6 Free Halloween Ghost Toy Knitting Patterns | The Knit Crew
Halloween is just around the corner, and if you’re a knitter looking for a fun, spooky project to sink your needles into, you’ve landed in exactly the right place. Ghost toys are one of the most beloved Halloween knitting projects for good reason — they’re adorable, surprisingly quick to knit, and wildly versatile. Whether you’re making gifts for the little trick-or-treaters in your life, decorating your mantle with handmade flair, or filling a Halloween basket with charming handcrafted goodies, a knitted ghost toy is always a crowd-pleaser.
The best part? You don’t have to spend a dime on patterns. The knitting community is wonderfully generous, and there are some genuinely beautiful free ghost toy patterns floating around the internet. We’ve rounded up six of our favorites right here at The Knit Crew, along with tips, yarn suggestions, and everything you need to know to make the most of each one.
So grab your needles, pull out some white yarn, and let’s get into it.
Why Knit Halloween Ghost Toys?
Before we dive into the patterns, let’s talk about why ghost toys are such a perfect Halloween knitting project.
First, they’re beginner-friendly. Most ghost toy patterns use basic knitting or even garter stitch, with minimal shaping required. The classic ghost silhouette — rounded head, flowing body — doesn’t demand complex techniques, which makes these patterns accessible to knitters of all skill levels. If you’ve ever made a basic amigurumi or a simple stuffed animal, you’re more than ready to tackle a ghost.
Second, they’re fast. If you’re knitting in the round on double-pointed needles or a short circular, most small ghost toys can be completed in an afternoon or a weekend. That makes them ideal for last-minute Halloween gifts or quick additions to your seasonal décor.
Third, they’re endlessly customizable. White felt eyes and a simple embroidered mouth give you a classic ghost, but add a tiny witch hat and suddenly you have a Halloween witch ghost. Stitch on some googly eyes and give it a goofy grin, and you’ve got a kid-friendly spooky friend. Change your yarn color to light gray, lavender, or even pale blue for a more ethereal, haunting look. No two ghost toys have to be alike.
Finally, knitted ghost toys make incredible gifts. Parents, teachers, coworkers, and children all tend to light up when handed a handmade ghost toy. They’re charming in a way that store-bought décor simply can’t replicate, and recipients often treasure them for years.
What You’ll Need Before You Start
Most of the patterns in this roundup share a common materials list, so it’s worth gathering your supplies before you begin. Here’s what you’ll typically need:
Yarn: White or off-white yarn in a worsted or DK weight is the most common choice for ghost toys. Look for smooth yarns that show stitch definition well. Wool or wool-blend yarns give a lovely drape, while acrylic yarns are washable and budget-friendly — great if the toy is headed to a child. Some knitters love using a slightly fuzzy yarn for a more spectral, wispy effect.
Needles: Most small toy patterns call for needles between US size 2 and US size 6, depending on the yarn weight. You’ll often be working in the round, so a set of double-pointed needles (DPNs) or a short circular needle (9″ or magic loop method) will serve you well.
Stuffing: Polyfill stuffing is the standard choice. Stuff your ghost firmly enough to hold its shape, but not so tightly that the stuffing shows through the stitches.
Embellishments: Black felt, black embroidery floss, safety eyes, and googly eyes are all popular choices for creating your ghost’s face. If the toy is for a child under three, avoid safety eyes and opt for embroidered eyes instead for safety reasons.
Tapestry needle: You’ll need this for weaving in ends and closing up your ghost.
Stitch markers: Helpful for marking the beginning of rounds, especially when working in the round on small needles.
Now, let’s get to the good stuff.
1. The Classic Round Ghost
This is the pattern that comes to mind when most people think of a knitted ghost toy — a simple, chubby little spirit with a rounded top and a slightly tapered base. The Classic Round Ghost is typically worked from the top down in the round, with increases at the “shoulders” and a gathered or sewn bottom to create that signature flowing look.
What makes this pattern so beloved is its simplicity. You’ll work in stockinette stitch throughout, with easy increases and decreases to shape the head and body. The result is a smooth, rounded ghost that’s about four to five inches tall — small enough to tuck into a Halloween bag or perch on a bookshelf.
