A crochet football pillow to show your team spirit
Show your team spirit with the I Love Football Pillow – it’s a touchdown for every fan!
The I Love Football Pillow crochet pattern
My husband and I enjoy watching NFL football games. I won’t say we’re obsessed but it’s a rare occasion that we miss a broadcast of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Our grandson is a different story. He can quote you just about any statistic you’d want to know. He loves following the players and watching the standings as the season progresses.
When his birthday rolled around this year, I decided a crochet football pillow would be the perfect gift. You see, not only does he love football but his birthday is on Granny Square Day. I scored points on multiple fronts!
Design + Construction for the football pillow
I love this football pillow because it’s two-sided. Depending upon your game day mood or how you want it to fit into your room’s décor, you can choose which side to display.
On one side of the football pillow is a popcorn granny square that sports the team colors. This particular granny square is a variation of my Grab the Popcorn Granny you can find here.
The square features alternating sections of granny stitch and solid double crochet with popcorn stitches. I thought this granny square would be a great choice since game time snacks usually include popcorn!
The panel on the other side of the football pillow is worked in C2C (corner to corner) crochet and features a football look-alike. All you need for this side is brown and white (although you could certainly crochet your football in a different color).
Another possibility for your pillow is making 2 of the same panel for a football pillow that looks the same on both sides.
The 2 panels are sewn together around the pillow form using a round of single crochet. Add pompoms in your team colors for extra pizzazz!
The Yarn
Any worsted weight acrylic yarn will work for this crochet football pillow. Depending upon what your team’s colors are, finding just the right colors should be more important than the actual yarn.
To be honest, finding the green color for the Philadelphia Eagles was the challenge. Finding a green shade that was a close enough match was why I chose Red Heart Super Saver.
Red Heart Super Saver is a durable, inexpensive choice for projects like this football pillow. Because you’ll need 4 colors to make the football pillow, you’ll definitely want something affordable and durable. Plus, that pillow may get a lot of “love” during the game, especially if the game is close!
The pattern is free here on the blog. Why should I purchase the PDF?
Sometimes it can be difficult to keep a browser open long enough to get the instructions you need to complete even a line of instruction in a free pattern.
Getting a copy of the PDF ensures you’ll have an ad-free, easy-to-read pattern for the I Love Football Pillow that can be downloaded to any mobile device that fits your needs. Plus, while the free pattern includes the C2C chart, the PDF also includes written instructions if that’s what you prefer.
I Love Football Pillow crochet pattern
The Team Spirit blog hop hosted by Remington Lane Crochet
I’m excited to share that the I Love Football Pillow is the featured design in this fun blog hop on Thursday, September 14.
For 24 hrs beginning at 8am EDT, you can get the PDF at a 50% discount. Here’s how to get your discounted PDF:
The coupon code is listed on the event post. Click on the button below to go get it.
Once you return here with your coupon code, click the button below and use the code at checkout.
All 10 patterns featured in the blog hop are available in one bundle for just $10 through Sept. 20th. Skip spending so much time on blog posts and get all the patterns in one handy document before it goes away for good.
What you need to know to make the I Love Football pillow
Yarn
Red Heart “Super Saver” 100% acrylic worsted weight (7oz/364yd; 198g/333m)
Color A (CA) – Charcoal #395 – approx. 70yd
Color B (CB) – Real Teal #656 – approx. 70yd
Color C (CC) – White #311 – approx. 110yd
Color D (CD) – Cafe Latte #360 – approx. 125yd
Colors A & B should be your favorite football team’s primary colors. Colors C & D should be the colors of a football.
The sample: Philadelphia Eagles team colors. You’ll want to find the closest match to your team’s colors.
