Free Crochet Pumpkin & Ghost Car Hanger Pattern 🎃

Halloween is one of those seasons that just begs to be celebrated in every corner of your life — and yes, that absolutely includes your car. If you love adding handmade touches to your everyday spaces, you’re going to fall head over heels for this free crochet pumpkin and ghost car hanger pattern. It’s the perfect small project for beginner to intermediate crocheters who want to whip up something festive, adorable, and functional before October rolls around.

Whether you hang these cuties from your rearview mirror, attach them to your bag, or dangle them from a doorknob, they bring that cozy Halloween spirit wherever you go. Best of all, each one works up in just an hour or two, making them ideal for last-minute Halloween gifting or a relaxing weekend crafting session with your favorite spooky playlist in the background.

Let’s dive into everything you need to know — materials, abbreviations, stitch counts, and the full step-by-step pattern for both the pumpkin and the ghost.

Why You’ll Love This Pattern

Before we get to the stitches, let me tell you why this little project is so worth your time.

First, it’s genuinely beginner-friendly. If you know how to make a magic ring, single crochet in the round, and slip stitch to close, you have every skill you need to finish both pieces. There’s no complex colorwork, no tricky shaping, and no fancy stitches that require a YouTube tutorial at every step.

Second, these hangers are incredibly quick. The pumpkin body works up in about 45 minutes, and the ghost is even faster. That means you can make a whole set of them for friends, family, coworkers, or a Halloween market booth in a single weekend.

Third, they use up scrap yarn. If you’ve been crocheting for any length of time, you already have orange, white, green, and black yarn sitting in a bin somewhere. This pattern is a beautiful excuse to use those scraps and clear some space before your next project haul.

Finally, they’re just plain fun. There is something deeply satisfying about making a tiny, detailed crochet piece and watching it come to life. These hangers have the kind of charm that makes people stop and ask, “Did you make that yourself?” And the answer, proudly, is yes.

Materials You’ll Need

Getting your supplies together before you start makes the whole process smoother. Here’s what you’ll need for both the pumpkin and the ghost:

Yarn: Worsted weight (Category 4) yarn works best for this pattern and gives the pieces a nice, sturdy structure. You’ll need small amounts of the following colors — a few yards of each is truly all it takes.

For the pumpkin, you need orange (main color), green (stem and leaf), and black (for embroidering the face). For the ghost, you need white (main color), black (for the eyes and mouth), and optionally a small pop of a fun accent color like purple or teal if you want to add a little hat or bow.

Hook: A 3.5mm or 4.0mm crochet hook. Go with 3.5mm if you want a tighter stitch and a firmer finished piece. If your tension tends to run loose, stick with 3.5mm regardless of what the yarn label recommends — a tighter fabric holds its shape better and prevents the stuffing from poking through.

Stuffing: A small amount of polyfill stuffing. You only need enough to lightly stuff each piece — these hangers should be soft and slightly squishy, not rock hard.

Other supplies: A yarn needle for weaving in ends and sewing pieces together, scissors, black embroidery floss or black yarn for facial features (if you prefer embroidery over crocheted details), a keychain ring or swivel clip for the hanger portion, and approximately 6–8 inches of ribbon, cord, or chain in whatever color suits your aesthetic.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

This pattern is written in US crochet terms. Here’s a quick reference guide:

MR — Magic Ring
ch — chain
sl st — slip stitch
sc — single crochet
inc — increase (2 single crochets in the same stitch)
dec — invisible decrease (insert hook through front loops of next two stitches, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through both loops)
st — stitch
BLO — back loop only
FLO — front loop only
rnd — round
(x) — the number in parentheses at the end of a round indicates the total stitch count for that round

The Free Crochet Pumpkin Car Hanger Pattern

Pumpkin Body

The pumpkin is worked in the round from the bottom up, then stuffed and closed at the top where the stem attaches.

