This crochet football is SO CUTE! Show off your love of the sport with this mini plush football. It’s a soft and lightweight toy for kids, and it’s really easy to make, using simple stitches.
A crochet football is a great way to celebrate the Super Bowl, and a fun accessory for fans of the NFL, CFL, or your local high school team. Use the FREE mini crochet football pattern below or grab the printable, ad-free pattern with BONUS Quick Guide from our Etsy shop.
This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a small commission which helps us run this website.
How to Crochet a Football
Materials:
- Worsted weight yarn (size 4; brown and white)
- Polyester fiber fill
- Crochet Football Pattern (No Ads)
Equipment:
Watch the step-by-step video tutorial:
Instructions:
Find what you need:
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Round 1:
- With the brown yarn, work 6 single crochet into a magic circle.Pull the tail to tighten and slip stitch into the first st to join the round. (6)
Round 2:
- Chain 1 and insert 1 sc into the first st.
- Insert 2 sc into the next st (an increase).
- Rep this pattern (1 sc, inc) around.Sl st in the first st to join. (9)
Round 3:
- Switch to white yarn (do not cut off the brown yarn) and ch 1.
- Work 1 sc into each of the first 2 sts.
- Inc in the next st.
- Rep this pattern (1 sc, 1 sc, inc) around.Sl st in the first st to join. (12)
Round 4:
- Ch 1 and insert 1 sc into each of the first 3 sts.
- Inc in the next st.
- Rep the pattern (1 sc, 1 sc, 1 sc, inc) around.Sl st in the first st to join. (15)
Round 5:
- Switch back to brown yarn (don’t cut the white yarn) and ch 1.Insert 1 sc into each of the first 4 sts.
- Inc in the next st.
- Rep the pattern (1 sc, 1 sc, 1 sc, 1 sc, inc) around.Sl st in the first st to join. (18)
Round 6:
- Ch 1 and insert 1 sc into each of the first 5 sts.
- Inc in the next st.
- Rep the pattern (1 sc, 1 sc, 1 sc, 1 sc, 1 sc, inc) around.Sl st in the first st to join. (21)
Rounds 7 – 11:
- Ch 1 and insert 1 sc into each st around.Sl st in the first st to join. (21)
- Rep the last round 4 times. (21 each round)
Round 12:
- Ch 1 and insert 1 sc into each of the first 5 sts.
- Sc the next 2 sts together (a decrease).
- Rep the pattern (1 sc, 1 sc, 1 sc, 1 sc, 1 sc, dec) around.Sl st in the first st to join. (18)
Round 13:
- Ch 1 and insert 1 sc into each of the first 4 sts.
- Dec across the next 2 sts.
- Rep the pattern (1 sc, 1 sc, 1 sc, 1 sc, dec) around.Sl st in the first st to join. (15)
Round 14:
- Switch back to the white yarn and ch 1.Insert 1 sc into each of the first 3 sts.
- Dec across the next 2 sts.
- Rep the pattern (1 sc, 1 sc, 1 sc, dec) around.Sl st in the first st to join. (12)
Round 15:
- Ch 1 and insert 1 sc into each of the first 2 sts.
- Dec across the next 2 sts.
- Rep the pattern (1 sc, 1 sc, dec) around and sl st in the first st to join. (9)Fasten off the white yarn and tuck the tail into the football.
Stuff the football:
- Stuff the football with poly-fil until it’s firm and holds its shape.
Round 16:
- Using the brown yarn, ch 1 and insert 1 sc into the first st.
- Dec across the next 2 sts.
- Rep the pattern (1 sc, dec) around.Sl st in the first st to join. (6)
Finish off the football:
- Fasten off the yarn, leaving a 6 inch tail.
- Sew a running st through each st in the last round.
- Pull the tail tight to close the opening, then weave in the end.
- With white yarn, sew the laces on the side of the football. Weave in the ends.
- Your crochet football is complete!
Helpful Tips:
- Embroider on a little face or add safety eyes to make a football amigurumi.
- If you don’t want to switch yarn and sew on the white stitches you can draw them on with puffy paint instead, creating a textured toy.
Crochet Abbreviations & Terms:
This pattern uses standard US crochet terms. Here’s what each abbreviation means:
ch(s) = chain(s)
dec = decrease
inc = increase
rep = repeat
sc = single crochet
sl st = slip stitch
st(s) = stitch(es)
Download our crochet football pattern:
You can follow the full crochet football pattern with step-by-step instructions for free right here in this post (supported by ads). Or, if you’d like a printable crochet football PDF pattern with BONUS Quick Guide, you can grab it in our Etsy shop. It’s perfect to keep by your side as you crochet!
Printable Crochet Football Pattern
Get the printable Crochet Football Pattern PDF with step-by-step photos + BONUS Quick Guide in our Etsy shop!
What is the size of this crochet football? Can I make a bigger football?
This pattern creates a crochet football that’s just over 4 inches long. The exact size will, of course, depend on your yarn and tension.
To make a larger plush football (without adjusting the pattern), simply use a thicker yarn and larger crochet hook. To make an even smaller football, do the opposite.
How do I single crochet decrease?
A decrease is single crocheting 2 stitches together, joining them at the top so they become one stitch. To do this, start by inserting your hook into the next stitch, yarn over, and pull a loop through.
Then insert your hook into the next stitch, yarn over, and pull another loop through. You should now have 3 stitches on your hook. Yarn over again and pull the yarn through all 3 loops. You’ve just made a decrease!
What type of yarn is used to make a crochet football?
We used worsted weight acrylic yarn (size 4) to make our crochet footballs. The brown colour is Loops & Threads “coffee”, while the white is Impeccable (also a Loops and Threads yarn).
How can I make a crochet football keychain?
To make this mini football plushie into a keychain, insert a jump ring (attached to keychain hardware) into 1 to 2 stitches at one end of the finished football. Use pliers to close and secure the jump ring.
What is the crochet football stuffed with?
We used poly-fil, a polyester stuffing, to stuff our mini crochet football. But if you don’t have a bag of this lying around, there’s no need to buy special stuffing.
Use stuffing from an old pillow, or buy an inexpensive pillow from the dollar store. You can also use stuffing from an old stuffed animal, or even stuff your football with cotton balls or scrap fabric.
Make a crochet football in the traditional brown and white, or create a plush football in your favourite team’s colours! This football crochet pattern makes a soft toy that’s super cute and perfect for kids to toss around during indoor play.
Here’s even more easy crochet ideas:
Now available
Low-Mess Crafts for Kids Book
72 cute and fun crafts that kids and parents alike can enjoy. All with as little mess as possible!
Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-A-Million | Indiebound | Amazon Canada
Leave a Reply