Mini Crochet Ghost
This little ghost is worked from the top of the head down in single crochet rounds, with a flat base so it stands on its own. The wavy hem is added last, into loops you leave free along the way.
- Skill level
- Easy
- Finished size
- About 3 in (7.5 cm) tall and 2 in (5 cm) wide
- Yarn weight
- Medium / Worsted
- Hook
- 3.5 mm (US E-4)
- Time
- About 1½ hours
- Terminology
- US terms
Gauge: Gauge is not critical. Aim for tight stitches with no gaps — if stuffing shows through the fabric, switch to a smaller hook.
On this page
About this pattern
The body grows from a magic ring into a rounded head, then works straight down. A round worked in back loops only partway down leaves a ring of free front loops on the outside, and a second back-loop round near the bottom turns the fabric inward to make a flat base. At the end you come back to the free loops and work a round of short and tall stitches that fans out into six soft waves, clear of the base.
Two tiny arms are sewn on at the sides, and the face is as simple as two eyes, a little round mouth and pink cheeks. Make one for a shelf or party table, add a hanging loop for a Halloween tree, or string several into a garland.
If you are making the ghost for a baby or young child, embroider the eyes with yarn instead of using safety eyes, and sew the arms on very securely.
Why you'll love it
- Stands up on its own thanks to a flat base
- A gentle introduction to front and back loop crochet
- Uses about 25 yd of yarn and finishes in an evening
- Cute rather than scary, so it suits kids’ rooms and party tables
Materials
Worsted-weight yarn in white or cream
Estimated
About 25 yd (23 m)
Black yarn or embroidery thread
For the mouth, and the eyes if you skip safety eyes
About 1 yd (1 m)
Pink yarn
For the cheeks (optional)
A few inches
3.5 mm (US E-4) crochet hook
A hook smaller than the yarn label suggests keeps amigurumi stitches tight
6 mm safety eyes
Or embroider the eyes with black yarn for children under 3
2
Polyester fiberfill
A small handful
Stitch marker, tapestry needle and scissors
Abbreviations
- ch
- chain
- sc
- single crochetUK: dc
- hdc
- half double crochetUK: htr
- dc
- double crochetUK: tr
- inc
- increase — work 2 stitches in the same stitch
- dec
- decrease — work 2 stitches together
- BLO
- back loop only
- FLO
- front loop only
- sl st
- slip stitchUK: ss
- st(s)
- stitch(es)
- rnd(s)
- round(s)
- [ ]
- repeat the instructions inside the brackets the number of times stated
- ( )
- stitch count at the end of a round or row, or a group worked into one stitch
This pattern uses US terms. Convert US ↔ UK terms
Stitches used
Notes before you start
- The body and arms are worked in continuous spiral rounds. Do not join at the end of each round — place a stitch marker in the first stitch and move it up as you go.
- BLO means back loop only and FLO means front loop only. Rnd 12 is worked in back loops, which leaves the front loops of Rnd 11 free for the hem. Rnd 16 is also worked in back loops to make the edge of the flat base.
- Here, inc means 2 sc in the same stitch and dec means sc 2 stitches together.
- The number shown after each round is the stitch count you should have at the end of that round.
- Written in US crochet terms. In UK terms, sc is double crochet, hdc is half treble and dc is treble.
Free pattern
The pattern
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Tick rows and rounds as you finish them — your progress is saved on this device.
Body
Start at the top of the head with white.
Note: Insert the safety eyes between Rnds 7 and 8, about 4 stitches apart. For a child under 3, skip the safety eyes and embroider the eyes with black yarn after stuffing instead.
Note: Stuff the head firmly now, adding fiberfill in small pieces. Use a little less stuffing toward the bottom so the base stays flat.
Wavy hem
Hold the ghost upside down, so the free front loops of Rnd 11 face you.
Arms (make 2)
Assembly
Tip: Pin the arms in place first and check the ghost from the front and sides before sewing.
Finishing
Tips
- Stuff the head more firmly than the bottom and press the base flat, so the ghost stands steadily.
- Bright white shows every stitch; cream or very pale grey yarn gives a softer, vintage look.
- If you can see stuffing between the stitches, work more tightly or change to a 3 mm hook.
- For children under 3, embroidered eyes are safer than safety eyes. Sew the arms on very securely too.
Variations
- Hanging ornament
- Sew a 6 in (15 cm) loop of yarn securely to the top of the head before weaving in the ends.
- Ghost garland
- Make several ghosts with hanging loops and thread them onto a length of twine.
- Pumpkin pals
- Pair the ghost with the [easy crochet pumpkin](/patterns/easy-crochet-pumpkin) for a Halloween shelf display.
Common questions
Why are there two ridges on my ghost?
Both come from rounds worked in back loops only. The ridge from Rnd 12 leaves free front loops for the wavy hem, and the ridge from Rnd 16 turns the fabric inward to form the flat base.
Can I skip the wavy hem?
Yes. The ghost still stands on its flat base and looks neat with just the ridge. The hem simply adds a floaty, ghostly edge.
Is this ghost safe for babies?
Safety eyes can become a choking hazard. For children under 3, embroider the eyes with yarn and sew the arms on securely. Always supervise young children with handmade toys.
What do BLO and FLO mean in crochet?
BLO means back loop only and FLO means front loop only. Instead of inserting your hook under both loops at the top of a stitch, you work into just one of them.
Written by
Founder & editor
Akram Afkir runs All About Crochet from Casablanca, Morocco, and is responsible for the patterns, tutorials and guides published on the site.
- Pattern testing
- Not yet tested
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