Round 1: MR, sc 6 into the ring, sl st to close. Pull the tail to tighten the ring. (6)

Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12)

Round 3: Sc 1, inc repeat around. (18)

Round 4: Sc 2, inc repeat around. (24)

Round 5: Sc 3, inc repeat around. (30)

Round 6: Sc 4, inc repeat around. (36)

Rounds 7–10: Sc in each st around for 4 rounds. (36) This creates the body height.

To create the pumpkin’s signature ribbed segments, you’ll now work a decrease round in a specific way. Pull your yarn through a bit more loosely on the following round to keep things even.

Round 11: Sc 4, dec repeat around. (30)

Round 12: Sc 3, dec repeat around. (24)

Round 13: Sc 2, dec repeat around. (18)

Before you continue, stuff the pumpkin now. Add polyfill until it feels lightly plump. Don’t overstuff — the pumpkin should feel like a stress ball, not a baseball.

Round 14: Sc 1, dec repeat around. (12)

Round 15: Dec around. (6)

Close with a sl st, cut yarn, and pull the tail through the remaining stitches with your yarn needle to close the hole completely. Weave in the end securely.

Creating the Pumpkin’s Segments

To give your pumpkin that classic segmented look, thread your yarn needle with a length of orange yarn (or use a coordinating color if you prefer a more stylized look). Insert the needle through the bottom center of the pumpkin and pull it up through the top center, leaving a tail at the bottom. Pull the yarn snugly — not tight enough to distort the shape, but tight enough to create a visible indentation. Tie off at the bottom. Repeat this process to create 4–6 vertical segments evenly spaced around the pumpkin. This technique is what gives your pumpkin that recognizable Halloween gourd shape.

Pumpkin Stem

With green yarn:

Round 1: MR, sc 4. (4)
Rounds 2–4: Sc in each st around for 3 rounds. (4)

Sl st to close, leaving a long tail. Use the tail to sew the stem directly onto the top center of the pumpkin, hiding the closure point you made when finishing the body.

Pumpkin Leaf (Optional but Adorable)

Ch 8. Starting in the 2nd ch from hook: sc, hdc, dc, dc, hdc, sc, sc in last ch. Ch 1 and turn. Working back down the other side of the chain: sc, hdc, dc, dc, hdc, sc. Sl st to finish. Leave a tail and sew the leaf next to the stem.

Pumpkin Face

You have two options here. You can use black yarn or embroidery floss to stitch on triangle eyes, a nose, and a jagged grin. Alternatively, cut tiny felt pieces in black and use fabric glue to attach them. Either works beautifully — it’s entirely a matter of your preferred finishing style.

For embroidered eyes, use a simple satin stitch to fill in two small triangles. For the mouth, use a backstitch to outline a classic jack-o’-lantern smile with rectangular teeth.

Finishing the Pumpkin Hanger

Cut a 6-inch length of ribbon, twine, or cord. Thread it through the swivel clip or keychain ring and fold it in half. Sew or tie both ends securely to the top of the stem. Give it a gentle tug to make sure it’s attached firmly before hanging it in your car.

The Free Crochet Ghost Car Hanger Pattern

Ghost Body

The ghost is worked from the top down so that the bottom edge is left open and uneven — giving it that classic floaty, ghostly silhouette.

Round 1: MR, sc 6. (6)

Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12)

Round 3: Sc 1, inc repeat around. (18)

Round 4: Sc 2, inc repeat around. (24)

Rounds 5–9: Sc in each st around for 5 rounds. (24)

Round 10: Sc 2, dec repeat around. (18)

At this point, stuff the ghost lightly. Because the bottom is open, you want to pack the stuffing into the top rounded portion only.

Round 11: Sc in each st around. (18)

Round 12: Sc 1, dec repeat around. (12)

Round 13: Ch 3, sl st in next st, sc in next st repeat around until you’ve used all 12 stitches. This creates the wiggly, wavy hem at the bottom of the ghost that gives it its signature drifting shape.