Tips for the Classic Round Ghost:
Work the increases gradually so the head has a smooth, dome-like shape rather than angular edges. When you reach the widest point of the body, maintain even stitches for several rounds before beginning your decreases — this gives the ghost that classic barrel-shaped body. For the face, simple stitched eyes and a small oval mouth in black embroidery floss give a sweet, slightly sad expression that’s distinctly ghostly. You can also cut small circles from black felt if embroidery isn’t your strength.
This pattern is excellent for using up leftover white yarn, and it works beautifully in any weight. Just adjust your needle size accordingly.
2. The Wavy-Bottom Ghost
If you want a ghost that looks like it’s floating — hem rippling as it drifts through the air — the Wavy-Bottom Ghost pattern is your match. This design adds a ruffled or pointed hem at the base, created through a simple series of yarn-overs and decreases that give the bottom edge a scalloped or jagged silhouette.
The effect is subtle but striking. When displayed on a shelf or hung as an ornament, the wavy hem gives the ghost real movement and personality. It looks more complex than it is — the hem is typically only a few rows of simple lace or eyelet work, easily mastered by anyone who’s done basic lace before.
Tips for the Wavy-Bottom Ghost:
Block the hem before stuffing if you want the waves to be more pronounced. A light spray of water and gentle pinning will open up the eyelets and give that hem a real wispy quality. If you’re new to lace, practice the pattern stitch on a swatch first so the yarn-overs feel comfortable before you work them into your ghost.
Consider using a yarn with a slight halo for this version — something like a brushed alpaca or a light mohair blend will make the hem look genuinely ethereal. A single strand of mohair held alongside a smooth DK yarn gives beautiful results.
3. The Amigurumi Crochet-Style Knit Ghost
Wait — isn’t amigurumi a crochet technique? It is, but the term has crossed over into the knitting world to describe small, tightly stuffed, round-limbed toy figures worked in the round. This ghost pattern takes that chunky, cartoony aesthetic and translates it beautifully into knitting.
The Amigurumi-Style Knit Ghost is worked at a tighter gauge than standard knitting, ensuring that no stuffing pokes through the stitches. The result is an extremely firm, squeezable little ghost with a large round head and a small, stubby body. These are absolutely irresistible to children and make wonderful additions to Halloween baskets.
Tips for the Amigurumi-Style Knit Ghost:
Go down a needle size or two from what your yarn recommends. You want a tight, dense fabric that won’t show stuffing through the stitches. When stuffing, use small amounts of polyfill at a time and pack it in firmly. Safety eyes — the kind with a backing washer that snaps on the inside of the fabric — work beautifully here, giving that classic wide-eyed amigurumi look. Again, skip safety eyes for children under three and embroider the face instead.
This pattern is also a wonderful way to use self-striping yarn. A ghost worked in a pale, multicolored yarn that shifts between white, gray, and lavender can look absolutely stunning.
4. The Flat Ghost Ornament
Not every ghost project needs to be three-dimensional. The Flat Ghost Ornament pattern is knitted flat, seamed up the sides, lightly stuffed (or not stuffed at all for a truly flat ornament), and finished with a hanging loop. These make gorgeous Halloween tree ornaments, gift tags tied to wrapped presents, or garland elements strung up around a doorway.
The flat construction makes this one of the fastest patterns in our roundup. You can knock out several in a single evening, which makes it perfect for knitting in large quantities for parties, classroom gifts, or advent-style Halloween countdowns.
Tips for the Flat Ghost Ornament:
If you’re not stuffing the ornament, work it in a slightly thicker yarn and use a yarn held double for some structure. A tiny amount of polyfill, just enough to give the ornament a gentle puff, looks lovely without making it fully three-dimensional. For the hanging loop, a simple twisted cord or a few chains of yarn looped through the top work perfectly. You can also thread a length of satin ribbon through the top stitch for a more polished look.
Embellish freely with these. Tiny buttons, seed beads for eyes, or even a miniature bow at the top transform a simple flat ghost into something special.
5. The Ghost Family Set
Why make one ghost when you can make a whole haunted household? The Ghost Family Set pattern provides instructions for three sizes of ghost — a large “parent” ghost, a medium ghost, and a tiny baby ghost — all in the same basic construction so you only have to learn the technique once and then simply adjust for size.
