There is something about a little handmade ghost that makes Halloween feel friendly instead of frightening. A soft crochet ghost perched on a bookshelf, a row of them dancing along the mantel, a tiny one guarding your coffee cup — these are the decorations that make guests smile. And because each one takes so little yarn, a ghost is the perfect evening project: quick, cheerful, and almost impossible to stop at just one.
So I have gathered twenty of my favourite ghost designs for you, and every single one is a real written pattern that is genuinely free. There are huggable amigurumi ghosts with witch hats, two garlands, glowing flat motifs, appliqués for blankets and bags, and a whole cluster of coasters, including one that pops up to say boo. Wherever a designer also offers an optional paid PDF or a free download, I have said so honestly under that idea — no surprises, just pick your ghost and grab your hook.
1. Gilbert the Ghost: A No-Sew Amigurumi with a Dapper Witch Hat
If you make only one amigurumi ghost this year, make it Gilbert. Nicole Chase designed him to be worked in one seamless piece from the bottom up, with the little arms crocheted directly into the body as you go, so the only sewing in the whole project is tacking on his witch hat if you want it. He has a sweet curled tail, an embroidered smile, and a tall purple hat with a contrasting band. Worked in worsted weight yarn he stands about five and a half inches tall, but the pattern also gives full instructions for a plush chenille version that comes out a cuddly nine and a half inches. Nicole rates him advanced beginner and includes step-by-step photos throughout. The complete written pattern is free on her blog; an ad-free printable PDF is also available to buy if you prefer paper on your lap.
Pattern: Gilbert the Ghost by Nicole Chase — Get the free pattern
2. Rim the Ghost: A Sweet Amigurumi in a Pumpkin Shawl
Rim, from Yarnhild, is the ghost for crocheters who love the finishing touches. Her head and body are crocheted separately and sewn together, and then the real fun begins: a lacy little shawl worked in rows of chain spaces, edged with puff-stitch pumpkins, plus a proper witch hat with a green band and a wide brim. Her face is embroidered, so you can give her eyelashes, eyebrows, or a shy little smile — this is where her personality really appears. The designer suggests cotton yarn, which keeps every stitch crisp and defined. It is a slightly more involved make than a one-piece ghost, but the result looks like a character from a storybook. The full written pattern, including the shawl and hat, is free on the Yarnhild blog.
Pattern: Rim the Ghost by Yarnhild — Get the free pattern
3. Friendly Ghost: An 8½-Inch Sweetheart with a Trick-or-Treat Bucket
This friendly ghost from This Southern Girl Can was inspired by a certain cartoon ghost we all grew up with, and at eight and a half inches tall she is a proper shelf decoration rather than a miniature. She stands flat and steady thanks to a simple cardboard disc hidden in her base, and her hem finishes in a pretty ruffle. The pattern then dresses her up beautifully: there are little arms, a curly crocheted ponytail, a bow, a tiny trick-or-treat bucket with a jack-o'-lantern face option, and even a witch hat if your ghost prefers that look. Everything is worked in Red Heart Super Saver with a 4.5 mm hook, so she is a genuine stash project. The designer clearly had children in mind — she would make a wonderful handmade Halloween gift. The complete written pattern is free on her site.
Pattern: Friendly Ghost by This Southern Girl Can — Get the free pattern
4. No-Sew Ghost: A Squishy Plush in Blanket Yarn
For pure squish, this no-sew ghost from CocoKnittedCreations is worked in Bernat Baby Blanket yarn with a 5 mm hook, so it grows fast and comes out soft enough to hug. The clever part is the arms: they are bubble stitches worked right into round eight of the body, which means there is genuinely nothing to sew on at the end. A front-loop-only round near the base creates the floaty scalloped hem, and then the bottom is simply decreased closed after stuffing. It is honestly beginner friendly — single crochet, increases, decreases, and that one fun bubble stitch. As a bonus, the same page includes a second mini pattern for a ghost stress ball in velvet yarn, made to fit around a small squeeze ball. Both written patterns are free on her blog.
Pattern: No-Sew Crochet Ghost by CocoKnittedCreations — Get the free pattern
5. Tiny Ghost: A Two-Inch Mini for Keychains and Car Charms
Nicole Chase's Tiny Ghost proves that good things really do come in small packages — in worsted weight yarn she finishes at just two inches tall. She is worked from the top down with a ruffled front-loop bottom edge and the sweetest embroidered pink cheeks, and she comes together in under an hour. The designer originally created her as part of a hanging car charm, and the pattern page shows her as a keychain, a garland, and a plush version in chenille yarn too, so one pattern gives you a whole family of sizes. Because she uses only scraps, she is perfect for using up the last of a ball of white. The written pattern is free on the blog with step-by-step photos; an optional paid PDF bundles the ghost together with mini pumpkin and candy corn patterns.