If you want more pronounced ruffles or scallops at the bottom, you can substitute ch 4, sl st in next st, sc in next st for an even more dramatic hemline.

Cut yarn and weave in the end.

Ghost Arms (Optional)

For a ghost with outstretched arms — which honestly makes the whole thing 10 times cuter — make two small tubes:

Ch 5. Starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc across. (4) Turn and sc back across for 2 more rows. Sl st to finish. Leave a tail and sew one arm to each side of the ghost body, roughly level with the midpoint of the body.

Ghost Face

For the eyes, use two small black buttons, two French knots made with black embroidery floss, or two tiny felt circles. For the mouth, a simple straight stitch or a small crescent of stitching creates a sweet little expression. You can make your ghost look happy, surprised, or mischievous — it’s your call entirely.

Finishing the Ghost Hanger

Same as the pumpkin — attach a folded length of ribbon or cord to the top of the ghost through a swivel clip or keychain ring. Because the ghost is worked top-down and the top is already rounded and closed, you’ll want to make sure your attachment point is sewn very securely since it carries all the weight of the piece when hanging.

Tips for Getting the Best Results

Tension is everything in amigurumi-style projects like these. If your stitches are too loose, the stuffing will show through and the piece will lose its smooth, polished appearance. Try dropping down a hook size if you’re having this issue, and make sure you’re pulling your yarn through snugly on each stitch without straining.

If your magic ring refuses to stay closed, try working a slip knot instead and just weave in the tail very carefully afterward. Some yarn fibers are slippery (looking at you, acrylic blends) and the magic ring can loosen over time if the tail isn’t secured properly.

When stuffing these pieces, add the polyfill in small pinches rather than one big clump. Multiple small pieces of stuffing distribute more evenly and create a smoother outer surface than one large wad.

For the segmenting lines on the pumpkin, use a tapestry needle with a blunt tip so you don’t accidentally split your yarn as you pull through the body. Splitting yarn on that step can create an uneven pucker rather than a clean line.

If you’re making these as gifts, consider adding a tiny tag with care instructions. Handmade crochet items should be hand-washed in cool water and laid flat to dry — that keeps the shape intact and the colors vibrant for many Halloweens to come.

Ways to Customize These Patterns

One of the best things about making your own Halloween decorations is the freedom to make them entirely yours. Here are some fun variations to try once you’ve made the basic versions:

Add a tiny witch hat to your ghost using black yarn and some stiff interfacing for the brim. A small purple or orange hatband makes it extra charming.

Make a whole set of three ghosts in different sizes — a mama, a papa, and a baby — and hang them together in a cluster.

Try a candy corn color scheme for your pumpkin: white on the bottom third, orange in the middle, and yellow at the top. The same pattern works with a simple color change at the appropriate rounds.

Add googly eyes instead of stitched ones for a more playful, cartoonish look that kids especially love.

Use glow-in-the-dark yarn for the ghost’s body — yes, this is absolutely a product that exists, and it is exactly as delightful as it sounds.

Swap the car hanger hardware for a lobster claw clasp to turn these into bag charms, or sew a hair tie into the top to make them into ponytail holders for a Halloween-obsessed kid.

Sharing Your Finished Makes

If you make this pattern, please share your finished pieces! Tag your photos on Instagram and Pinterest so other crafters can find inspiration from your work. Seeing how different yarn choices and color combinations transform the same basic pattern into something completely unique is one of the most joyful parts of the crochet community.

Leave a comment below if you have any questions about the pattern, if a step needs clarification, or if you’ve tried a variation that turned out wonderfully. This pattern is offered completely free because crochet is for everyone, and Halloween magic should be accessible to every crafter regardless of budget.

Happy hooking, and may your Halloween be full of yarn, candy, and all the handmade spooky charm your heart desires. 🎃👻

Pattern difficulty: Easy to Intermediate. Finished size approximately 3–4 inches tall depending on yarn weight and tension. Always check your gauge if size is important for your project.