How to Crochet a Ghost: Easy No-Sew Amigurumi Pattern for Beginners
A squishy little ghost is the perfect first Halloween amigurumi — one piece, no seaming, no safety eyes, and finished in about ninety minutes. Here is the full written pattern plus every technique you need to get a smooth, wobble-free result.
The classic MCW ghost: worked in one continuous piece, with a gently rippled bottom edge that makes it stand on its own.
Every October my message inbox fills with the same request: "I want to make something for Halloween, but I am still a beginner — what should I start with?" My answer has been the same for four years running. Make a ghost.
A crochet ghost is the rare project that looks charming while being genuinely forgiving. It is a tube with a rounded top. There are no arms to attach, no ears to place symmetrically, no muzzle to sew on straight. If your tension wobbles slightly in round nine, nobody will ever know — ghosts are supposed to be a little uneven. That combination of low risk and high reward is exactly what a newer crocheter needs.
This is also a genuinely no-sew project. The entire body is worked in one continuous spiral from the top of the head down to the bottom ruffle. The only yarn needle work is embroidering the face and weaving in two ends. If you have been avoiding amigurumi because assembly intimidates you, this pattern removes that barrier completely.
Below you will find the complete written pattern in US crochet terms, the three techniques that decide whether your ghost looks polished or lumpy, a troubleshooting section built from the mistakes I see most often, and twelve answers to the questions people actually ask me about this project.
What Makes a Good Crochet Ghost
Before the pattern, it helps to know what you are aiming for. A well-made amigurumi ghost has four characteristics:
- A dense, gap-free fabric. You should not be able to see stuffing through the stitches. This is entirely a hook-size decision, not a skill decision.
- A smoothly rounded top. No visible corners, no pointed crown. This comes from spacing your increases correctly.
- A flat, stable base. The ghost should sit without tipping. The bottom ruffle does most of this work.
- A face with personality. Two embroidered eyes placed at the right height transform a white tube into a character.
Everything in this tutorial is built around those four outcomes.
Materials: Why the Hook Size Matters More Than the Yarn
You need very little for this project, but one choice matters more than all the others combined.
Yarn: Worsted weight (category 4) cotton or a cotton–acrylic blend in white or off-white. Cotton is my recommendation because it holds stitch definition crisply and does not fuzz, which keeps the embroidered face looking sharp. About 45–60 yards makes one ghost roughly 5 inches tall.
Hook: 3.5 mm (US E/4). This is the critical decision. Worsted yarn normally calls for a 5.0 mm hook, but amigurumi is deliberately worked tight — usually one to two sizes below the label recommendation. A 5.0 mm hook on worsted yarn produces visible holes, and stuffing will show through as grey shadows.
Also needed: polyester fiberfill, a blunt tapestry needle, a stitch marker, scissors, and a small amount of black yarn or embroidery floss for the face.
The hook rule that fixes most beginner amigurumi: if you can see stuffing through your finished fabric, the problem is almost never your tension — it is your hook. Drop down half a millimetre and work the first four rounds again. The difference is immediate and dramatic. If you are unsure which sizes map to which yarn weights, our complete guide to crochet hook sizes lays out the full conversion chart.
Abbreviations Used in This Pattern (US Terms)
| Abbreviation | Meaning | What you actually do |
|---|---|---|
| MR | Magic ring | Adjustable starting loop that closes to leave no hole |
| sc | Single crochet | The base stitch of nearly all amigurumi |
| inc | Increase | Two single crochets worked into the same stitch |
| dec | Invisible decrease | Front loops only of the next two stitches, worked together |
| dc | Double crochet | Taller stitch — used only for the bottom ruffle |
| st / sts | Stitch / stitches | — |
| ( ) x6 | Repeat | Work everything inside the brackets six times total |
If bracket notation and round counts still feel like a foreign language, spend five minutes with our guide to reading crochet patterns first — it will make the rounds below read like plain English.
The Complete Ghost Pattern
Worked in a continuous spiral. Do not join or chain between rounds. Move your stitch marker up into the first stitch of every new round so you always know where you are.
Head and Body — one piece
- R1: 6 sc in MR — 6 sts
- R2: inc in each st around — 12 sts
- R3: (sc 1, inc) x6 — 18 sts
- R4: (sc 2, inc) x6 — 24 sts
- R5: (sc 3, inc) x6 — 30 sts
- R6: (sc 4, inc) x6 — 36 sts
- R7–R16: sc in each st around (10 rounds) — 36 sts
- R17: (sc 4, dec) x6 — 30 sts
- R18–R19: sc in each st around — 30 sts
Stuff firmly now, before the opening gets smaller. Shape the head into a smooth dome with your fingertips.
