· Sunday Crochet
In this pattern
01 · A little ghost with a ruffled hem02 · Yarn & tools03 · The pattern04 · Common questions05 · Finish your ghostA little ghost with a ruffled hem
This soft white ghost is crocheted from the crown down, with a rounded body, two small arms, glossy safety eyes, and a ruffled edge that gives the bottom a playful float. The arms are made separately, then crocheted directly into the body, so you do not need to sew on two little limbs at the end. The body is stuffed and closed after the ruffle is formed.
I’ll show you how I make the arms, shape the body, join each arm as I crochet, and add the ruffled hem before closing the ghost. The stitches are mostly single crochet, with increases and decreases doing the shaping. The project uses plush yarn, so it feels soft and works up quickly, but the fuzzy texture can make the stitch tops harder to see. A stitch marker and a little patience will help keep your rounds on track.
Yarn & tools
The pattern is written in US crochet terms. The finished size and gauge are not specified, so the exact height will depend on the yarn, hook, and your tension. Keep the fabric even and compact enough to hold the stuffing. If you want to rehearse the basic single-crochet motions before starting with plush yarn, a smooth practice yarn can make the stitch loops easier to see.
Abbreviations
- MR: magic ring. The two-chain method is also used, with the first stitches worked into the first chain.
- sc: single crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- dc: double crochet
- sl st: slip stitch
- inc: work 2 sc into the same stitch
- dec: decrease over the next 2 stitches
- FLO: front loop only
- BLO: back loop only
- ( ) × 6: repeat the grouped instructions six times
The stitch count in parentheses is the count at the end of a round. Work in continuous rounds, without joining each round, and move the marker into the first stitch of the new round. For the ruffle, you will crochet into only the front loops of Round 17, then return to the unused back loops to continue shaping the body. If written shorthand is new, the examples in my guide to pattern repeats and stitch counts can help you follow each sequence.
The pattern
Make the arms
Make two matching arms first. Each one begins with a small ring and narrows slightly at the end. Leave a short tail when fastening off, since you will tuck it inside the arm before crocheting the arm into the body.
Arm Round 1: Work 6 sc into an MR. (6)
Arm Round 2: Work 6 inc around. (12)
Arm Round 3: Repeat (4 sc, dec) 2 times. (10)
Arm Round 4: Repeat (3 sc, dec) 2 times. (8)
Fasten off, leaving a short tail. Make a second arm with the same four rounds. The small tail is tucked inside each arm when it is folded flat for attachment. You will attach both arms during Body Round 12, rather than sewing them in place afterward.
Crochet the body
Begin at the top of the ghost and work downward. Close the magic ring firmly so there is no opening at the crown. Keep the marker visible as the rounds widen. From Round 6 through Round 11, the body stays at the same stitch count, giving you a smooth section before you add the arms.
Round 1
Make an MR and work 6 sc into it. (6)
Round 2
Work 6 inc around. (12)
Round 3
Repeat (sc, inc) 6 times. (18)
Round 4
Repeat (2 sc, inc) 6 times. (24)
Round 5
Repeat (3 sc, inc) 6 times. (30)
Round 6
Repeat (4 sc, inc) 6 times. (36)
Round 7
Sc in each stitch around. (36)
Round 8
Sc in each stitch around. (36)
Round 9
Sc in each stitch around. (36)
Round 10
Sc in each stitch around. (36)
Round 11
Sc in each stitch around. (36)
Round 12
Work 7 sc in the body. Fold one arm in half so its 8 stitches form four pairs of opposite stitches. Tuck its short tail inside. For each pair, insert the hook through both arm stitches and the next body stitch, then make 1 sc through all three layers. Repeat for the remaining three pairs of arm stitches. Work 14 sc in the body, then attach the second arm in the same way. Finish with 7 sc in the body. (36)
Round 13
Sc in each stitch around. (36)
Round 14
Sc in each stitch around. (36)
Round 15
Sc in each stitch around. (36)
Round 16
Sc in each stitch around. (36)
Round 17
Sc in each stitch around. (36) This is the base round for the ruffle. Keep the round marker in place so you can find the unworked back loops when you return to shape the body.
Round 18: Ruffled hem
Work into the front loops only for this entire round. In the first front loop, make (hdc, dc, hdc). Make 1 sl st in the next front loop. Repeat this sequence 18 times around. The taller stitches fan outward into the scalloped ruffle, while each slip stitch draws the edge inward between the fans. (36 stitches used)
Round 19
Find the unused back loops from Round 17, just behind the ruffle. Working into those back loops only, repeat (4 sc, dec) 6 times. This brings the opening back in and starts the shaping toward the crown. (30)
Round 20
Now work into both loops as usual. Repeat (3 sc, dec) 6 times. (24)
Round 21
Repeat (2 sc, dec) 6 times. (18)
Before stuffing, place the eyes.
Position the 12 mm safety eyes on the side opposite your stitch marker, between Rounds 10 and 11. They sit a few stitches out from the arms, with about nine stitches between them across the face. Before securing the backs, hold the ghost upright and check that both eyes look level from the front. Adjust them now if needed.
Add stuffing through the opening at the top. Push small tufts into the head first, then fill the body evenly so it keeps its rounded shape. Aim for a firm ghost that holds its shape without stretching the stitches. The arms and ruffle do not need separate stuffing. Continue shaping with your fingers as you fill so the stuffing does not collect in one lump.
Round 22
Repeat (sc, dec) 6 times. (12)
Round 23
Work 6 dec around. (6) Fasten off with a tail for closing. Thread the yarn tail onto the needle and weave it through the front loops of the six remaining stitches. Pull snug to close the opening, take the tail into the body, and trim it.
Common questions
Why is this called a no-sew ghost?
The arms are attached as you crochet Round 12, so you do not have to sew them onto the finished body. The final opening is gathered closed with the yarn needle, which is a normal finishing step for a stuffed amigurumi.
Can I use a different yarn?
The sample uses white weight 5 or 6 yarn. You can choose another plush yarn, but the finished size and stitch definition will change. The yardage is not specified, so have enough yarn to complete the arms and body before beginning.
How do I keep the ruffle even?
Check that Round 18 uses the front loop only all the way around. Each shell uses one stitch for its three taller stitches, followed by a slip stitch in the next stitch. Work the sequence 18 times, and avoid skipping or repeating a front loop as you move around the edge.
Where do the eyes go?
Place them between Rounds 10 and 11, on the side opposite the marker and a few stitches out from the arms. The suggested spacing is about nine stitches from eye to eye. Check the face from the front before pushing on the backs.
How full should I stuff the ghost?
The stuffing should hold the rounded body shape without making the stitches look stretched. Add it in small tufts, check the silhouette, and add a little more only where the body feels soft or hollow.
Finish your ghost
Once the opening is closed, smooth the plush yarn with your fingertips and fluff the ruffled edge so the scallops fall evenly. Check that the arms sit at similar heights and that the eyes face forward. This little ghost is ready to perch on a shelf, join a Halloween display, or become a handmade seasonal gift.
