Free Crochet Amigurumi Ghost Pattern (Witch Hat & Candy Corn Hat)

Written by a crochet pattern designer with 20+ years of amigurumi experience.

If you love crochet amigurumi, this free crochet amigurumi ghost pattern is the perfect quick project. It comes with two swappable accessories — a witch hat and a candy corn hat — so you can make a whole little crochet amigurumi ghost family. Below you’ll find the exact round-by-round crochet amigurumi instructions, plus answers to the most common crochet amigurumi questions beginners ask.

Table of Contents

1. What Is Crochet Amigurumi?
2. Crochet Amigurumi FAQ
3. Materials & Tools
4. Crochet Amigurumi Abbreviations Chart
5. Free Crochet Amigurumi Ghost Pattern — Body
6. Crochet Amigurumi Witch Hat Accessory
7. Crochet Amigurumi Candy Corn Hat Accessory
8. Assembly & Finishing
9. Troubleshooting Your Crochet Amigurumi
10. Care Instructions

1. What Is Crochet Amigurumi?

Crochet amigurumi is a specific style of crochet — a Japanese craft term combining “ami” (crocheted or knitted) and “nuigurumi” (stuffed doll) — used to describe small, stuffed crocheted creatures like the ghost in this pattern. Regular crochet is the umbrella technique (blankets, scarves, sweaters), while crochet amigurumi is a specialized branch of that technique focused on 3D, stuffable shapes made almost entirely with single crochet worked in a spiral.

2. Crochet Amigurumi FAQ

Why do amigurumi not have mouths?

Many crochet amigurumi designers skip the mouth, or embroider a simple smile, because a stitched mouth is easier to control than trying to crochet tiny lips, and a minimal face keeps the character feeling soft and friendly. In this crochet amigurumi ghost pattern, the smile is embroidered after stuffing, using a single strand of black yarn or embroidery floss.

Why is it called amigurumi?

The name comes from Japan, where the crochet amigurumi tradition began, blending the words for “crocheted/knitted” and “stuffed doll.” It has since become the global term for any small stuffed crochet amigurumi toy, regardless of the character being made.

Do you yarn under for amigurumi?

Most crochet amigurumi patterns, including this ghost, are worked with a standard single crochet (yarn over, pull through) rather than a “yarn under” technique. Some designers use a yarn-under single crochet variant for a flatter stitch face, which some crochet amigurumi makers prefer, but it’s optional.

What is the best yarn for amigurumi from Hobby Lobby?

For crochet amigurumi, a smooth worsted weight (#4) cotton or cotton-blend yarn is ideal because it has very little “halo” or fuzz, so your stitch definition stays crisp. Look for a smooth, tightly plied yarn rather than a fuzzy or chenille yarn for your next crochet amigurumi project.

What are some common mistakes to avoid in amigurumi?

The most common crochet amigurumi mistakes are: crocheting too loosely (stuffing shows through the gaps), losing track of stitch counts, forgetting a stitch marker at the start of the round, and under-stuffing so the piece looks flat. See the Troubleshooting section below for fixes.

Is amigurumi easier than crochet?

Crochet amigurumi is often considered easier to start than garment or blanket crochet, because it uses only one main stitch (single crochet) repeated in a spiral, with no complex stitch patterns to memorize. What makes crochet amigurumi tricky for beginners is keeping an accurate stitch count round after round.

What is the easiest amigurumi to make?

Simple round or teardrop shapes — like this crochet amigurumi ghost — are considered the easiest, because they’re built from a continuous increase-then-decrease spiral with no arms, legs, or separate pieces to attach.

What crochet stitch is best for amigurumi?

Single crochet, worked in a continuous spiral (not joined rounds), is the standard and best stitch for crochet amigurumi because it creates a tight, stuffing-proof fabric with a smooth, rounded shape.

Is acrylic or cotton yarn better for amigurumi?

Cotton yarn is generally preferred for crochet amigurumi because its lack of stretch keeps stitches crisp, while acrylic is a fine, budget-friendly alternative for crochet amigurumi as long as you crochet tightly.

3. Materials & Tools

• Yarn: White worsted weight (#4) yarn, approx. 15–20 grams, for the crochet amigurumi ghost body
• Yarn: Small amounts of purple, black, yellow, and orange worsted weight yarn for the hats
• Hook: 2.5mm–3.0mm crochet hook (size to match your yarn for a tight crochet amigurumi fabric)
• Safety eyes: One pair, 5mm, black
• Fiberfill stuffing
• Yarn needle for sewing pieces together
• Stitch marker (a locking marker or bit of scrap yarn)
• Scissors
• Black embroidery floss or thin black yarn for the smile

4. Crochet Amigurumi Abbreviations Chart

Abbreviation	Meaning
MR	Magic ring
sc	Single crochet
inc	Increase (2 sc in same stitch)
dec	Decrease (invisible or standard sc2tog)
st(s)	Stitch(es)
sl st	Slip stitch
FLO	Front loop only
BLO	Back loop only
( )	Repeat instructions inside brackets the stated number of times
[ ]	Total stitch count at the end of the round

5. Free Crochet Amigurumi Ghost Pattern — Body

This is the exact crochet amigurumi ghost body pattern, written round by round. Every crochet amigurumi round is worked in a continuous spiral (do not join or turn) — use your stitch marker to track the start of each round.