- R20: sc in each st around — 30 sts
- R21 (ruffle): (sc 1, 3 dc in next st) x15 — the bottom edge now waves outward
- R22: sl st in each st around. Fasten off and weave in the end.
Do not close the bottom. The opening stays open on purpose — it is what makes the ghost look like it is floating, and the outward-flaring ruffle in R21 gives it a wide, stable footprint so it sits upright on a shelf without toppling.
The Face: Embroidery Beats Safety Eyes Here
You could use 6 mm safety eyes, and they look fine. But for a ghost I almost always embroider instead, for three reasons: embroidered eyes are completely baby-safe, they can be repositioned if the placement looks wrong, and the soft matte black reads far better against white than glossy plastic does.
Placement is the whole game. Position the eyes across rounds 9 and 10, roughly six to seven stitches apart. That places them at about 40% of the body height, not centred. Eyes set too high make the ghost look startled; eyes set too low make it look sad. Pin them with sewing pins and look at the ghost from arm's length before committing a single stitch.
To stitch an eye: thread black yarn, enter through the open bottom so the knot hides inside, and work three or four short vertical satin stitches side by side over one stitch to build a small oval. Exit through the bottom again, pull gently, and trim.
Add a tiny curved mouth two rounds below the eyes, or leave it off entirely — a ghost with only eyes has a wonderfully deadpan charm. For a deeper walkthrough of every stitch style, see our guide to embroidering amigurumi faces.
Five Variations From One Pattern
Once the base pattern works, it becomes a template. These are the five variations I make most often, and every one uses the rounds above without modification:
- Mini ghost (2.5"): stop increasing at R4 (24 sts), work 6 straight rounds, then the ruffle. Perfect as a keychain or garland piece.
- Tall ghost (7"): work R7–R16 for 18 rounds instead of 10.
- Pastel ghosts: sage green, dusty lilac and pale peach turn a Halloween project into year-round nursery decor.
- Glow ghost: hold a strand of glow-in-the-dark thread alongside your yarn throughout.
- Weighted shelf-sitter: add a spoonful of poly pellets in a small fabric pouch at the base before the ruffle.
A batch of five in graduated sizes makes a genuinely lovely mantel display, and they work up fast enough that a full set is a single evening's work.
Three Problems and How to Fix Them
1. There is a hole at the top of the head
This is the magic ring not being pulled fully closed, and it is the single most common ghost complaint. Before working round 2, pull the short tail firmly until the centre disappears entirely. If your ring keeps loosening as you work, our magic ring tutorial covers the two-loop method that locks it permanently. As an emergency fix, a few stitches with a tapestry needle from the inside will close a small gap invisibly.
2. The head has visible corners instead of being round
Corners appear when every increase stacks directly above the increase from the previous round, creating six ridge lines and a hexagonal shape. The fix is to stagger them: on alternating rounds, work one or two extra single crochets before starting the increase sequence. This distributes the shaping and produces a genuinely spherical dome. The same principle is explained in full in our perfect sphere formula.
3. The ghost tips over
Almost always under-stuffing in the lower body. The head gets packed firmly, the bottom third gets forgotten, and the ghost becomes top-heavy. Stuff so the body holds its shape when squeezed but still gives slightly. If it still tips, add weight at the base — a small pouch of poly pellets or a few clean coins in fabric solves it instantly.
Ready-Made Patterns to Take This Further
Free PDF Pattern
Friendly Ghost Halloween Amigurumi
The printable version of this exact ghost, with step-by-step photos, the full round chart and a printer-friendly layout. Completely free.
Download the free pattern →
Pattern Book · 18 Designs
Creepy Cute Amigurumi — 13 Halloween Patterns
Ghosts, pumpkins, bats, black cats and more, plus 5 bonus designs. Every pattern beginner-tested in US terms with full stitch counts.
See the collection →
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to crochet a ghost?
An advanced beginner typically finishes the 5-inch ghost in 60 to 90 minutes including stuffing and the face. Your first one may take closer to two hours while you settle into the round counts. The mini version takes about 25 minutes, which is why they work so well for market batches and garlands.
Can I make this if I have never crocheted amigurumi before?
