Plush Football

So, for those of you who don’t know (which would have included me, before I got married to Paul) college football season is just around the corner. My husband loves college football. So, he thought I should make a nice, manly toy for our son who will be born right in the start of football season. So, here it is:

It’s actually pretty fun to throw around the room. Paul and I have been practicing.

And I’m even going to give you the pattern for free today. Yep- because I am nice like that.

Yeah. Free pattern is a good pattern, right?

And if you were wondering how big the football is, here is my very large belly for comparison.

Yep, I’ll be 37 weeks on Sunday, so we’re getting pretty close.

Ok- here is the pattern:

Plush Football
Size 7 DPN’s
Stuffing
Yarn Needle
Worsted weight yarn, brown and white (Not sure on exact measurements here, since I just used up yarn I already had, but you don’t need much white yarn at all)

With brown yarn cast on 6 stitches. Divide among 3 DPN’s.

Row 1: Join in the round and knit once around
Row 2: Knit 1, Make 1, Knit 1 (Repeat on all 3 needles, you should now have 9 stitches)
Row 3: Knit once around
Row 4: Knit 1, Make 1, Knit 1, Make 1, Knit 1 (Repeat on all 3 needles, you should now have 15 stitches)
Row 5: Knit once around
Row 6: Knit 1, Make 1, Knit 3, Make 1, Knit 1 (Repeat on all 3 needles, you should have have 21 stitches)
Row 7: Knit once around
Row  8: Knit 1, Make 1, Knit 5, Make 1, Knit 1 (Repeat on all 3 needles, you should now have 27 stitches)
Row 9: Knit once around (On ALL ODD numbered rows, knit once around- so I am just going to omit the ODD rows from here on out in the pattern)
Row 10: Knit 1, Make 1, Knit until last stitch, Make 1, Knit 1 (Repeat on all 3 needles, you should now have 33 stitches)
Row 12: Knit 1, Make 1, Knit until last stitch, Make 1, Knit 1 (Repeat on all 3 needles, you should now have 39 stitches)
Row 14: Knit 1, Make 1, Knit until last stitch, Make 1, Knit 1 (Repeat on all 3 needles, you should now have 45 stitches)
*SWITCH TO WHITE YARN*
Row 16: Knit 1, Make 1, Knit until last stitch, Make 1, Knit 1 (Repeat on all 3 needles, you should now have 51 stitches)
Row 18: Knit 1, Make 1, Knit until last stitch, Make 1, Knit 1 (Repeat on all 3 needles, you should now have 57 stitches)
Row 20: Knit 1, Make 1, Knit until last stitch, Make 1, Knit 1 (Repeat on all 3 needles, you should now have 63 stitches)
*SWITCH BACK TO BROWN YARN*
Row 22: Knit 1, Make 1, Knit until last stitch, Make 1, Knit 1 (Repeat on all 3 needles, you should now have 69 stitches)
Row 24: Knit 1, Make 1, Knit until last stitch, Make 1, Knit 1 (Repeat on all 3 needles, you should now have 75 stitches)
Row 26: Knit 1, Make 1, Knit until last stitch, Make 1, Knit 1 (Repeat on all 3 needles, you should now have 81 stitches)
Rows 27-37: Knit all the way around
Row 28: Knit 1, K2T, Knit to last 3 stitches, K2t, Knit 1  (Repeat on all 3 needles)
Row 29: Knit all the way around
*Repeat rows 28 and 29 until you have one 9 stitches left (3 stitches on each needle)*
(But remember to switch back to your white yarn when you only have 63 stitches left and then back to your brown yarn when it gets to 45 stitches)

 Cut your yarn leaving a 6 inch tail, stuff your plush football, using yarn needle pull the tail through remaining stitches and pull tight to close. Then, using white yarn create the ‘laces’ on the top of the football. I did two strands of yarn going lengthwise of the football, and six going width wise. Use the picture as a guide if you need help. Or do what I did and Google a picture of a football to make sure I had it somewhat close to being right!

Enjoy!