Pattern: Tiny Ghost by Nicole Chase — Get the free pattern
6. Mini Ghost: A 2½-Inch Beginner Favourite
Heather Corinne's Mini Ghost is a lovely first amigurumi project: the body, arms, and bottom are crocheted separately in simple single crochet, stuffed, and stitched together, so new crocheters can see exactly how a stuffed toy is constructed. At about two and a half inches tall and wide, in worsted weight yarn with 12 mm safety eyes, she is just the right size for a desk companion or a trick-or-treat photo prop. Use a bigger hook and chunkier yarn and she scales up easily. One honest note on terms: Heather marks the pattern itself as personal use only, although she welcomes makers selling finished ghosts as long as the design is credited to her with a link back. An optional ad-free printable PDF is also available to buy. The full written pattern is free on her blog.
Pattern: Crochet Mini Ghost by Heather Corinne — Get the free pattern
7. Easy No-Sew Halloween Ghost: Arms Worked Right In
This easy no-sew ghost from Crochet Craft Gossip is worked from the top of the head downward in one continuous spiral, and the little arms are chained and stitched directly into round ten — nothing to pin, position, or sew afterwards. The wavy hem is the making of it: fifteen gentle waves are worked into the leftover front loops of an earlier round, turning what the designer cheerfully calls a "white crochet potato" into an unmistakable ghost. In worsted weight yarn it finishes around four and a half to five inches tall, and the page also includes an optional mini witch hat pattern, plus ideas for minis in thinner yarn and a giant squishy version in chenille. She even suggests glow-in-the-dark yarn, which would look wonderful on a dark porch. The complete written pattern is free on the page.
Pattern: Easy No-Sew Halloween Ghost by Crochet Craft Gossip — Get the free pattern
8. No-Sew Ghost: A Fine-Yarn Friend with a Glow-in-the-Dark Option
Pocket Yarnlings designed this little ghost in Scheepjes Catona, a fingering weight cotton, with a small 2.5 to 3 mm hook — so she comes out daintier and more detailed than the chunky plush ghosts in this list. She is worked in one piece with no sewing, and her arms are formed from six-double-crochet cluster stitches that puff out from the body in a single round, then get closed neatly on the next. A ruffled hem round gives her that floating look, and her eyes are embroidered French knots with a tiny sewn smile. The designer specifically suggests making a second version in glow-in-the-dark yarn for a soft spooky glow after lights-out. If you enjoy small-hook amigurumi, this is a satisfying one-evening make. The full written pattern is free on the Pocket Yarnlings blog.
Pattern: No-Sew Ghost by Pocket Yarnlings — Get the free pattern
9. Pretty Little Ghost: A Flat-Worked Shelf Sitter with a Bow
Winding Road Crochet's Pretty Little Ghost is built differently from most amigurumi: she is worked back and forth in turned rows that gradually shape her round head, flowing body, and scalloped skirt, which gives her a lovely smooth silhouette. Cleverly, one row leaves two little chain spaces exactly where the safety eyes belong, so placement is foolproof. She finishes at seven inches tall, wears a tiny crocheted bow, and the designer adds a Halloween button at the skirt for an extra touch of charm. Lindsey estimates about one to two hours from start to finish, and I believe her — this is a very relaxing make. She sits beautifully on a shelf among pumpkins and candles. The complete written pattern is free on her blog.
Pattern: Pretty Little Ghost by Winding Road Crochet — Get the free pattern
10. Ghost Garland: Flat Ghosts in Five Little Costumes
The Caffeinated Snail's ghost garland is the most playful idea in this whole list: one simple flat ghost, worked in rows in cotton yarn at about four by five inches, dressed up five different ways. There is a witch-hat ghost, a ghost holding a pumpkin, a green Frankenstein ghost with embroidered stitches, a pirate ghost with a bandana and eyepatch, and a vampire ghost with little bat wings and fangs. String the whole cast along a chain and you have a mantel decoration with real personality. Because the ghosts are flat, they also work as chunky coasters or as appliqués sewn onto a Halloween blanket. Faces are simply embroidered, so every ghost can have a different expression. The full written pattern, including all five costume variations, is free on her blog.