Yarn: White worsted weight

Round 1: 6 sc in magic ring [6]

Round 2: inc around [12]

Round 3: (sc, inc) repeated around [18]

Round 4: (2 sc, inc) repeated around [24]

Round 5: (3 sc, inc) repeated around [30]

Rounds 6–12: sc around, no shaping [30] — work 7 plain rounds here

Insert the 5mm safety eyes between rounds 7 and 8, spacing them about 5 stitches apart.

Round 13: Working in the front loop only (FLO): 3 sc, dec — repeat around, then sl st into the next stitch and fasten off [24 sts before fastening]

Round 14 (worked in the back loop only of Round 13): (3 sc, dec) repeated around [18]

Round 15: (sc, dec) repeated around [12]

Round 16: dec repeated around [6] — stuff firmly, then fasten off and close the hole

This construction is what creates the classic crochet amigurumi ghost’s flared, ruffled hem — the front-loop-only round leaves a ridge on the outside, and the back-loop continuation tucks the decreasing rounds neatly underneath.

6. Crochet Amigurumi Witch Hat Accessory

Yarn: Purple, then black, then purple again

Starting in purple:

Round 1: 6 sc in MR [6]

Rounds 2–3: sc 2 rounds even [6]

Round 4: (sc, inc) repeated around [9]

Round 5: (2 sc, inc) repeated around [12]

Round 6: sc around [12]

Round 7: (3 sc, inc) repeated around [15]

Switch to black:

Round 8: (4 sc, inc) repeated around [18]

Switch back to purple:

Round 9: sc around [18]

Round 10: (inc) repeated around ×18 [36]

Round 11: sc around [36]

Slip stitch, fasten off leaving a long tail to sew the hat onto the head.

7. Crochet Amigurumi Candy Corn Hat Accessory

Yarn: White, then orange, then yellow

Starting in white:

Round 1: 6 sc in MR [6]

Round 2: sc around [6]

Round 3: (sc, inc) repeated around [9]

Switch to orange:

Round 4: (2 sc, inc) repeated around [12]

Round 5: sc around [12]

Round 6: (3 sc, inc) repeated around [15]

Switch to yellow:

Round 7: (4 sc, inc) repeated around [18]

Round 8: sc around [18]

Round 9: (inc) repeated around ×18 [36]

Round 10: sc around [36]

Slip stitch, fasten off leaving a long tail to sew onto the head.

8. Assembly & Finishing

1. Stuff the crochet amigurumi ghost body firmly but not so tight it distorts the round shape — you want it soft and a little squishy, with no lumps.
2. Embroider a simple curved smile below the safety eyes using black floss or thin yarn and a yarn needle.
3. Using the long tail on your chosen hat (witch or candy corn), sew it directly onto the top of the ghost’s head, angling it slightly for a playful look.
4. Weave in all remaining ends with your yarn needle.

9. Troubleshooting Your Crochet Amigurumi

Problem	Fix
Stitch count is off	Count your stitches at the end of every single round while learning crochet amigurumi — don’t wait until the end of the pattern to check.
Stuffing shows through gaps	Go down a hook size, or crochet more tightly; your crochet amigurumi fabric should have no visible holes when slightly stretched.
Piece looks lopsided	Stuff in small amounts as you go rather than all at once at the end, and stuff evenly on all sides.
Losing track of the round start	Always place a stitch marker in the first stitch of a new round and move it up each round.
Safety eyes won’t stay straight	Insert eyes before stuffing, check placement from the front, and only stuff firmly after you’re happy with the spacing.
Closing hole leaves a gap	Weave the tail through the front loops only of the last round, pull tight, then take a couple of extra stitches through the center to fully close it.

10. Care Instructions

Hand wash your finished crochet amigurumi ghost gently in cool water with a mild detergent, reshape while damp, and lay flat to air dry — never machine wash or tumble dry, since agitation and heat can felt the yarn and warp the stuffing. Store finished crochet amigurumi pieces away from direct sunlight to prevent color fading, and keep small safety-eye pieces away from very young children.

You now have the complete free crochet amigurumi ghost pattern with both hat options. Happy stitching! Crochet amigurumi pattern guide — for personal and small-batch use.