From crochet.about.com - Football Center Granny Type Afghan Square

An Original Design by Sandi Marshall

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Materials Used In The Example:
Worsted weight yarn in colors of your choice
Colors Used In Example: Dark Brown for football (Color A)
Red Heart Super Saver Multicolor #0413 Farmland (used for color B in example)
US Size G crochet hook

Finished Size:
5 1/2 inches tall x 5 1/2 inches wide

Gauge: 3 dc = 3/4 inch wide (at top of stitches), 3 dc = 3/4 inch tall

Abbreviations:
ch = chain
dc = double crochet
ea = each
rnd = round
sc = single crochet
sp = space
sl st = slip stitch
st = stitch

Football Center Starting Chain: Chain 4.
Rnd 1: Single crochet in front loop only of 2nd chain from hook, sc in front loop of next ch, 3 sc in next ch, then working along opposite side of the ch, sc in one loop only of next ch, 2 sc in end ch, sl st in first sc, to join.
Rnd 2: (Ch 4, skip next sc, sc in back loop only of next sc) 3 times, ch 4, sl st in same st as base of first ch-4 of this round. Keep the round 2 chain loops behind the round 3 stitches as you crochet round 3. (The round 2 loops will be used later to begin the granny square type rounds after you have completed round 5 of the football and are doing Granny Square Rnd 1.)
Rnd 3: (Ignore the round 2 chain loops when crocheting this round. Keep the round 2 loops behind the round 3 stitches.) In front loops only for entire round: ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc, 3 sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc, hdc in next sc, 2 hdc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc, 3 sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc, join with a sl st in first st of this rnd.
Rnd 4: Attach Color B. sc in each sc around, with 3 sc in the end stitch on each of the two ends. End off color B.
Rnd 5: Pick up Color A. sc in each sc around, with 3 sc in the end stitch on each of the two ends. End off Color A.
Granny Square Rnd 1: (Worked in the loops that were made in Rnd 2 of the football). Note: You may need to fold the football part forward while crocheting the first granny square round. Attach Color B in any chain-4 space of round 2 of football. With right side of the football facing you (so that the granny square rounds that you make will have the right side facing the same way as the right side of the football), ch 3 (counts as first dc), (2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in same ch-4 sp, *ch 2, (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in next ch-4 sp **, repeat directions between * and ** twice more, then ch 2, sl st in first dc of this rnd.
Rnd 2: sl st in ea of next 2 dc, sl st in ch-3 sp, ch 3 (counts as first dc), (2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in same ch-3 sp, *ch 2, skip 3 dc, 3 dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 2, skip next 3 dc, (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in next ch-3 sp **, repeat directions between * and ** twice more, then ch 2, skip 3 dc, 3 dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 2, sl st in first dc of this rnd.
Rnd 3: sl st in ea of next 2 dc, sl st in ch-3 sp, ch 3 (counts as first dc), (2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in same ch-3 sp, *(ch 2, skip 3 dc, 3 dc in next ch-2 sp) twice, ch 2, skip next 3 dc, (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in next ch-3 sp **, repeat directions between * and ** twice more, then (ch 2, skip 3 dc, 3 dc in next ch-2 sp) twice, ch 2, sl st in first dc of this rnd.
Rnd 4: Attach Color A. ch 1, sc in each dc, 1 sc in each ch-2 sp and in each corner ch-3 sp work: (2sc, ch 2, 2 sc). At end of round, sl st in first sc, to join. End off Color A.
Rnd 5:With Color B: ch 1, sc in each sc and in each corner ch-2 sp work: (sc, ch 2, sc). At end of round, sl st in first sc, to join.
Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Finishing Details
Thread a large-eye needle with a strand of light color yarn (such as cream, beige or light tan). Leaving an end to weave in when finished, attach the yarn to the back of the football on the outside round (in such a way that the attaching stitch does not show through to the front).

Pull the strand through to the front (just below the loop that is the very top of the stitch, pulling the yarn through a hole beside the single crochet stitch along round 5 of the football) and sew a running stitch (I used a stitch the width of one single crochet stitch, weaving the yarn needle in and out through the holes near the tops of the single crochet stitches.). When finished, weave in ends on the back of the football.

Football Center Laces: With a long strand of the same light color yarn used for the running stitch, chain 5. Center this in the very middle of the football. Pull the end strands of the chain-5 through to the back (one on each end of the chain-5). Secure these end strands on the back of the football (in such a way that the securing stitches do not show through to the front). Thread one end strand on a large-eye needle and make four straight stitches evenly spaced going vertically across the chain-5 at the middle of the football. If desired, make a tiny stitch around the center of each straight stitch to keep them in place. When finished, on the back of the football, secure the yarn strand and weave in ends.

This is my original design. My written instructions and pattern example images copyright 2005 by Sandi Marshall, licensed to About.com, Inc. Free for your own personal use only. You are welcome to link to this page but, per copyright law, do not place the actual content of the page on another website; do not redistribute the actual content of the page in any form (even for free)! Thank you! Any reproduction or redistributing of the pattern instructions or pattern images on this page involves the written permission of both myself and About.com and involves the drawing up of legal paperwork detailing the specific permission to be granted, any fees for the requested use in reproducing or redistributing the pattern and signing of said legal paperwork by the parties involved. In light of the fact that having the exact same content on multiple websites can damage the original web site's standing with search engines, permission to reproduce on individual websites will not be granted. Permission for companies or publishers for print publication will be considered.
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