Free Crochet Pattern: Cute Ghost Pillow for Fall Decorating

Fall is the season of cozy blankets, warm drinks, and festive decorations that make your home feel like a place out of a storybook. Whether you’re a Halloween enthusiast or simply someone who loves the changing leaves and the shift into autumn, adding handmade touches to your home décor is one of the most satisfying ways to celebrate the season. This free crochet ghost pillow pattern is exactly the kind of project that checks every box — it’s beginner-friendly, quick to work up, adorably spooky, and the finished pillow looks like something you’d find in a boutique for three times the price.

This ghost pillow is soft, squishy, and just the right amount of cute to sit on a couch, a bed, or a seasonal display shelf without being too over-the-top scary. It’s perfect for kids’ rooms, living rooms, or anywhere you want to add a playful Halloween or fall touch. And the best part? You’re going to make it yourself with this completely free pattern.

Let’s get started.

Why You’ll Love This Crochet Ghost Pillow

Before we dive into the pattern, let’s talk about why this project is worth your time.

First, it’s a fast make. Depending on your speed, you can finish this pillow in a weekend or even in a single evening if you’re really in the groove. The construction is straightforward — you’re essentially crocheting two matching ghost-shaped panels and seaming them together before stuffing.

Second, it’s budget-friendly. You likely already have most of what you need in your stash. White yarn is one of those colors that seems to accumulate in every crocheter’s collection, and the black yarn you need for the face is minimal — just a small amount for embroidering or crocheting the eyes and mouth.

Third, it’s endlessly customizable. Want a larger ghost? Work the pattern with bulkier yarn and a bigger hook. Want a tiny ghost pillow ornament? Use fingering weight yarn. Want a slightly spooky ghost rather than a cute one? Adjust the face embroidery to make the expression more dramatic. This pattern is your starting point, and from there, imagination takes over.

Finally, handmade fall décor makes the best gifts. If you’re looking for something to give to a teacher, a neighbor, a fellow Halloween lover, or your kids’ friends, a crocheted ghost pillow is charming, personal, and genuinely useful as a decoration year after year.

Materials You’ll Need

Before you begin, gather the following supplies. This pattern is written for a pillow that measures approximately 14 inches tall and 10 inches wide at its widest point, which is a nice throw-pillow size.

Yarn: Approximately 200–250 yards of bulky weight yarn (size 5) in white or off-white for the main ghost body. A small amount of black yarn for the face, or black embroidery floss if you prefer to embroider the features.

Hook: Size 5.0 mm (H/8) crochet hook, or the size needed to achieve your gauge.

Other supplies: Polyester fiberfill stuffing, a tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends, stitch markers, scissors, and optional safety eyes (15mm black safety eyes work beautifully if you prefer them over embroidered eyes).

Gauge: 14 stitches and 16 rows = 4 inches in single crochet. Gauge doesn’t need to be exact for a pillow, but try to stay consistent so both panels match each other.

Abbreviations used in this pattern:
ch = chain, sc = single crochet, hdc = half double crochet, dc = double crochet, sl st = slip stitch, st = stitch, sp = space, inc = increase (2 sc in same stitch), dec = decrease (sc2tog), RS = right side, WS = wrong side.

Pattern Notes

This pillow is made in two identical flat panels that are then joined together. You’ll work each panel in turned rows, starting at the bottom wavy hem of the ghost and building upward toward the rounded top of the head. The shape is created using simple increases and decreases — no complicated shaping techniques required.

If you’re new to shaping, don’t be intimidated. Just follow the instructions row by row, and the ghost shape will emerge naturally. A stitch marker in the first and last stitch of each row is helpful for keeping your count accurate, especially around the wavy bottom edge.

Ghost Pillow Pattern: Front and Back Panels (Make 2)

Foundation Row — Wavy Bottom Edge:

To create the characteristic wavy hem that makes this look like a classic floating ghost, you’ll start with a scalloped foundation.

Chain 36. Turn.

Row 1 (WS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 2 ch, skip 1 ch, 5 dc in next ch (shell made), skip 1 ch, sc in next 3 ch; repeat from across to last ch, sc in last ch. Turn. You should have approximately 4 shell scallops along the bottom edge. (35 stitches total)

Row 2 (RS): Ch 1, sc in each stitch across, working 1 sc in each dc of each shell and 1 sc between shells. Total: 35 sc. Turn.