Yes, provided you can already work a single crochet and a magic ring. Those are the only two prerequisites. There is no colour changing, no seaming, no assembly and no shaping beyond simple increases and decreases. It is one of the few genuinely beginner-appropriate amigurumi projects that still looks finished and professional.
What yarn is best for a crochet ghost?
Worsted weight cotton is ideal. It has crisp stitch definition, does not shed, holds its shape when stuffed, and gives embroidered faces a clean edge. Acrylic works and is softer, but it fuzzes over time and can blur fine facial embroidery. Avoid anything fluffy or textured — the stitch texture is the entire visual appeal of a ghost. Our amigurumi yarn guide compares the main brands directly.
Do I need safety eyes, or is embroidery better?
Both work. Embroidery is better for ghosts given to babies or toddlers, because there is nothing that can detach. It is also fully reversible during construction — if the placement looks wrong, you unpick and try again. Safety eyes are faster and give a glossier, more commercial look, but they must be inserted before the body is closed and stuffed. If you go that route, 6 mm is the correct size for a 5-inch ghost.
Why does my ghost look lumpy instead of smooth?
Lumpiness has two usual causes. Either the fiberfill was inserted in a few large clumps rather than many small pinches, or your hook is too large and the loose fabric is showing every irregularity underneath. Add stuffing in small pieces, pressing each into the corners with the blunt end of a hook, and drop half a hook size if the fabric feels loose.
How do I make the ghost stand up without falling over?
The bottom ruffle in round 21 flares outward and creates a wide base, which handles most of it. If yours still tips, the lower body is under-stuffed and the ghost is top-heavy. Firm up the bottom third first. For a permanent fix, add a small fabric pouch of poly pellets at the base before working the ruffle.
Can I sell what I make from this pattern?
Yes. You may sell finished physical ghosts made from this tutorial, at markets or online. A credit linking back to Mrs Crochet World is appreciated but not required. What you may not do is copy, redistribute, translate or resell the written pattern itself in any form.
What is an invisible decrease and do I really need it?
A standard decrease works through both loops of two stitches and leaves a small visible bump. An invisible decrease goes through the front loops only of the next two stitches, then yarn over and pull through all loops. It lies almost completely flat. On a white ghost every bump shows, so yes — it makes a real difference in round 17.
How much yarn does one ghost use?
Approximately 45 to 60 yards of worsted cotton for the 5-inch version, plus a few yards of black for the face. A standard 120-yard cotton skein comfortably makes two full-size ghosts, or roughly six minis. It is an excellent stash-busting project.
Is this pattern in US or UK crochet terms?
US terms throughout. The important conversion: a US single crochet (sc) is a UK double crochet (dc), and a US double crochet (dc) is a UK treble (tr). If you learned from UK sources, translate before starting or the ruffle in round 21 will come out at the wrong height. Our US/UK terminology glossary has the full table.
Can I wash a finished crochet ghost?
Yes, but hand wash only. Use cool water and a small amount of mild detergent, squeeze gently without wringing, press out excess water in a towel, then reshape while damp and air dry fully. Machine washing compresses fiberfill unevenly and can leave permanent lumps that never fully recover.
What size hook should I actually use?
3.5 mm (US E/4) with worsted weight yarn. This is deliberately one to two sizes smaller than the yarn label suggests, because amigurumi needs a dense fabric that stuffing cannot escape through. If you crochet tightly by nature, 3.75 mm will be more comfortable and still produce a closed fabric.
Want the Printable Version?
Get this ghost as a formatted PDF with step-by-step photos, plus our full library of beginner-tested no-sew amigurumi patterns — all in clear US terms with complete stitch counts.
Browse the No-Sew Bundle →A Final Thought
The reason I keep recommending this project is not that ghosts are trendy every October. It is that this pattern teaches four skills that carry into everything else you will ever make in amigurumi: a properly closed magic ring, evenly spaced increases, invisible decreases, and confident face placement. Master those on a forgiving white tube, and the sphere-based animals that once looked impossible become a straightforward next step.
Make one. Then make four more in different sizes, because you will want to. If you post yours, tag @mrscrochetworld — the ghost photos are genuinely the best part of my October.
Amigurumi designer and pattern writer with over a decade of experience creating beginner-friendly no-sew crochet patterns. Every MCW pattern is tested by real beginners before publication, written in clear US terms with full stitch counts, and refined based on questions from a community of more than 100,000 makers.
