The Bitty Ghost Buddy: A FREE Crochet Ghost Pattern

Halloween is on its way and will be here before you know it. If you are looking for the perfect “Boo Basket” stuffer for your favorite little one, I’ve got you covered! This month, I’m releasing this sweet-not-spooky FREE crochet ghost pattern! This bitty ghost works up lightning quick and makes the cutest spooktacular snuggly for the Halloween season.

Did you know?

The bitty ghost has a whole bundle of bitty Halloween buddies! You can find patterns for the pumpkin, bat, cat, candy corn and Frankie to collect the whole crew! Or grab the bundle (1 & 2) and save!

The Bitty Ghost Buddy is a unique design featuring the bobble stitch. Bitty buddies are a tiny-sized cross between a security blanket and favorite stuffed animal, making them the perfect little loveys. They are teeny, sweet and make great rattles, teether toys or binky buddies! The bobbled texture and soft body structure provide great sensory input while the cute animal designs make them fun for play! Even better, this free ghost crochet pattern works up lightning quick and can be made in worsted or plush weight yarn!

If you prefer the ad-free printable version, you can find it on Etsy or Ravelry. Read below to find a special savings coupon!

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As previously stated, these bitties are meant for babies, so I typically prefer cotton yarn like Hobby Lobby, I Love This Cotton yarn or Lion Brand, 24/7 cotton. Cotton yarn works up nicely and is great for teething babies to chew on. It doesn’t have loose strands of fiber shedding off, it is easy to wash and it just gets softer and softer over time. You can use other acrylic blends for these patterns, I just prefer the cotton. Plush has also become SO popular, so if you are looking to use something bulky, I recommend Premier, Parfait Chunky or Joann’s Big Twist Baby Bear.

Please note: This post contains affiliate links which means that if you purchase through the link, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting my small business

MATERIALS:

Materials needed for this little free crochet ghost pattern will vary based on the type of yarn you choose. If you choose a size 4 yarn, you will need smaller hooks and slightly less yardage of yarn whereas if you use a size 5 or 6 yarn, you will need larger hooks and slightly more yardage of yarn. A quick note about bulkier yarns – these patterns can work well with size 5 bulky yarn or with a very thin “size 6” yarn. I do not recommend using this pattern with Bernat Blanket Yarn as I feel that it just comes out far too bulky!

HOOK(S): [My all-time favorite hooks are Clover Amour hooks]

  • For Size 4 Cotton/Acrylic Yarn:
    2.75 mm • US size C // 4.0 mm • US size G
  • For Bulkier Yarn (Parfait Chunky):
    4.0 mm • US size G // 5.0 mm • US size H

YARN: [I’ve used Hobby Lobby and Premier Parfait Chunky for this project]

  • Weight : Worsted
    • Hobby Lobby, I Love This Cotton Yarn or other recommended
      • ~ 65 yds in white color
  • Weight : Bulky
    • Premier Parfait Chunky or Big Twist Baby Bear
      • ~100 yards

NOTIONS

GAUGE
Exact gauge is not necessary for this project

FINAL HEIGHT
~9 inches from top to bottom for size 4 yarn // ~11 inches size 5 yarn

OK, let’s get started! 

If you prefer the ad-free printable version, you can find it on Etsy or Ravelry. Use code BITTY to save on any of the bitty buddy patterns!

Here’s a quick note! Most of my patterns use the bobble stitch. This is a unique stitch that creates bobbles which pop up off of the work to add to the texture and overall look of the project. For infants and children, this unique texture creates interest and great sensory input in their toy! I work my bobbles in the round by pushing them towards me rather than away from me so they end up on the outside of the work in the round. If you need help with this technique, see this stitch tutorial and check out this video which gives directions on how to work the bobble stitch in the round. The pattern featured in this video is the free pineapple plush, but the technique used is the same. On to the free bear crochet pattern!

STITCH ABBREVIATIONS:

SPECIAL STITCHES:

BOBBLE STITCH (bobble): tutorial here

To make a bobble stitch you will work multiple double crochets into the same stitch.

To begin,  yarn over and insert hook into the stitch.  Yarn over and draw up a loop. This leaves three loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through the first two loops (two loops left on hook).

Yarn over, insert hook into the stitch. Yarn over and draw up a loop, leaving four loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through the first two loops (three loops left on hook).

Yarn over, insert hook into the stitch. Yarn over and draw up a loop, leaving five loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through the first two loops (four loops left on hook).

Yarn over, insert hook into the stitch. Yarn over and draw up a loop, leaving six loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through the first two loops (five loops left on hook).

Yarn over and pull through the five loops on the hook. Pull stitch tightly and it will create a bobble. You can choose to make the bobbles on the right or the wrong side of your project, just make sure they are on the outside of the body when finished

DECREASE STITCHES (dec): To decrease stitches, you will sc or hdc 2 stitches together.

INCREASE STITCHES (inc): To increase stitches, you will sc or hdc 2 stitches into the same spot.

