A tiny crochet ghost and a larger shelf ghost can use similar stitches while asking for different amounts of shaping and finishing. Start by deciding where the finished piece will go, then choose a pattern whose published size and instructions suit that purpose.
These two options have free instructions available from their original publishers. The comparison is based on those published resources, not on a claim that we have personally made or tested either design. Our image is a concept illustration, not a photograph of the two named patterns.
Option 1: Tiny Ghost by The Nicole Chase
The Nicole Chase’s Tiny Ghost is a compact design worked from the top down with a ruffled lower edge. The designer provides written instructions, photos and video help on the free page, with an ad-free PDF sold separately. The published small version uses worsted-weight yarn and a 4 mm hook for a ghost around 2 inches tall; yarn substitutions change the result.
Choose this resource if a small decoration and visual help are your priorities. Read the notes for the exact materials and finishing choices before starting, especially if you are considering a plush yarn instead of the smooth yarn used for the smaller version.
Option 2: Red Heart Crochet Amigurumi Ghost
Yarnspirations’ Red Heart Crochet Amigurumi Ghost is listed as an easy pattern with a free download. The publisher gives an approximate finished height of 6 inches, or 15 cm, for the specified materials and tension. Open the download from the product page for the complete instructions and supply list.
Repeat Crafter Me’s version shows how a yarn change and a small accessory can alter the look. Sarah uses a glow yarn and shares an added tiny beanie. The underlying ghost pattern is from Yarnspirations; ordinary white yarn should not be expected to glow.
Compare the resources before choosing
| Question | Tiny Ghost | Red Heart Ghost |
|---|---|---|
| Published scale | Small decoration, about 2 inches in the cited version | About 6 inches with the listed materials |
| Free access | Written web instructions with visual help | Download through Yarnspirations |
| Best first check | Whether the small stitches are comfortable to handle | Whether the full materials and finished size suit the display |
| Image on this page | Illustrative concepts; use the publishers’ photos to judge the actual designs | |
Read the whole pattern before the first round
Look for the round-start method, whether the body closes at the bottom, when stuffing is added and which parts are sewn separately. Mark any instruction that must happen before the opening becomes too small to reach. Those assembly details are easy to miss when you focus only on the round counts.
Keep a note of the pattern name, publisher, yarn, hook and the last completed round. A removable marker belongs in the first actual stitch of a continuous round. If the pattern uses joined rounds instead, follow its convention for chains and joins rather than applying a spiral method automatically.
Make yarn changes as a separate experiment
A thicker yarn changes more than height. It can make small limbs or decorative edges bulky, alter how stuffing shows through and increase the amount needed for sewing. Make one complete sample before planning several gifts or a matching display.
Choose the finished use deliberately. A shelf ornament is not automatically suitable as a child’s toy. Follow the designer’s age-related materials advice, and do not treat embroidered features alone as a complete safety assessment.
Prefer something flat?
If stuffing and round shaping are not what you want to practise, try the flat ghost applique. It is worked in rows and can be sewn onto a pouch or garland. That simpler construction lets you focus on decreases and facial placement before moving to a three-dimensional ghost.
Keep making
- Crochet Ghost Applique: A Flat Motif for Halloween
- Crochet Bat Pattern Guide: Wings, Yarn and Assembly
- Crochet Halloween Garland: Motif Spacing and Assembly
Explore the Halloween crochet collection · Visit the crochet learning library