From crochet.about.com - Football Shape Center Granny Square 2nd Version

An Original Design by Sandi Marshall

More of this Feature • Main Page For This Pattern     Related Resources • 1st Football Granny Sq. • More Free Granny Square Patterns • How To Weave In Ends • More How To Pages • Free Patterns Links

Materials:
Worsted weight yarn in colors of your choice
Materials Used In The Example:
Colors and Brand Used In Example: Caron One Pound
Espresso - Color 581 (Color A)
Cream - Color 589 (Color B)
US Size G crochet hook

Finished Size:
7 1/4 inches tall x 7 1/4 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 Shape 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 corner 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 corner 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 corner 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 corner 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. End off Color B. Attach Color A in any corner ch-3.
Rnd 4: With Color A, ch 3 (counts as first dc), (2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in same ch-3 corner sp, *(ch 2, skip 3 dc, 3 dc in next ch-2 sp) three times, ch 2, skip next 3 dc, (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in next ch-3 corner sp **, repeat directions between * and ** twice more, then (ch 2, skip 3 dc, 3 dc in next ch-2 sp) three times, ch 2, sl st in first dc of this rnd. End off Color A. Attach Color B in any corner ch-3.
Rnd 5: With Color B, ch 3 (counts as first dc), (2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in same ch-3 corner sp, *(ch 2, skip 3 dc, 3 dc in next ch-2 sp) four times, ch 2, skip next 3 dc, (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in next ch-3 corner sp **, repeat directions between * and ** twice more, then (ch 2, skip 3 dc, 3 dc in next ch-2 sp) four times, ch 2, sl st in first dc of this rnd. End off Color B.
Rnd 6: 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.
Weave in ends.

Optional Finishing Details: Version 1 shows center laces and a running stitch edge added to the football shape center. There is a closeup photo showing these details on the version 1 pattern page. If you wish to add those, the directions are on this page: http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa011505.htm

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 the URL of the main page for this pattern or to link to the URL for this printing 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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URL of the main page for this pattern is http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa020505.htm
URL of this printing page is http://crochet.about.com/library/n020505.htm