Little Crochet Football Pattern

Even though I live in a city that houses two beloved football teams, the Seahawks and the Huskies, I have to admit that I am not the biggest fan of football. I know, it's terrible. However, you'll be happy to know that I have plenty of friends who insist upon sharing the joys of sports with me. One of those friends recently had a birthday, and to show my appreciation for him I went out of my usual designing comfort zone. I created... a football!

It's a sweet and simple little football and I really like it. It's the perfect size to keep on your desk at work, to turn into an ornament, or perhaps even to turn into a baby rattle. In the spirit of sharing, I've decided to post the simple pattern for this ball for free below. I hope you enjoy it! I used about 60 yards of Martha Stewart Crafts Extra Soft Wool Blend (a worsted weight yarn which has tragically been discontinued) for the base of the football and white scrap yarn for the lacing and stripes. I used a US size G6 4mm crochet hook. You'll also need some fiberfill to stuff the football and a yarn needle to stitch it together and add the stripes.

Football Panel (make 3)
Row 1: Ch 2. Work 3 hdc into the first ch. (3)
Row 2: Ch 1 (does not count as a st now and throughout), turn. Work 2 hdc into the first st, work 1 hdc into the next st, work 2 hdc into the last st. (5)
Row 3: Ch 1, turn. Work 1 hdc into each st. (5)
Row 4: Ch 1, turn. Work 2 hdc into the first st, work 1 hdc into each of the next 3 sts, work 2 hdc into the last st. (7)
Row 5: Ch 1, turn. Work 2 hdc into the first st, work 1 hdc into each of the next 5 sts, work 2 hdc into the last st. (9)
Row 6: Ch 1, turn. Work 1 hdc into each st. (9)
Row 7: Ch 1, turn. Work 2 hdc into the first st, work 1 hdc into each of the next 7 sts, work 2 hdc into the last st. (11)
Row 8: Ch 1, turn. Work 1 hdc into each st. (11)
Row 9: Ch 1, turn. Work 2 hdc into the first st, work 1 hdc into each of the next 9 sts, work 2 hdc into the last st. (13)
Rows 10 through 13: Ch 1, turn. Work 1 hdc into each st. (13)
Row 14: Ch 1, turn. Work 1 hdc dec over the first 2 sts, work 1 hdc into each of the next 9 sts, work 1 hdc dec over last two sts. (11)
Row 15: Ch 1, turn. Work 1 hdc into each st. (11)
Row 16: Ch 1, turn. Work 1 hdc dec over the first 2 sts, work 1 hdc into each of the next 7 sts, work 1 hdc dec over last two sts. (9)
Row 17: Ch 1, turn. Work 1 hdc into each st. (9)
Row 18: Ch 1, turn. Work 1 hdc dec over the first 2 sts, work 1 hdc into each of the next 5 sts, work 1 hdc dec over last two sts. (7)
Row 19: Ch 1, turn. Work 1 hdc dec over the first 2 sts, work 1 hdc into each of the next 3 sts, work 1 hdc dec over last two sts. (5)
Row 20: Ch 1, turn. Work 1 hdc into each st. (5)
Row 21: Ch 1, turn. Work 1 hdc dec over the first 2 sts, work 1 hdc into next st, work 1 hdc dec over last two sts. (3)
Row 22: Ch 1, turn. Work 1 hdc dec over all three stitches. (1)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Finishing
Two of the three panels will have white stripes sewn with a satin stitch across rows 6 and 7 and also rows 16 and 17. Use a yarn needle and white scrap yarn for the stripes. Next, use the remaining brown yarn tails to sew the three panels together, stuffing the football semi-firmly before you close the final seam. Finally, use the yarn needle and white scrap yarn to sew the lacing of the football along the seam that joins the two striped panels. Weave in all ends securely.

Crochet Ball Pattern

My father-in-law knows how to juggle. It seems like juggling as a hidden talent is dying out. How many young people in your life know how to juggle? Anyway... per his request, I crocheted Buddy some hacky sacks to help him out with his juggling practice. I didn't feel like following someone else's pattern this time and whipped up my own instead. Balls made from this pattern could be used for a variety of things: juggling, playing hacky sack, tossing games, etc.

I used about one and a half skeins of Lion Brand Kitchen Cotton to create the set. Since Kitchen Cotton calls for a 5mm hook on the label, I used a 4mm hook to make the balls extra tight. It hurt my hands a little to crochet with cotton so tightly, but it was worth it. The fabric is very stiff and the beans inside do not show through. Here's what I did...

Start with magic circle.
Round 1: Work 6 sc into the ring. Sl st into first st to join. Pull ring closed tightly. (6)
Round 2: Ch 1, do not turn. Work 2 sc into each st around. Sl st into first st to join. (12)
Round 3: Ch 1, do not turn. *Work 1 sc in first st and 2 sc in next*, rep around. Sl st in first to join. (18)
Round 4: Ch 1, do not turn. *Work 1 sc into each of the first 2 sts, work 2 sc in next*, rep around. Sl st in first to join. (24)
Round 5: Ch 1, do not turn. *Work 1 sc into each of the first 3 sts, work 2 sc in next*, rep around. Sl st in first to join. (30)
Round 6: Ch 1, do not turn. *Work 1 sc into each of the first 4 sts, work 2 sc in next*, rep around. Sl st in first to join. (36)
Round 7: Ch 1, do not turn. Work 1 sc into each st around. Sl st in first to join. (36)
Rounds 8 through 12: Rep Round 7.
Round 13: Ch 1, do not turn. *Work 1 sc into each of the first 4 sts, work 1 dec*, rep around. Sl st in first to join. (30)
Round 14: Ch 1, do not turn. *Work 1 sc into each of the first 3 sts, work 1 dec*, rep around. Sl st in first to join. (24)
Round 15: Ch 1, do not turn. *Work 1 sc into each of the first 2 sts, work 1 dec*, rep around. Sl st in first to join. (18)
Round 16: Ch 1, do not turn. *Work 1 sc in first st, work 1 dec*, rep around. Sl st in first to join. (12)
Fill the bag with dry beans. I used dry pinto beans. You can fill it as little or as much as you desire. I filled mine just until the beans were touching the top of the inside of the bag, a little over 3/4.
Round 17: Ch 1, do not turn. Work 6 dec. Sl st in first to join. (6).
Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing. With a yarn needle, weave in and out of the stitches of Round 17 all of the way around. Pull tightly to close the ball. Weave in the end securely.

If you decide to try it, let me know how this simple ball pattern works out for you!