Displayed together on a shelf or windowsill, a ghost family is one of the most charming pieces of handmade Halloween décor imaginable. Each ghost in the family can have its own personality through subtle differences in facial expression or small accessories — a mini bow for the baby, a tiny hat for the parent, a little scarf on the middle one.
Tips for the Ghost Family Set:
Keep your gauge consistent by using the same yarn and needle combination for all three sizes, adjusting only the number of cast-on stitches and the length of the body. This ensures the proportions look harmonious when displayed together. Use the same face embroidery technique on all three for a unified family look, or give each ghost a slightly different expression to tell a story. Knitting these as gifts is particularly sweet — a family of ghost toys given to a family with young children becomes an instant heirloom.
6. The Ghost with a Hat
No Halloween ghost collection is complete without at least one ghost in a tiny witch hat or jack-o’-lantern headband. The Ghost with a Hat pattern combines a standard round ghost body with a separately knitted miniature accessory that gives the ghost its distinctive Halloween character.
The hat is typically worked in black yarn on tiny needles — a small cone knitted from the brim up, stiffened with a dab of fabric stiffener or a rolled piece of craft felt inside to hold its shape. A thin band of orange or purple yarn around the brim ties the hat to its ghostly wearer.
Tips for the Ghost with a Hat:
The hat is the trickiest part of this pattern simply because it’s small. Work slowly and check your gauge regularly. If the tiny needles feel fiddly, try making the hat slightly larger and tilting it on the ghost’s head at a rakish angle — it actually looks more charming that way. Secure the hat with a few invisible stitches in matching yarn so it stays put on display. You can also skip the knitted hat and felt a miniature one instead if you’d rather not wrestle with tiny stitches.
This ghost also takes beautifully to accessories beyond hats — a tiny knitted cape, a small broom (made from a toothpick and a few wisps of natural raffia), or even a tiny carved pumpkin knitted separately and placed in the ghost’s “arms” (embroidered or wire-shaped appendages) can elevate it from a simple toy to a full Halloween vignette.
Displaying Your Knitted Ghost Collection
Once you’ve worked your way through these patterns — or even just one or two — you’ll want to think about how to display your ghost toys to best effect.
A grouping of ghost toys in varying sizes on a fireplace mantle or bookshelf creates a wonderfully whimsical Halloween vignette. Nestle them among dried autumn leaves, small pumpkins, or LED tea lights for a cozy seasonal display. Hung from a length of black twine with small wooden clothespins, flat ghost ornaments make a festive banner that takes minutes to put up and looks handcrafted and intentional.
For gifting, tuck a ghost toy into a small muslin bag tied with orange ribbon, or nestle it in a bed of black tissue paper inside a Halloween gift box. Add a handwritten tag with the recipient’s name for a personal touch that no store-bought gift can match.
A Few Final Knitting Tips
Working in the round on small toys can feel awkward at first, especially if you’re new to double-pointed needles. Don’t get discouraged. After the first round or two, the needles settle into a comfortable rhythm. If DPNs really aren’t your thing, the magic loop method works just as well for any of these patterns — use a long circular needle (at least 32 inches) and follow a magic loop tutorial if you need a refresher.
Always weave in your ends thoroughly before finishing. Loose ends inside a stuffed toy can work their way out through the fabric over time, and nothing ruins a handmade gift faster than a dangling strand of yarn on the finished object.
Finally, don’t be afraid to experiment. The patterns in this roundup are starting points, not laws. Change the yarn color, add an embellishment, adjust the size, make a pair instead of a single ghost. Knitting is fundamentally a creative act, and the most memorable handmade projects are the ones that carry a little of the maker’s own personality.
Happy Halloween from The Knit Crew
Ghost toys are one of those rare knitting projects that are genuinely fun from cast-on to bind-off. They’re small enough to finish quickly, charming enough to display proudly, and versatile enough to suit any skill level. Whether you’re a brand-new knitter looking for a manageable seasonal project or an experienced maker wanting to stock up on handmade Halloween gifts, these six free ghost toy patterns have something for you.
We’d love to see what you make. Share your finished ghosts with us on social media using the hashtag #TheKnitCrew, and tag us so we can celebrate your spooky creations. Halloween only comes once a year, but the joy of a handmade project lasts much longer than the season.
Now go cast on. Those ghosts aren’t going to knit themselves.
