Welcome to the sporty and energetic world of amigurumi! 🏈✨ Today, I’m excited to share my free crochet pattern for an American Football Ball—a bold and dynamic creation perfect for sports fans, game-day decorations, or anyone who enjoys crafting expressive and playful plush designs! 🎉 Whether you love stitching up athletic accessories, creating textured and lifelike figures, or simply want to add a football to your handmade lineup, this pattern will guide you through crafting a beautifully sculpted plush with classic stitching details, smooth curves, and a touch of competitive spirit! 💪
This design embraces rich browns, crisp whites, and sporty textures to bring a lively and game-ready presence to your crochet projects! 🧶🔥 I’ve carefully outlined each step to ensure your Amigurumi American Football Ball turns out just right—ready to kick off your collection or become a treasured handmade gift! 🎁 So grab your hooks, pick out deep browns, bright whites, or team colors, and let’s stitch up a winning football! 🏈
🏈 Amigurumi American Football Ball – Crochet Pattern
Make your own life-sized, squishy football complete with laces, white stripe panels, and even a team name or fan slogan! Perfect as game-day decor, sports-themed gifts, or photo props.
✨ Skill Level
Beginner to Intermediate — Focus on symmetrical shaping, color changes, and simple embroidery.
📏 Finished Size
Approx. 11 inches (28 cm) long and 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) diameter — similar to a real NFL regulation ball.
🧶 Materials
- Worsted weight yarn:
- 🟤 Color A – Brown (main body)
- ⚪ Color B – White (stripes + laces + text)
- Hook: 3.5–4.0 mm
- Polyfill stuffing
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch marker
- Optional: Water-erasable pen or paper stencil for lettering
🧵 Abbreviations (US Terms)
MR – Magic Ring
sc – Single Crochet
inc – Increase
dec – Decrease
sl st – Slip Stitch
FO – Fasten Off
🏉 Football Body (Work in the round)
Start with Color A (Brown)
- MR, 6 sc
- inc x6 (12)
- (1 sc, inc) x6 (18)
- (2 sc, inc) x6 (24)
- (3 sc, inc) x6 (30)
- (4 sc, inc) x6 (36)
- (5 sc, inc) x6 (42)
- (6 sc, inc) x6 (48)
- (7 sc, inc) x6 (54)
- (8 sc, inc) x6 (60)
11–14. sc around (60)
⚪ Color Change – White Stripe
🔄 How to change color cleanly:
On the last yarn-over of the stitch before the change, drop the brown yarn and pull through with white to finish the stitch. Continue in white.
15–16. sc around with Color B (White) (60)
🟤 Back to Brown
- Switch back to Color A using same technique
18–30. sc around (60)
Decreasing & Second Stripe
- (8 sc, dec) x6 (54)
- (7 sc, dec) x6 (48)
- (6 sc, dec) x6 (42)
- (5 sc, dec) x6 (36)
⚪ Color Change – Second White Stripe
35–36. sc around with Color B (36)
Final Decreases (Color A)
- Switch to brown
- (4 sc, dec) x6 (30)
- (3 sc, dec) x6 (24)
- (2 sc, dec) x6 (18)
— Stuff firmly - (1 sc, dec) x6 (12)
- dec x6 (6)
FO and sew shut
🧵 Lacing (Color B)
Vertical Lace (1 line):
Use surface slip stitches or backstitch embroidery to make one vertical line on the center panel (about 8–10 stitches long).
Cross Laces (7–10 bars):
Stitch short horizontal lines across the vertical line evenly spaced (2–3 stitches wide each).
✨ Custom Text: “GO TEAM” or Team Name
Method 1: Embroidery
- Lightly sketch the letters on with a water-soluble pen or chalk
- Use a tapestry needle and white yarn to embroider backstitch or split stitch lettering
- Keep stitches even and slightly raised for visibility
Method 2: Felt Letters
- Cut out letters in white felt
- Hot glue or sew them onto the football
📌 Optional Placement Tip: Center your message between the two white stripes, offset from the laces.
💡 Customization Ideas
- Add your team’s name (“JETS,” “COWBOYS,” “BILLS”)
- Embroider a player’s jersey number
- Use team colors instead of classic brown and white
- Make mini versions for party favors!
This realistic-sized crochet football is a perfect blend of fun and sporty. Whether for decor, gifts, or cheering your team on, this amigurumi ball is sure to score big! 🧶🏈📣