PATTERN:

MAKING THE HEAD:

*Start with a 2.75mm hook and switch to a 4.0 mm hook for size 4 yarn. Start with a 4.0 mm hook and switch to a 5.0 mm hook for bulkier yarns.*

Round 1: To begin, make a magic circle. Place 3 sc in the magic circle. Do not join. Use a stitch marker at the end of each round, if desired. Continue to work in the round. [3]

Round 2: sc x 3 around. [3]

Round 3: inc, s cx 2. [4]

Round 4: sc x 4 around. [4]

Round 5: inc, sc x 3. [5]

Round 6: inc, sc x 4. (Switch back to 4.0 mm hook if desired) [6]

Round 7: inc, sc x 5. [7]

Round 8: inc, sc x 6. [8]

Round 9: inc, sc x 7. [9]

Round 10: [inc, sc x 2] x 3 around [12]

Round 11: [inc, sc] x 6 around. [18]

Round 12: [inc, sc x 2] x 6 around. [24]

Round 13: [inc, sc x 3] x 6 around. [30]

Rounds 14-19: sc x 30 around. [30]

Round 20: [sc2tog, sc x 3] x 6 around. [24]

*Stop here and add facial features. Begin stuffing head firmly. Add rattle insert here, if desired!

Round 21: [sc2tog, sc x 2] x 6 around. [18]

Round 22: [sc2tog, sc] x 6 around. [12]

Round 23: [sc2tog] in each st around. [6]

Leaving a bit of a tail, cut and tie off your yarn. Thread a needle and sew under the front loop of each remaining stitch. Cinch tightly together to close the head. Tie off and weave in ends.

ADDING THE FEATURES: 

  • Place 8 mm safety eyes or embroider the eyes between rows 13 and 14 from the top of the head. Safety eyes should be placed 5 stitches apart.
  • Add eyebrows at a diagonal above the eye crossing rows 12 and 13.
  • Add a small mouth across row 16, centered between the eyes.

MAKING THE BODY:

Use a 4.0 mm hook for size 4 yarn or a 5.0 mm hook for size 5 yarn. 

If you use a bulkier weight yarn, you will want to size up to an even larger hook. I don’t recommend super bulky yarn as the bobbles end up kind of bulky and close together, but you may find something that works with a large hook size! If you would like a body modification specifically meant for super bulky  yarn, check out the bitty butterfly pattern.

Stitch counts are included at the end of each round. Bobble rows include [total # stitches, # bobble stitches]. You will not join at the end of each row. You will continue to work in the round.

For rounds with increases and decreases, they will always be done with a hdc stitch, not a sc stitch. sc stitch will only be used on rounds that also have bobbles. 

If you are a visual learner and prefer to make the body with a video tutorial, check out this link which reviews how to make the body for the similar bitty bunny buddy.

Round 1: To begin, make a magic circle. Place 4 sc stitches in the magic circle. Do not join. Use a stitch marker at the end of each round, if desired. Continue to work in the round. [4]

Round 2: sc, inc, inc, sc. [6]

Round 3: sc x 2, inc in the next 3 stitches, sc. [9]

Rounds 4-5: sc x 9 around. [9]

Round 6: sc x 4, inc in the next 3 stitches, sc x 2. [12]

Round 7: sc x 6, inc in the next 3 stitches, sc x 3. [15]

Round 8: sc x 15 around. [15]

Round 9: sc x 8, inc in the next 3 stitches, sc x 4. [18]

Round 10: [sc x 2, bobble] x 6. [18, 6 bobbles]

Round 11: [inc, hdc x 2] around. [24]

Round 12: sc x 2, bobble, [sc x 3, bobble] x 5, sc. [24, 6 bobbles]

Round 13: hdc x 24 around. [24]

Round 14: sc, bobble, [sc x 3, bobble] x 5, sc x 2. [24, 6 bobbles]

Round 15: hdc x 24 around. [24]

Round 16: [bobble, sc x 3] x 6. [24]

Round 17: hdc x 24 around. [24]

Round 18: [sc x 3, bobble] x 6. [24, 6 bobbles]

Round 19: hdc x 24 around. [24]

Round 20: sc x 2, bobble, [sc x 3, bobble] x 5, sc. [24, 6 bobbles]

Round 21: [hdc x 2, dec] x 6. [18]

Round 22: [sc, bobble, sc] x 6 [18, 6 bobbles]

Round 23: sc x 18 around. [18]

Round 24: [sc, sc2tog] x 6. [12]

Round 25: [sc2tog, sc x 2] x 3. [9]

Slip stitch to first stitch and then leaving a long tail, cut yarn and tie off. You will use this tail to attach the head to your body, so be sure to leave a long enough tail.

ASSEMBLY:

You should now have the head with facial features completed and a body.

Next, attach the body to the head. I recommend using pins to ensure that your head is sewn on straight and centered to the body. I prefer starting from the back of the body/head and moving around the front. Carefully stitch through the body and head to attach. I like to stitch around the head twice, in order to make sure that it is secure. Add a small bow, if desired, around the neck.

If you need help with attaching the head, check out my YouTube tutorial for bitty buddies at: https://youtu.be/FSDaIwLc-cY

Once you have finished the assembly, that’s it! If you liked this free crochet ghost pattern, don’t forget to check out the whole bundle! The first bundle includes the ghost, pumpkin and bat bitty buddies and the second bundle includes the cat, candy corn and bitty Frankie buddies!

If you make this bitty free crochet ghost pattern, I’d love for you to share! On Instagram, use #bittyghost and tag me @_stuckonyoucrochet_ OR share on Facebook! And if you’d prefer to keep a copy of the ad-free printable version, you can find it on Etsy or Ravelry. Use code BITTY to save on any of the bitty buddy patterns!

Thanks for checking out this free crochet ghost pattern and stay tuned for more bitty buddy patterns to come!

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