Hook
US size I-9 (5.5mm)
Tools + Materials
- 16” fiberfill pillow form
- Removable stitch markers
- Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
Finished Size: 16″ square
Gauge
- Granny square: Rnds 1-3 = 4”
- C2C: Approx. 5 x 5 blocks = 4”
Skill level: Advanced beginner
Abbreviations – US crochet terminology
- beg – beginning
- ch – chain
- dc – double crochet
- rep – repeat
- rnd(s) – round(s)
- sc – single crochet
- sk – skip
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- RS – right side
- WS – wrong side
- YO – yarn over
Special Stitches
Granny stitch (GS) – 3 dc in the same st or sp
Popcorn (PC) – 4 dc in the same st, remove hook from working loop, insert hook from front to back under both loops of 1st dc worked, slip working loop back on hook and pull through loops of 1st dc to close the popcorn.
Stacked single crochet (STsc) – (This stitch is used at the beginning of a row or round to replace the traditional turning ch-3. It has the appearance of a dc.) – Insert hook in same st as loop, YO, draw up loop, YO, pull through 2 loops (bottom sc made), insert hook in left vertical bar of bottom sc, YO, draw up loop, YO, pull through 2 loops (top sc made).
Construction
The football pillow has 2 panels – a granny square panel in team colors and a C2C (corner to corner) panel that looks like a football. The sample is made with one panel of each type, making the football pillow reversible. However, you can make 2 of the same panel for the look of your choice. The panels are stitched together using a single crochet.
Written Instructions for the I Love Football pillow
Pattern Notes
- A ch-1 at the beg of a rnd does not count as a st.
- A ch-3 may be substituted for the STsc at any time without adversely affecting the construction of the square.
- The panels should be 15.5-16” across to fit snugly around the pillow form. The panels will stretch slightly when stitched together. Check gauge before beginning to ensure the proper size.
Pattern Instructions
Granny Square panel – Show your team colors!
Note: At the color changes, the working color is dropped and the new color is picked up at the beg of the next rnd.
With CA, ch 4, join with slip st to form ring. (Or, you may use a magic ring if you prefer.)
Rnd 1: STsc, 2 dc in ring, ch 3, [3 dc in ring, ch 3] 3 times, join with slip st to beg st. (4 3-dc groups, 4 ch-3 sp)
Rnd 2: Slip st in each st across to and into corner sp, (STsc, 2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in corner, ch 1, [(3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in next corner, ch 1] 3 times, join with slip st to beg st. (8 3-dc groups, 4 ch-3 sp, 4 ch-1 sp)
Rnd 3: With CB, STsc, dc in next 2 sts, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner, [dc in each st and ch-1 sp across to next corner sp, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner] 3 times, dc in next 3 sts and in ch-1 sp, join with slip st to beg st. (44 dc, 4 ch-2 sp)
Rnd 4: STsc, dc in next 2 sts, PC in next st, dc in next st, {(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next corner, dc in next st, PC in next st, [dc in next 3 sts, PC in next st] twice, dc in next st{ 3 times, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next corner, dc in next st, PC in next st, dc in next 3 sts, PC in next st, join with slip st to beg st. (48 dc, 4 ch-2 sp, 12 pc)
Rnd 5: STsc, dc in next st and in each st across to next corner sp, [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner, dc in each st across to next corner sp] 3 times, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner, dc across to beg st, join with slip st to beg st. (76 dc, 4 ch-2 sp)
Rnd 6: With CC, slip st in the next st, (STsc, 2 dc) in same st, ch 1, sk 3 sts, GS in next st, ch 1, sk 3 sts, {(3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in corner, [ch 1, sk 3 sts, GS in next st] across to next corner sp, ch 1, sk 3 sts} 3 times, (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in corner, [ch 1, sk 3 sts, GS in next st] twice, ch 1, sk 3 sts, join with slip st to beg st. (16 GS, 24 dc, 4 ch-3 sp, 20 ch-1 sp)
Rnd 7: Slip st in each st across to and into next ch-1 sp, (STsc, 2 dc) in sp, ch 1, GS in next sp, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in corner, {ch 1, [GS in next sp, ch 1] across to next corner sp, (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in corner} 3 times, ch 1, [GS in the next sp, ch 1] 3 times, join with slip st to beg st. (20 GS, 24 dc, 4 ch-3 sp, 24 ch-1 sp)