Pattern: Crochet Ghost Garland by The Caffeinated Snail — Get the free pattern
11. Ghost Garland: Chunky Ghosts with Googly Eyes
Wool and the Gang's ghost garland, from their Wool School blog, is the beginner-friendliest garland here: each ghost is worked top-down in a continuous spiral with a big 10 mm hook and chunky yarn, growing quickly round by round until a scalloped bottom edge finishes the floaty shape. Instead of safety eyes, you crochet separate googly eyes with white whip-stitched rings, which gives every ghost a slightly wonky, ghoulish charm. The pattern walks you through a 140 cm hanging chain and exactly how to attach each ghost using its own starting tail. The sample uses their Crazy Sexy Wool, but any super chunky yarn from your stash will do the job. Hang it over a door or fireplace and the whole room feels Halloween-ready. The step-by-step written pattern is free on the Wool School blog.
Pattern: Ghost Garland by Wool and the Gang — Get the free pattern
12. Cute Crochet Ghosts: Flat Motifs That Can Glow in the Dark
Farrah Jane Tate of The Crochet Fix designed these flat ghost motifs with a clever trick: the eyes and open laughing mouth are formed by chain spaces worked right into the rows, so there is no embroidery or sewing on of faces at all. The little arms are created mid-pattern, and a hanging loop at the top means each ghost can go straight onto a garland chain, exactly as the optional garland instructions describe. Her sample project is a mini garland of nine ghosts worked in glow-in-the-dark yarn, which must look magical strung across a dark hallway. Made in chunky yarn, the same motif becomes a sturdy coaster; in DK it is a sweet appliqué. Sizes vary with your yarn, and each ghost takes only five to ten grams. The full written pattern is free on her blog.
Pattern: Cute Crochet Ghosts by The Crochet Fix — Get the free pattern
13. Ghost Granny Square: A Smiling Ghost on a Bold Black Square
If your Halloween plans involve a blanket, start here. Lovable Loops' ghost granny square begins as a white circle that grows into the ghost's round head and body, then black rounds square it off using the circle-to-square method, so the smiling white ghost pops dramatically against the dark background. A scalloped ghost bottom, two little crocheted eyes, and a stitched smile are added at the end, giving the square a gentle 3D look. The finished square measures about seven and a quarter inches in worsted weight yarn, a generous size for blankets, pillows, tote bags, and cardigans. Melissa designed a whole family of Halloween squares — bat, spider, cat, pumpkin and more — so you can mix them into one big seasonal throw. The written pattern is free on her blog; an ad-free PDF bundle of her Halloween squares is also sold in her Etsy shop.
Pattern: Ghost Granny Square by Lovable Loops — Get the free pattern
14. Ghost Applique: A Pocket-Sized Ghost with Two Mini Hats
This ghost appliqué from Lovable Loops is worked flat in half double crochet rows with simple decreases for shaping, then finished with a neat edging and the prettiest scalloped bottom. At about three and a half by four inches, it is the perfect size to sew onto trick-or-treat bags, blankets, pillows, hats, and handmade Halloween cards. The pattern includes the little crocheted eyes and — my favourite detail — two optional miniature hats, a purple witch hat and a candy corn hat, so each ghost can have its own costume. String several together and you have a sweet bunting for a child's bedroom door. It is an advanced beginner project that works up in well under an hour. The complete written pattern, hats included, is free on her blog.
Pattern: Ghost Applique by Lovable Loops — Get the free pattern
15. Ghost Applique: Googly Eyes, Tiny Flowers and a Pocket Hug
Golden Lucy Crafts' ghost appliqué is pure charm. Elena gives you two versions in the one pattern — a ghost with little arms and a simpler one without — each only about three inches tall and worked in worsted weight yarn. Instead of crocheted eyes, she glues on googly eyes, which gives the ghosts a wonderfully silly expression, and she decorates them with Halloween buttons and tiny five-petal flowers crocheted in fine thread. There is even a "ghost hug" variation that adds a small red heart between the ghost's hands, turning it into a pocket hug or emotional support ghost to tuck into a card or a lunchbox. Her matching witch hat pattern is linked from the same page if you want the full costume. The written pattern is free on her blog; a print-friendly ad-free PDF is also sold in her Etsy and Ravelry shops.
Pattern: Ghost Applique by Golden Lucy Crafts — Get the free pattern
16. Ghost Pop-up Coaster: A Coaster with a Surprise Inside
Nicki's Homemade Crafts has come up with the cleverest coaster I have seen: a flat crocheted disc that works as a proper coaster under your drink, but when you lift the cup away, a little ghost head pops up from the middle to say hello. The design is completely no-sew — the ghost's head and arms are shaped by rejoining yarn and working short rows on the disc itself — and it finishes at about four inches across in worsted weight yarn. The face is simply cut from felt or leather and glued on, which keeps the whole project fast. Nicki suggests trying glow-in-the-dark yarn for an extra surprise at movie night. Make a set of four for a Halloween party and watch your guests' faces. The written pattern is free on her blog; an ad-free printable PDF is also available on Ravelry and Etsy.
