A softly rounded crochet ghost peeking out from its gathered sheet makes this little amigurumi especially charming, with a squishy body, simple face, and a playful shape that looks handmade from every angle.
The appeal of this crochet ghost comes from the shape rather than a long list of complicated details. Its rounded upper body stays simple, while the lower rounds gradually flare to create the impression of a sheet hanging around the ghost. A pair of safety eyes is enough to give it a finished expression.
There is also one shaping detail worth watching closely: the increases in the lower section are what allow the fabric to spread instead of continuing as a straight tube. The final crochet sewn gathering then pulls selected stitches inward to create the loose sheet effect. Once you understand what those two parts are doing, the construction becomes much easier to follow.
Credit Allison Miller
Materials & Tools
- Yarn: White worsted-weight yarn or a similar yarn suitable for amigurumi
- Crochet Hook: Approximately 3.5–4.0 mm, or the size appropriate for your yarn
- Safety Eyes: 12 mm
- Fiberfill: Soft polyester stuffing
- Yarn Needle: For sewing and finishing
- Scissors
Finished Size & Customization
The finished ghost is approximately palm-sized, although the exact dimensions will vary with yarn weight, hook size, and crochet tension.
You can easily give the character a different personality without changing the basic pattern:
- Add a tiny pumpkin beside it.
- Give it a miniature witch hat or another Halloween accessory.
- Embroider the eyes instead of using safety eyes.
- Change the sheet color for a less traditional version.
- Use a different yarn weight to make a smaller or larger ghost.
Pattern Abbreviations – US Terms
- MR: Magic Ring
- sc / SC: Single Crochet
- inc / INC: Increase — 2 sc in the same stitch
- st: Stitch
- FO: Fasten Off
Work the body in continuous rounds unless otherwise noted.
Step-by-Step Crochet Ghost Pattern
Shape the Main Ghost Body
The ghost begins at the top with a small circle and gradually increases outward. These first few rounds establish the rounded head and upper body.
Round 1: Make an MR, then work 6 sc into the ring. (6)
Round 2: Work an increase in every stitch around. (12)
Round 3: [1 sc, inc] around. (18)
Round 4: [2 sc, inc] around. (24)
Rounds 5–12: Work 1 sc in each stitch around. (24)
Why the First Four Rounds Increase
The stitch count grows from 6 to 24 because the ghost needs to widen gradually rather than becoming a flat circle. After Round 4, the pattern stops increasing for several rounds so the fabric can build the rounded height of the ghost before the sheet begins to flare.
If your stitches are very loose, the stuffing may show through later. For amigurumi, a firm tension that keeps the fabric closed usually gives the cleanest result.
Create the Flared Sheet Shape
The lower section is where the recognizable sheet-covered silhouette begins.
Rounds 13–18: Add 2 increases in each round, alternating their positions as instructed in the tutorial—one round placing the increases toward the front and back, and the next placing them toward the sides.
Because the exact increase positions determine how the sheet flares, follow the tutorial’s placement when working these rounds rather than treating the increases as interchangeable.
What These Increases Are Doing
The extra stitches gradually add width to the lower part of the ghost. Without them, the body would continue looking more cylindrical. Spreading the increases around different areas helps create the softer, uneven sheet shape.
This is also the section where keeping track of your stitch placement matters more than simply reaching the next stitch count. The placement affects how evenly the bottom spreads.
Round 19: Work 1 sc in each stitch around with no increases.
This final even round gives the flared section a little stability before finishing.
Slip stitch into the next 2 stitches to make the finishing point less noticeable, then fasten off.
Weave in the loose end without pulling excessively tight, since a bulky or strongly pulled finish can become visible on the small body.
Add the Safety Eyes
Insert the 12 mm safety eyes between Rounds 4 and 5.
Place them approximately 2–3 stitches apart, adjusting slightly if you prefer a wider or more expressive face.
Check the Face Before Securing
Before permanently locking the safety eyes into place, look at the ghost from the front. Even moving the eyes by one stitch can make the character look noticeably different.
For a softer, cuter expression, keep them relatively close together. A wider spacing gives the ghost a more surprised or playful appearance.
Stuff the Ghost
Add polyester fiberfill to the top half of the ghost.
Keep the stuffing soft rather than packing the entire body firmly. The upper portion should remain rounded and squishy, while the lower sheet section needs enough flexibility for the gathering technique.
Why the Lower Part Stays Light
The sheet effect is created by sewing and gently gathering stitches around the body. If the lower section is packed tightly with stuffing, it can resist that shaping and make the sheet look stiff rather than loose.
Add enough fiberfill to maintain the rounded head and upper body, then check the silhouette before moving on.
Create the Gathered Sheet Effect
The final sewing step gives the ghost its distinctive wrapped-sheet appearance.
Cut approximately 18 inches of white yarn and thread it onto your yarn needle.
Start at the center area between the eyes and count approximately 6 rows upward from the bottom according to the tutorial’s placement.
Bring the needle from the inside to the outside at the selected stitch.
Move over 1 stitch and insert the needle back into the ghost.
Secure the yarn loosely on the inside.
Next, count approximately 6 stitches across the body and repeat the same process. Continue around the ghost’s base to create a loose ring of gathering stitches.
Don’t Pull the Ring Too Tightly
This is the part that creates the sheet illusion, so the goal is gentle gathering rather than a tight cinch. Pull gradually and watch the fabric as it begins to fold.
If you pull too firmly, the lower body can bunch into a narrow ring and lose the soft drape that makes it look like a sheet. Adjust the gathers by hand until the folds look natural.
Once the shape looks right, knot and secure the yarn on the inside and weave in the remaining ends.
Finishing & Optional Accessories
Your ghost is now complete, but a few small additions can change how it looks.
Add a Tiny Pumpkin
A miniature pumpkin can be placed beside the ghost to reinforce the Halloween theme. You can sew it to the ghost or keep it separate so the ghost remains easy to reposition.
Try a Different Face
Instead of safety eyes, embroider small eyes with black yarn. This is also a useful option if you want the finished piece to avoid hard plastic components.
Keep the Shape Soft
If using the ghost as a toy rather than purely as décor, make sure the eyes and sewn details are securely attached and that there are no loose ends or accessible small parts.
A Few Details That Make the Difference
- Rounds 1–4 create the gradual rounded shape rather than a flat top.
- Rounds 5–12 maintain the 24-stitch width so the ghost gains height before the sheet begins to spread.
- Rounds 13–18 introduce the increases that create the flared lower silhouette.
- Round 19 gives the bottom a final even edge before finishing.
- The safety-eye placement determines much of the expression, so check it before securing.
- The final gathering should be loose enough to create folds rather than a tight waistband.
The basic crochet is intentionally simple; the character comes from how the shaping, stuffing, eyes, and final gathering work together.
Final Result
A few simple rounds turn into a charming little ghost with a rounded head and a softly gathered sheet-like base. It works especially well as a small Halloween decoration, shelf accent, gift-basket addition, or playful handmade companion.
The best part is that the finished character does not depend on complicated stitches. The personality comes from the shape and finishing, so small adjustments to the eyes, gathering, or accessories can give each ghost a slightly different look.