Rnd 8: With CA, STsc, dc in each st and ch-1 sp across to next corner sp, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner, [dc in each st and ch-1 sp across to next corner sp, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner] 3 times, dc in each st and ch-1 sp across to beg st, join with slip st to beg st. (124 dc, 4 ch-2 sp)
Rnd 9: STsc, dc in next 2 sts, [PC in the next st, dc in the next 3 sts] twice, PC in the next st, dc in the next st, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner, {dc in the next st, [PC in the next st, dc in the next 3 sts] 7 times, PC in the next st, dc in the next st, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner} 3 times, dc in the next st, [PC in the next st, dc in the next 3 sts] 4 times, PC in the next st, join with slip st to beg st. (108 dc, 4 ch-2 sp, 32 PC)
Rnd 10: Rep Rnd 5. (156 dc, 4 ch-2 sp)
Rnd 11: With CB, slip st in the next st, (STsc, 2 dc) in the same st, ch 1, sk 3 sts, [GS in the next st, ch 1, sk 3 sts] 3 times, (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in the corner, {ch 1, sk 3 sts, [GS in the next st, ch 1, sk 3 sts] 9 times, (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in corner} 3 times, ch 1. sk 3 sts, [GS in the next st, ch 1, sk 3 sts] 5 times, join with slip st to beg st. (36 GS, 24 dc, 4 ch-3 sp, 40 ch-1 sp)
Rnd 12: Slip st each st across to and into next ch-1 sp, (STsc, 2 dc) in the same sp, ch 1, [GS in next sp, ch 1] 3 times, (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in corner, {ch 1, [GS in next sp, ch 1] across to next corner sp, (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in corner} 3 times, ch 1, [GS in the next sp, ch 1] 6 times, join with slip st to beg st. (40 GS, 24 dc, 4 ch-3 sp, 44 ch-1 sp)
Rnd 13 (Edging): With CC, ch 1, sc in same st and in each st and ch-1 sp across to next corner sp, 3 sc in corner, [sc in next st and in each st and ch-1 sp across to next corner sp, 3 sc in corner] 3 times, sc in next st and in each sc and ch-1 sp across to beg st, join with slip st to beg st. (200 sc)
C2C (corner to corner) panel
Notes
- Because the back of the panel won’t be visible, some ends can be carried across the back instead of being cut. This will reduce the number of ends that need to be woven in.
- I recommend making a couple of small bobbins in each color for places that may be too far apart to carry the yarn.
- Even numbered rows are RS and read from right to left in the chart.
- Odd numbered rows are WS and read from left to right in the chart.
- All color changes should be made on the WS of the panel.
Note: Written instructions for the C2C panel are included in the PDF, available in all my shops.
Edging round (RS):
At the end of Row 33 of the C2C portion, the WS will be facing you. Do not turn and do not fasten off. Continue with CD.
Start here: Ch 1, sc in next 3 sts.
Rotate 90 degrees, [3 sc worked through the ch-3, sc in next 3 sts] 8 times, 3 sc worked through the ch-3.
Rotate 90 degrees, [sc in next 3 sts, 3 sc worked through dc on side of block] 8 times, sc in next 3 sts.
Rotate 90 degrees, [3 sc worked through dc on side of block, sc in next 3 sts] 8 times, 3 sc worked through dc on side of block.
Rotate 90 degrees, [sc next 3 sts, 3 sc worked through the ch-3] 8 times, join with slip st to beg st. (51 sc along each edge) Fasten off and weave in all ends.
Assembly
Notes:
- The panels are crocheted together with a sc through both loops of both panels.
- The stitch counts around both panels should be similar to each other. However, connect the panels with a stitch marker at each corner to ensure everything is lined up properly.
→ With wrong sides of the panels held together, attach CC to any corner through both loops of both panels.
→ Ch 1, sc in the same st and in each st around 3 sides, being sure the corners match.
→ When you reach the beginning of the 4th and final side, insert the pillow form and continue to sc across to close the pillow.
→ Join with a slip st to the beg sc. Secure the end and weave it in.
Your fabulous football pillow is ready to use! Go cheer on your favorite team!