Row 3: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (35 sts)

Row 4: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (35 sts)

Body Shaping — Widening Slightly:

Row 5: Ch 1, inc in first st, sc across to last st, inc in last st. Turn. (37 sts)

Row 6: Ch 1, sc across. Turn. (37 sts)

Row 7: Ch 1, inc in first st, sc across to last st, inc in last st. Turn. (39 sts)

Rows 8–12: Ch 1, sc across each row. Turn. (39 sts)

Body to Head Transition — Beginning to Narrow:

Row 13: Ch 1, dec over first 2 sts, sc across to last 2 sts, dec. Turn. (37 sts)

Row 14: Ch 1, sc across. Turn. (37 sts)

Row 15: Ch 1, dec, sc across to last 2 sts, dec. Turn. (35 sts)

Row 16: Ch 1, sc across. Turn. (35 sts)

Row 17: Ch 1, dec, sc across to last 2 sts, dec. Turn. (33 sts)

Row 18: Ch 1, sc across. Turn. (33 sts)

Row 19: Ch 1, dec, sc across to last 2 sts, dec. Turn. (31 sts)

Head Shaping — Rounding the Top:

Row 20: Ch 1, sc across. Turn. (31 sts)

Row 21: Ch 1, dec, sc across to last 2 sts, dec. Turn. (29 sts)

Row 22: Ch 1, dec, sc across to last 2 sts, dec. Turn. (27 sts)

Row 23: Ch 1, dec, sc across to last 2 sts, dec. Turn. (25 sts)

Row 24: Ch 1, dec, sc across to last 2 sts, dec. Turn. (23 sts)

Row 25: Ch 1, dec, sc across to last 2 sts, dec. Turn. (21 sts)

Row 26: Ch 1, dec, sc across to last 2 sts, dec. Turn. (19 sts)

Row 27: Ch 1, dec, sc across to last 2 sts, dec. Turn. (17 sts)

Row 28: Ch 1, dec, sc across to last 2 sts, dec. Turn. (15 sts)

Row 29: Ch 1, dec, sc across to last 2 sts, dec. Turn. (13 sts)

Row 30: Ch 1, dec, sc across to last 2 sts, dec. Turn. (11 sts)

Row 31: Ch 1, dec, sc across to last 2 sts, dec. Turn. (9 sts)

Row 32: Ch 1, (dec) across to last st, sc in last st. Turn. (5 sts)

Row 33: Ch 1, dec, sc in next st, dec. (3 sts)

Row 34: Ch 1, dec, sc in last st. (2 sts)

Row 35: Ch 1, dec. (1 st)

Fasten off and weave in end. Repeat all of the above to make the second panel.

Adding the Ghost’s Face

This is where your ghost really comes to life — or un-life, more accurately.

If you’re using safety eyes, attach them to the front panel before seaming. Position the eyes on the upper-center section of the panel, roughly between rows 14 and 17, spaced about 5 stitches apart. The exact placement is entirely up to you — placing the eyes closer together gives a more babyish, wide-eyed look, while spacing them farther apart makes the face look slightly more surprised or expressive.

If you prefer embroidered features, use a tapestry needle and black yarn or black embroidery floss after you’ve seamed and stuffed the pillow. Embroidered eyes and a small O-shaped open mouth give the most classic, friendly ghost appearance. For the eyes, work a simple oval or circle shape using satin stitch. For the mouth, a small open oval with a few satin stitches reads perfectly as a surprised or whimsical expression.

You can also cut small felt circles and either hot glue or whipstitch them onto the finished pillow for a clean, graphic look that photographs really well.

Assembling the Ghost Pillow

Place both panels with wrong sides facing each other. Using a tapestry needle and white yarn, whipstitch around the entire outer edge of the ghost, matching stitches row by row as you go. Work around the wavy bottom scallops carefully, following their curves as closely as possible.

Leave a gap of about 4 to 5 inches open somewhere along the straight side edge of the body — not on a curved section, as that’s harder to close neatly. This is your stuffing opening.

Stuff the pillow firmly through the opening. The ghost should be plump and squishy but not stretched to the point that stitches separate. Add a bit more stuffing than you think you need, because it will compress and settle over time with use.

