next st] around, join to first st of round with a slst. (50 sc)
Rnds 19-20: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join to first st of round with a slst. (50 sc)
Rnd 21: Ch 1, repeat [sc in 23 sts, sc2tog] around, join to first st of round with a slst. (48 sc)
Rnds 22-24: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join to first st of round with a slst. (48 sc)
Rnd 25: Ch 1, repeat [sc in 14 sts, sc2tog] around, join to first st of round with a slst. (45 sc)
Rnd 26: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join to first st of round with a slst. (45 sc)
Rnd 27: Change color to white, ch 1, sc in each st around, join to first st of round with a slst. (45 sc)
Rnd 28: Ch 1, repeat [sc in 13 sts, sc2tog] around, join to first st of round with a slst. (42 sc)
Rnd 29: Change yarn color to brown (or main color), ch 1, sc in each st around, join to first st of round with a slst. (42 sc)
Rnd 30: Ch 1, repeat [sc in 5 sts, sc2tog] around, join to first st of round with a slst. (36 sc)

***At this point, make the laces and sew them onto the football using your tapestry needle. The directions for the laces can be found below. Sew the two long laces side-by-side and then sew the shorter laces evenly spaced across the top. I decided to sew my laces on top of the seam of the football in order to disguise it better. You can always sew yours in a different area if you want a different look.

Rnd 31: Ch 1, repeat [sc in 10 sts, sc2tog] around, join to first st of round with a slst. (33 sc)
Rnd 32: Ch 1, repeat [sc in next st, sc2tog] around, join to first st of round with a slst. (22 sc)
***At this point, start stuffing your football with fiberfill. You can continue stuffing as you complete your final rounds.

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Rnd 33: Ch 1, repeat [sc in 9 sts, sc2tog] around, join to first st of round with a slst. (20 sc)
Rnd 34: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join to first st of round with a slst. (20 sc)

Rnd 35: Ch 1, repeat [sc2tog] around, join to first st of round with a slt. (10 sc)
Rnd 36: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join to first st of round with a slst, fasten off, leaving a long tail for closing the circle. (10 sc)

Rnd 37: Ch 1, repeat [sc2tog] around, join to first st of round with a slst, fasten off, leaving a long tail for closing the circle. (5 sc)

***After fastening off, thread your tail end through a tapestry needle. Weave the needle through the front loop of each of the stitches in the last round and pull the tail tight. This should close the circle. Then weave in the remaining tail end and cut it so that you hide it inside the football.

Long Football Laces (Make 2)
Ch 14, fasten off, leaving long tail for sewing onto ball.

Short Football Laces (Make 5)
Ch 6, fasten off, leaving long tail for sewing onto ball.

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You may not sell my patterns or claim them as your own. You may make items to sell (i.e. on Etsy) from my patterns but I ask that you link back to my site and provide credit for the pattern. You are welcome to share my patterns on social media as long as you link back directly to my site by providing the link. No copying and pasting of any patterns will be allowed under any circumstances.