Mini Stuffed Football - Free Crochet Pattern

Mini Stuffed Football

Materials:
WW yarn in dk brown and white, or team colors of your coice.
Hook E
Stuffing (either polyfil or strips of fabric for extra weight)
Abbreviations:
INC = Increase
DEC = Decrease
sc = single crochet
rnd = Round
Special Instructions: Repeat instructions between * *
Increase by working 2 single crochet in same stitch.
Decrease by inserting hook into front loop on stitch, draw up a loop, insert hook into front loop of next stitch, draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through all three loops on hook.
Lacing: worked with one strand of white yarn, draw yarn through starting point and leave a long tail running the length of where you will work. make each stitch crossing the tail twice before moving to the next stitch. Tuck both tails to the inside when finished, and tie together to secure.

Notes: this is worked in a continuous spiral, do not join rounds.

Pattern:

Rnd 1: 8 sc in magic circle  (8)
Rnd 2: INC in each sc around  (16)
Rnd 3: sc in each sc around  (16)
Rnd 4: *sc in next 3 sc, INC* around  (20)
Rnd 5: sc in each sc around  (20)
Rnd 6: *sc in next 4 sc, INC* around  (24)
Rnd 7: *sc in next 3 sc, INC* around  (30)
Change color to white
Rnd 8: *sc in next 4 sc, INC* around  (36)
Rnd 9: sc in each sc around  (36)
Change color back to brown
Rnd 10: *sc in next 11 sc, INC* around  (39)
Rnd 11: sc in each sc around  (39)
Rnd 12: *sc in next 12 sc, INC* around  (42)
Rnd 13: sc in each sc around  (42)
Rnd 14: *sc in next 13 sc, INC* around  (45)
Rnd 15: sc in each sc around  (45)
Rnd 16: *sc in next 14 sc, INC* around  (48)
Rnd 17: sc in each sc around  (48)
Rnd 18: *sc in next 15 sc, INC* around  (51)
Rnd 19 - 20: sc in each sc around (51)
Rnd 21: *sc in next 15 sc, DEC* around  (48)
Rnd 22: sc in each sc around  (48)
Rnd 23: *sc in next 14 sc, DEC* around  (45)
Rnd 24: sc in each sc around  (45)
Rnd 25: *sc in next 13 sc, DEC* around  (42)
Rnd 26: sc in each sc around  (42)
Rnd 27: *sc in next 12 sc, DEC* around  (39)
Rnd 28: sc in each sc around  (39)
Rnd 29: *sc in next 11 sc, DEC* around  (36)
Change color to white
Rnd 30: sc in each sc around  (36)
Rnd 31: *sc in next 4 sc, DEC* around  (30)
Change color to brown
Rnd 32: *sc in next 3 sc, DEC* around  (24)
Rnd 33: *sc in next 4 sc, DEC* around  (20)
Stitch laces on body of football, first cross lace beginning 3 rounds from white stripe, last cross lace ending 3 rounds from other white stripe, with 8 laces total. Stuff
Rnd 34: sc in each sc around  (20)
Rnd 35: *sc in next 3 sc, DEC* around  (16)
Rnd 36: sc in each sc around  (16)
Stuff a little more
Rnd 37: *DEC* around  (8)
Stuff a little more if possible.
Weave tail through last 8 stitches and pull to close. FO

I used about 2 of my husband's old socks, cut into strips to stuff my football, It's a bit heftier than if I'd used regular polyfil.