A crochet ghost is one of the friendliest Halloween projects because the silhouette is forgiving. You are not chasing perfect spheres or tiny ears. You need a soft bell shape, a hem that looks a little ragged on purpose, and a face that reads from across the room.

If magic rings still feel shaky, skim crochet in the round first. This page assumes you can work continuous rounds of single crochet.

What you need

White (or cream) worsted-weight yarn — yarn weight chart
Small amount of black yarn or embroidery floss for the face
Hook that matches the yarn (hook size chart)
Stuffing
Yarn needle and stitch marker

US abbreviations: see the abbreviations chart.

The silhouette

Start at the top of the head and work downward. Increase until the head is wide enough, work even for the body, then flare a little at the hem so the ghost looks like it is floating instead of standing in a tube.

You can leave the bottom open and lightly stuffed so the ghost sits over a bottle or candle base (unlit, for decoration), or close it for a soft toy. Both use the same upper construction.

Head and body

Rnd 1. Magic ring, 6 sc. (6)

Rnd 2. 2 sc in each st. (12)

Rnd 3. *Sc, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (18)

Rnd 4. *Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (24)

Rnd 5. *Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (30)

Work even on 30 stitches until the piece is tall enough that the head-and-body reads as one continuous ghost — usually in the ballpark of the diameter of the widest round, or a bit taller if you want a lankier ghost.

Mark the face height early. The eyes sit roughly one-third of the way down from the top, not at the equator. A scrap of contrasting yarn tied through a stitch as a temporary marker saves you from embroidering too low after stuffing.

Hem: the wavy edge

For a closed toy, decrease back down the way you would for any amigurumi, stuff as you go, and finish. For the classic open ghost:

Flare round. *Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around (or similar — add six increases once).

Next round. Sc around.

Edging option A — scallops. Sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc in next 5 sts; skip nothing, or skip 1 st between scallops if the edge ruffles too hard. Adjust by eye. The goal is a soft wave, not a perfect doily.

Edging option B — simple picots. *Sc in next 3 sts, ch 2, sl st in second ch from hook; repeat from * around.

Fasten off and weave ends. Stuff the upper two-thirds firmly and leave the hem freer so it drapes.

Face

With black yarn or floss, embroider two small oval or round eyes using satin stitch or French knots. A tiny curved mouth is optional; many ghosts look better with eyes only.

Do the embroidery before the piece is fully closed if you are making a sealed toy — it is easier to hide knots inside. On an open ghost, weave ends into the stuffing cavity.

Avoid glued-on plastic eyes for anything a child might chew. Embroidery is safer and washes better.

Standing vs flopping

A tall thin ghost with soft stuffing tips over. Three fixes:

Stuff the base of the head and upper body denser than the hem.
Drop a small sealed pouch of rice or poly pellets into the bottom before finishing (only for shelf décor, not for babies).
Widen the increase section so the ghost has a broader footprint.

Mistakes worth avoiding

Eyes too low. Once the hem flares, low eyes make the ghost look surprised for the wrong reasons. Place them high.

Hem increases every round. One flare round is usually enough. Stacking increases builds a trumpet that will not sit.

Black yarn thicker than the body yarn for the face. Bulky eyes dominate. Use floss or a thinner scrap.

Skipping the marker on a spiral. Ghosts are plain fabric; losing the round start shows as a diagonal wobble in the height.

Frequently asked

Can I work this in joined rounds instead of a spiral?

Yes. Join and chain 1 at the end of each round if you prefer a clear seam. For a white ghost the seam barely shows; for a spiral, use a marker religiously.

What yarn color besides white?

Gray, pale blue, or glow-in-the-dark acrylic all work. High-contrast embroidery still matters so the face does not disappear.

How do I hang it?

Thread a yarn loop through the top before closing, or sew a loop to the magic-ring center. Reinforce with a second pass of the needle so the hanging weight does not stretch a single stitch.

What to make next

A pumpkin teaches stuffing and shaping under tension. A spider adds legs. If you want flat colorwork instead of toys, go to Halloween granny squares.

Crochet Ghost Amigurumi for Beginners