Pattern: Ghost Pop-up Coaster by Nicki’s Homemade Crafts — Get the free pattern
17. Halloween "Ghoster" Ghost Coaster: A Little Ghost with a Tail
Amy Ramnarine of The Stitchin Mommy coined the word "Ghoster" for her ghost coaster, and it has stuck in my head ever since. The coaster begins as a simple single crochet circle for the ghost's head, then tapers into a wavy pointed tail worked in short rows, with two little chain-loop arms added as you edge around the body. At roughly five inches long and four wide in cotton yarn, it sits nicely under a mug of something warm and spiced. Amy designed it for a Halloween crochet-along, and her terms happily allow selling finished Ghosters at craft fairs and markets, which makes it a good little earner for autumn stalls. Nineteen yards of yarn is all one coaster takes. The written pattern is free on her blog, with an optional paid PDF on Ravelry and Etsy.
Pattern: Halloween “Ghoster” Ghost Coaster by The Stitchin Mommy — Get the free pattern
18. Little Ghost Coaster: A Gentle First Taste of Tapestry Colourwork
If you have been curious about colourwork but nervous to try it, Willow Crochet's little ghost coaster is the friendliest possible introduction. The four-inch square is worked flat in single crochet with a white ghost appearing row by row against a rust-orange background, and the pattern gives you both the full written row-by-row colour changes and a colour chart, so you can follow whichever style suits you. It is made in fingering weight cotton with a tiny 2 mm hook, which keeps it coaster-sized and crisp; switch to thicker yarn and the same chart becomes a blanket square or cushion panel. The designer recommends yarn bobbins to keep your colours tangle-free. Join several squares and you are on your way to a whole spooky blanket. The written pattern and chart are both free on her blog; an ad-free PDF is available to buy.
Pattern: Little Ghost Coaster by Willow Crochet — Get the free pattern
19. Spooky Ghost and Grave Car Coasters: Tiny Toppers for Your Cup Holders
Why should your home have all the fun? Sarah Faith Crafts designed these little coasters to fit standard car cup holders at about two and a half inches across, so your car gets a Halloween makeover too. The set pairs a tiny white ghost with a grey gravestone, each sewn onto a black coaster base, and the grave is finished with a little stitched cross. Only chains and single crochets are used, which makes this a brilliant first project for working in the round and a wonderful scrap-buster — a few grams of grey, black, and white cotton is all you need. They work up so quickly that a set makes a thoughtful little gift for Halloween-loving drivers. The written pattern is free on her blog, with an optional ad-free PDF in her Etsy shop.
Pattern: Spooky Ghost and Grave Car Coasters by Sarah Faith Crafts — Get the free pattern
20. Red Heart Crochet Ghost Coasters: A Classic Free Download from Yarnspirations
We finish with a classic: Yarnspirations' Red Heart ghost coasters, cheerful white ghosts worked in Red Heart Super Saver that protect your party table from wet rings while looking adorable. To be transparent about the route: this pattern comes as a free PDF download from the Yarnspirations product page — it costs nothing and needs no sign-up or account, you simply download the file. My favourite tip from the pattern page is to glue small sheet magnets to the backs of the finished ghosts, turning them into fridge decorations once the party is over. Make them in different colours and guests can even use them to tell their drinks apart. It is an easy, satisfying make that has earned its place as a Halloween staple. The free download is waiting on the Yarnspirations page linked below.
Pattern: Red Heart Crochet Ghost Coasters by Yarnspirations — Get the free pattern
Conclusion
And that is twenty friendly ghosts ready to haunt your home in the nicest possible way — huggable amigurumi in witch hats, minis for your keys and car, two garlands, glowing motifs, appliqués, and coasters for the table and the car alike. If you are brand new to ghost-making, start with the chunky Wool and the Gang garland or the squishy no-sew plush; if your hook wants a treat, Rim's pumpkin shawl and the tapestry coaster are waiting. My mantel already has a Gilbert planned for it, and I fully intend to add a glow-in-the-dark garland for the hallway.
Now tell me — which of these twenty ghosts is going on your hook first, and will yours be classic white or glow-in-the-dark? I read every comment, and I cannot wait to see your finished ghosts!
