Crochet Ghost Applique Pattern Free: Flat, Made to Sew onto Fabric

This free crochet ghost applique pattern is a flat ghost crochet pattern worked in plain single crochet, with a scalloped hem and a sew-on edge. In worsted yarn on a 4 mm hook, it measures about 3½ × 4½ inches. It’s an easy evening project.

I’m a textile designer, so I see a crochet ghost applique differently than most yarn people do. Yarn stretches, weighs more, and sheds fuzz. Fabric doesn’t. Most ghost applique patterns stop when the crochet ends, and that’s exactly where puckered totes begin. I wrote this crochet ghost pattern flat and firm on purpose, so it sews down cleanly.

What you need

• Worsted yarn, white or cream (cotton if you’ll wash it)
• 4.0 mm hook, one size down for dense stitches
• Tapestry needle, black floss, sharp sewing needle
• Light fusible interfacing for thin or stretchy fabric

Flat ghost crochet pattern (US terms)

The turning chain doesn’t count. Inc means 2 sc in one stitch.

• Row 1: Ch 6, sc in 2nd ch and across (5).
• Row 2: Ch 1, inc, sc 3, inc (7).
• Row 3: Ch 1, inc, sc 5, inc (9).
• Row 4: Ch 1, sc across (9).
• Row 5: Ch 1, inc, sc 7, inc (11).
• Row 6: Ch 1, sc across (11).
• Row 7: Ch 1, inc, sc 9, inc (13).
• Rows 8–16: Ch 1, sc across (13).
• Row 17 (hem): Ch 1, sl st in first st. Then repeat this three times: skip 1, 5 dc in next, skip 1, sl st in next. Don’t fasten off.
• Edge: Turn, ch 1, and sc up the side, one per row end. Across the top, work 2 sc, 3 sc, 2 sc into the five foundation loops. Sc down the other side, join, fasten off.

Weave tails into this border, never across the body, or they show through light fabric. That edge is the secret. It gives your needle a firm row to catch instead of a loose loop.

For the face, stitch French knot eyes in row 9 at stitches 5 and 9, plus a tiny back-stitch mouth. Skip safety eyes on baby items. Make your first ghost on scrap fabric. It’s the cheapest way to learn how your yarn behaves.

Block it first

Pin the ghost flat, spritz with water, and let it dry overnight. Cotton handles steam, but heat ruins acrylic. Blocking stops the curl, and a curled ghost fights you while you sew.

How I attach a ghost applique to fabric

1. Pre-wash the fabric so shrinkage can’t pucker it later.
2. Iron light interfacing behind thin or stretchy spots, or the yarn’s weight drags them.
3. Trace the ghost on paper and chalk the placement.
4. Pin the top, shoulders, sides, and three hem points.
5. Whip stitch through the border with matching thread, about 1/8 inch apart. Stay relaxed, because tight stitches pucker.
6. Tack only the three hem points for a floating hem, or stitch it all down for kids’ items.

I skip fusible web because crochet is too gappy for it to grip. Choose dark fabric too, since a white ghost on white vanishes.

Quick fixes for ghost applique crochet

• Rippling edge: too many sc. Use one per row end.
• Boxy head: block it into a curve.
• Sagging tee: use DK yarn and stabilize the back.

FAQ

By Sara McLean