Make a ghost decoration for Halloween with this free quick & easy crochet pattern. You can make a friendly or a scary ghost face too – full instructions below.
This motif is part of my Halloween bunting crochet patterns. You can also crochet pumpkin faces, ghosts and a halloween cat face. If you don’t want to make a garland, you can also use this crochet ghost pattern as hanging decoration for Halloween, or attach it as an embellishment or appliqué to a blanket, costume or other craft project.
Materials & Notes
- White DK yarn. I used Rico creative cotton aran (shade 80) which I found equivalent to DK for this.
- Black yarn or embroidery floss for eyes & mouth
- 3.5mm crochet hook – I use Addi swing hooks
- Embroidery needle
- Optional: light fabric stiffener e.g. Dylon spray starch.
Finished size: 11cm wide by 14 cm tall approx.
Gauge is not important here so you can use any weight yarn. Your ghost will just be a slightly different size. Make sure you change the hook size too. I suggest using a hook a bit smaller than the standard size stated because decorations work better with a dense fabric.
Abbreviations
NB this pattern uses US crochet terms. The equivalent UK crochet stitches are listed after each term.
- R – row
- RS – right side facing
- WS – wrong side facing
- st – stitch(es)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet stitch (UK: double crochet)
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 stitches together to reduce to 1 stitch (UK: double crochet 2 together)
- hdc – half double crochet stitch (UK: half treble crochet)
- dc – double crochet stitch (UK: treble crochet)
How to crochet a ghost
Start at the bottom of the ghost
NB R1-10 turn and ch 1 after each row unless stated otherwise
R1: (RS) ch 8, skip 3 chain, sc in next 5 chains [5 st]
R2: (WS) 2 sc in each of 1st 2 st, sc in next st, sc2tog in next st, skip last st [6 st]
R3: sc2tog, sc in next 2 st, 2 sc in each of the final 2 st [7 st]
R4: 2 sc in each of 1st 2 st, sc in next 3 st, sc2tog in last st [8 st]
R5: sc2tog, sc in next 4 st, 2 sc in each of the final 2 st [9 st]
R6-10: sc in each st (i.e. 5 rows even) [9 st]
Increase for ghost arms
R11: sc in all 9 st, ch 4, turn
R12: skip 1st ch, sc in 3 ch, sc in 9 st, ch 4, turn [12 st]
R13: skip 1st ch, sc in 3 ch, sc in 11 st, 2sc in last st, turn [16 st]
R14: ch 1, 2 sc in 1st st, sc in 14 st, 2 sc in last st, turn [18 st]
R15: ch 1, 2 sc in 1st st, sc in rest, turn [19 st]
R16: sc in 1st st & ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), dc in next 2 st, hdc in next, ss 11 across to last 4 st, hdc in next st, dc in each of last 3 st, turn [19 st]
Make the ghost head
R17: ss in 7 st, ch 1, sc in 5, ss, turn
R18-21: ch 1, sc 6, turn (i.e. 4 rows even) [6 st]
R22: ch 1, sc 1, sc2tog, sc2tog, sc 1 [4 st]
R23: ch 1, sc 1, sc2tog, sc 1 [3 st]
Outline ghost (optional)
To neaten the edges, instead of binding off you can slip stitch around the edge of your ghost.
First, decide which direction you want your ghost’s tail to point. If making a garland, you might like pairs of ghosts for symmetry etc. By default the ghost tail goes to the right. If you want your ghost tail to point left instead, turn your work before you start to slip stitch and slip stitch across the top of head first.
When working vertically, just place a slip stitch wherever feels natural and err on side of too many if unsure. As a guide, I did 6 ss down side of head, about 14 around each arm, 14 along the straight side & 19 along the longer curved side.
Here is a picture showing the ghost shape before (left) and after outlining with slip stitch. It makes a big difference to the end result.
Option 1: friendly face
Using black thread and embroidery needle:
For the left eye, 2-3 rows down from top and 2 stitches in from left, do a french knot. This means you come up through the fabric, wrap the yarn tightly around the needle 2-3 times & go back down very close to the same point in your piece. Here is a very clear video demo of french knots. Tug the yarn ends at back & adjust so eye point flattens & looks good. Repeat approx 3 stitches across for 2nd eye.
To make the smile, bring your needle up 2 crochet rows below left eye and take it down 1-2 rows below this at around the midpoint horizontally. Bring your needle back up under the right eye in line with the left eye & finally take it back down at the middle to complete the smile.
Option 2: scary face
Using black thread and embroidery needle:
For the left eye, 2-3 rows down from top and 1 stitch in from the left, make 4 vertical stitches slightly over 1 single crochet high. Leave a gap of 2-3 crochet stitches and repeat for the right eye.
To make the open mouth, bring your needle up approx 4-5 rows from top at the horizontal centre. Take your needle back down 2 rows of crochet below (in line with the bottom of the head / top of shoulders). Add a few loose vertical stitches about 2 single crochet high each side of the central mouth stitch. These will slightly curve as you make them. Then add horizontal stitches across the top and bottom to complete the round open mouth shape.
Finishing (optional)
You can make your ghost fully flat & more rigid if you prefer by spraying it with stiffening spray, e.g Dylon spray starch, & leaving it to dry. I just left mine as is to give my ghost a more realistic, floaty look. 👻
I hope you enjoy making some friendly or scary ghosts. If you have any questions or feedback, just comment below. Be sure to check out my other free crochet Halloween decoration patterns too.
This free pattern is for personal, non-commercial use only. It may not be copied, sold, translated or distributed in any way, nor any finished items made using it sold, without permission.
