Cute Crochet Ghost Pillow Pattern for Halloween

Get ready for Halloween with this adorable crochet ghost pillow pattern! Perfect for adding a playful touch to your home decor and also makes for a great DIY gift. Find the complete free crochet pattern below.

• Grab the ad-free PDF pattern on Etsy or Ravelry.
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• View the free crochet pattern below here on my blog.

For this ghost pillow cover, you can either make a lumbar/rectangle shape or a square shape. I made both and I love how they look together!

I got inspiration from all of the halloween decor I’ve seen at TJMaxx and HomeGoods this year. I saw so many cute ghosty pillows, blankets, and home decor with so much color and cuteness! So I had to crochet my own ghost pillow. I made a black one for a traditional halloween color and also one with a purple background to make it cute and colorful!

Crochet Pattern Overview

For this ghost pillow, we will be crocheting two separate panels and ghost appliques before assembling everything together. This pillow pattern does have you crochet around the entire pillow insert. If you prefer a removable option, I did make a video tutorial on a method of how to make a removable cover with buttons here.

Ghost appliques can be attached by sewing or gluing. However, I can’t guarantee a secure attachment if the ghosts are glued on. 

I used hot glue and I’ve never had issues in the past with hot gluing appliques to my crocheted items. I am using these pillows as seasonal decorations so they aren’t being handled often.

Crochet Pillow Customization

This crochet ghost pillow can be customized easily if you have a similar size pillow insert but it may be a bit bigger or smaller. Those customization notes can be found in the pattern.

Also, I think it would be cute to customize this pillow by adding or even substituting the ghost applique for other appliques. You could also do the ghosts on the right side and the backside a different spooky character. I have made a Halloween Blanket with 8 different appliques that would go well for the Halloween season.

More crochet Halloween themed appliques (free patterns):

• Pumpkin applique
• Frankenstein applique
• Witch applique
• Spider applique
• Black cat applique
• Candy corn applique
• Skeleton applique

Free Crochet Ghost Pillow Pattern

Materials

Worsted weight black and white yarn or color of choice for your pillow*see notes for amounts*

Pillow insert (20”x12” OR 14”x14”)

6.00 mm crochet hook

4.00mm crochet hook

Tapestry needle + Scissors

Notes

For the rectangle/lumbar pillow (20”x12”) you will need 395 yds of black (or color of your choice), 65 yds of white, and a couple yards of black for embellishing the ghost eyes. I used 2 skeins of I Love This Yarn! In black and 1 skein of white for the black pillow.

For the square pillow (14”x14”) you will need 345 yds of light purple (or color of your choice), 48 yards of white, and a few yds of black for embellishing the ghost eyes. I used 2 skeins of Paintbox Simply Aran in the color Pale Lilac, 1 skein of white and black.

You can easily customize the size of this pillow to any size insert you want. You simply want to crochet rows of half double crochets to the size of your insert. You will also want to make more or less ghost appliqués and arrange them to your liking.

For this pillow, you will crochet two separate panels for the pillow. Ghosts will be crocheted separately then attached onto the front panel. I hot glued mine on because this is only a decorative pillow for me. You can also choose to sew them on with tapestry needle and thread for a more secure method of attaching.

Gauge: 4” x 4” = 12stitches x 10 rows in half double crochets

Abbreviations: (US terms)

Ch = chain, hdc = double crochet, sc = single crochet, sl st = slip stitch, st(es) = stitch(es)

Pattern for Lumbar Pillow 20” x 12”

Use the color yarn you want your pillow cover to be and a 6.00mm crochet hook.

Row 1: Crochet 58 foundation half double crochets OR Ch 59, hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn 

Row 2: Ch 1, hdc in each st across, turn (58)

Repeat Row 2 until you have a total of 28 rows.

Your finished panel should measure 20” x 12”.

Make two panels.

Make 14 ghosts. (pattern below)

Assembly

Attach your ghosts to one of the panels. Follow the photo as a guide. The first row will have 5 ghosts, the second row will have 4 ghosts, and the last row will have 5 ghosts. Space them as evenly as possible.

Once your ghosts are attached, this will be your front panel.

Hold the front and back panels together with the front panel facing you. Using same color yarn as your pillow and 6.00mm crochet hook, single crochet both panels together making 3 single crochets in each corner. I start by attaching the yarn in the bottom left corner and go from there. 

Weave in ends.

Pattern for Square Pillow 14” x 14”

Use the color yarn you want your pillow cover to be and a 6.00mm crochet hook.

Row 1: Crochet 43 foundation hdc OR Ch 44, hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn

Row 2: Ch 1, hdc in each st across, turn (45)

Repeat Row 2 until you have a total of 33 rows.

Your finished panel should measure 14” x 14”.

Make two panels.

Make 10 ghosts. (pattern below)

Assembly

Attach your ghosts to one of the panels. Follow the photo as a guide. The first row will have 3 ghosts, the second row will have 2 ghosts, the third row will have 3 ghosts, and the last row will have 2 ghosts. Space them as evenly as possible.

Once your ghosts are attached, this will be your front panel.

Hold the front and back panels together with the front panel facing you. Using same color yarn as your pillow and 6.00mm crochet hook, single crochet both panels together making 3 single crochets in each corner. I start by attaching the yarn in the bottom left corner and go from there. 

Weave in ends.

Ghost Applique Pattern

Notes: 

Use 4.00mm crochet hook and white and black yarn.

Video Tutorial: https://youtu.be/TH-2xxBLBkE

Use white yarn.

Round 1: Magic ring, ch 1, 10hdc in ring, join to first st (10)

Round 2: Ch 1, 2hdc in each st around, join to first st (20)

This completes the head of the ghost, continue onto the body without fastening off.

Row 1: Ch 1, hdc in next 7 st, turn

Row 2: Ch 1, hdc in each st across, turn

Row 3: Ch 2, dc in first st, (dc, hdc) in next st, (sl st, dc) in next st, (dc, hdc) in next st, (sl st, dc) in next st, (dc, hdc) in next st, sl st into last st

Fasten off. Leave a tail for sewing onto granny square.

Use black yarn and tapestry needle to sew on eyes.

Sew on two lines on the head. For each line, go over it twice to make the eye a bit thicker. See photo as guide.