Once stuffed to your satisfaction, whipstitch the opening closed securely. Weave in all remaining ends, and give your ghost a gentle reshape with your hands to even out the stuffing.

Finishing Touches and Customization Ideas

Now that your ghost pillow is assembled, there are so many fun ways to make it your own.

Adding a tiny bit of blush-colored yarn or chalk pastel rubbed gently onto the cheeks of the ghost gives it a rosy, shy expression that’s absolutely irresistible, especially for children’s rooms. Just a soft circular motion with your fingertip over the area of the “cheeks” is all it takes.

If you want to give your ghost a more festive look, consider stitching or gluing a small bow at the very top of the head — a black satin ribbon bow elevates the spooky factor while keeping things cute. A small crocheted pumpkin or bat can also be attached as a decorative accent if you want to create a little autumn vignette with your pillow.

For a set of ghost pillows, try making them in slightly different sizes by adjusting your hook size or yarn weight. A family of ghosts — a large one, a medium one, and a small one — arranged on a couch or staircase landing makes for an incredibly charming Halloween display.

You can also experiment with color. While white is the classic ghost color, a pale lavender, silver-gray, or even a soft mint green ghost has an otherworldly quality that’s surprisingly stylish. Off-white or cream yarn gives a more vintage, aged quality that pairs beautifully with natural fall décor like dried flowers, mini pumpkins, and wooden accents.

How to Display Your Ghost Pillow

The beauty of a ghost pillow this size is how versatile it is as a décor piece. On a couch with other fall throw pillows in orange, deep burgundy, or mustard yellow, it becomes the star accent. Propped against a stack of books on a shelf alongside small candles and a mini cauldron, it creates a scene that looks effortlessly styled.

For a kids’ bedroom, a ghost pillow on the bed alongside a crocheted pumpkin or black cat makes for the coziest, most fun Halloween room that children absolutely love. Many parents find that involving their kids in choosing the face expression for the ghost — wide eyes, winking, classic surprised O-mouth — makes the whole project a memorable shared experience.

Caring for Your Crochet Ghost Pillow

Since this pillow is made with standard acrylic bulky yarn, it’s wonderfully easy to care for. Machine wash on a gentle cycle in cold water, and either lay flat to dry or tumble dry on low. The fiberfill stuffing holds up well through washing, though if you want the pillow to retain its loft over many seasons, it helps to fluff it back into shape while it’s still slightly damp from washing.

Store your ghost pillow with the rest of your fall décor, and it will be ready to delight your household year after year.

A Few Tips for Crochet Beginners

If you’re new to crochet and this is one of your first shaped projects, here are a few things that will make the experience smoother.

Count your stitches at the end of every row, at least through the shaping sections. It takes an extra few seconds but saves you from having to rip back multiple rows when you realize a mistake has compounded over several rows.

Use stitch markers freely. They’re inexpensive, they don’t damage yarn, and they take the anxiety out of keeping your place in a pattern. Mark the first and last stitch of every row during the decreasing section so you know exactly where to work your decreases.

Block your panels before seaming if you want a really clean, professional finish. Blocking just means lightly misting your panels with water and then laying them flat in the intended shape to dry. With acrylic yarn, steam blocking also works beautifully — just hold a steam iron a few inches above the panel and let the steam relax the fibers without pressing down. The panels will lie flatter and seam together much more smoothly.

Don’t worry if your first ghost isn’t perfectly symmetrical. Crochet fabric is forgiving, the stuffing will fill out any unevenness, and a slightly lopsided ghost has a charming, whimsical quality that handmade items should have. It means it was made with love, not mass-produced.

Share Your Ghost Pillow

If you make this ghost pillow, please share it! Post a photo in your favorite crochet community, tag your social media posts so other crafters can find the pattern, and don’t be shy about showing off your work. Seeing how other people interpret patterns — the yarn colors they choose, the faces they create, the ways they display the finished piece — is one of the greatest joys of being part of the crochet community.

Whether you’re a seasoned crocheter looking for a fast and fun fall project or a newer crafter ready to try your first shaped pillow, this cute ghost pillow is waiting to haunt your home in the most adorable way possible. Grab your hook, pull out that white yarn, and let’s make something your home will love all season long.

Happy crocheting, and happy fall.