Crochet Ghost

Hello guys!

This is my first Instructable project and I'm super happy with it. I'm Brazilian but I've been living in New Zealand for a year and a few months and since then I've been learning English. So my English is in progress, as you will surely see.

I created this pattern for this year's Halloween and I'm completely in love. I wanted a different ghost, out of the beauty standards I've seen around...hahahaha... and I managed to use all the power of the crochet hook to mold a ghost beyond the original.

That's really cool to know that no matter how much we follow the same pattern, all creations will be different. The secret is in the final modelling, which uses water and white glue—a magical solution capable of hardening the crochet and shaping creepy shapes.

Take the opportunity to dare in this modelling and give life to unique and different ghosts. I thought it would also be cool if we made accessories like scarves and hats. They would be pretty fun ghosts, wouldn't they!?

This cute ghost makes a perfect gift and can also be one of your Halloween decorations. It's a beginner-friendly crochet project as it only consists of a few simple stitches! Below, you will find a detailed and illustrated explanation of the entire process of executing this project.

I would love to see your work! Find me and tag me on Instagram @calufeitoamao.

Good crochet!

Luciene

- 100% Mercerized Cotton yarn (370 Tex) of white colour

(or another of similar thickness); I used a yarn from Brazil called Bella produced by the Pingouin company.

- 3 mm crochet hook;

- Tapestry needle;

- 1 career marker;

- Some filling fibre;

- 2 eyes (I used different sizes);

- Scissor;

- Nylon thread (optional)

- White glue;

- Water

Finished Measurement: ~11 cm tall

Abbreviations:

Ch - chain stitch

sc - single crochet

hdc - half double crochet

dc - double crochet

sl st - slip stitch

inc - increase in sc (refers to two single crochet stitches made in the same base stitch)

incHDC - increase in hdc (refers to two half double crochet stitches made on the same base point)

[ ] - stitches made on the same base stitch

( ) - pattern that repeats itself

An example: the command (3sc; 1inc) x 4; 1sc - (21) means that the sequence of 3 single crochet and an increase in single crochet must be repeated 4 times and then the round will be finished by single crochet, totalling 21 stitches on the round.

PATTERN

Start with a magic ring. This first loop in the ring will not be counted in the first row.

Row 1 - 8 sc in the magic ring

Row 2 - 4sc; 1inc; 3sc (9)

Put a marker in the first stitch of this row and use it to mark all the first stitches of the rows of this work.

Row 3 - (1sc; 1inc) x 4 ; 1sc (13)

Row 4 - (2sc; 1inc) x 4; 1sc (17)

Row 5 - (3sc; 1inc) x 4; 1sc (21)

Row 6 - 1sc; (1inc; 4sc) x 4 (25)

Row 7 to 10 - sc around (25)

Row 11 - 6inc; 13sc; 6inc; (37)

Row 12 e 13 - sc around (37)

It is NOT time to glue the eyes, but we can already mark where they will be displayed later.

Note in the picture two possibilities for this positioning. Take your career marker as a reference. The marker can be on the right, as in the first photo, or on the left, as in the second photo. There is no rule, after all, we are working with a ghost with no rules and crooked eyes. But, it is important that you try to choose a position for the eyes and mark that position with a piece of white thread. The eyes should be positioned above row 13.

Note: Be careful with coloured threads in this recipe. In the end, the white glue that will be used to support the crochet may stain your work. I, therefore, suggest using white thread for any marking.

Row 14 - 15sc; (1inc; 2sc) x 4; 10sc (41)

Row 15 - sc around (41)

Row 16 - (7sc; 1inc) x 5; 1sc (46)

Row 17 - sc around (46)

Row 18 - 4sc; 1inc; 11sc; 1inc;19sc; 1inc; 9sc (49)

Row 19 - sc around (49)

Row 20 - (5sc; 1inc) x 8; 1sc (57)

Row 21 - sc around (57)

(In the next two rows, we will work in hdc)

Row 22 - hdc around (57)

Row 23 - (5hdc; 1incHDC) x 9; 3hdc (66)

Row 24 - Make a sequence of (A, sc, B, sc, C, sc, D, sc) around, beeing:

A: [1dc, 3ch, back doing 2sl st, 1dc] all this on the same base stitch.

B: [1sc, 2ch, 1sc] all this on the same base stitch.

C: [1dc, 4ch, back doing 3sl st, 1dc] all this on the same base stitch.

D: [1dc, 2ch, back doing 1sl st, 1dc] all this on the same base stitch.

The first picture illustrates sequence A, made in the first stitch of the row.

In the second picture, we can see how the sequence of chain stitches and slip stitches is made on this row.

Finish row with sl st and use a tapestry needle to finish.

Your little ghost is crocheted and ready to be moulded.

Let's go!

Make a ball of stuffing approximately 1.5 cm in diameter. Cut a 1.5-meter piece of white (or transparent) thread. Tie the ball to one end of this thread as shown in the picture. I suggest that you cross the yarn twice around the ball just like we do on a gift box so that it is tight.

Place the ball on the ghost's head and, with a tapestry needle, thread the yarn attached to the ball through the top of the head, from the inside out of the ghost. This thread will be used to hang the ghost later. The ball will be positioned inside the ghost's head and will support this external wire.

Shape the ghost as shown in the illustrations. There is no predetermined rule. Each ghost will be unique and differentiated. I suggest, however, that when moulding the folds, organize the external format according to the drawing, as if it were a straight tube, giving the impression of a sheet loose in the air.

One possibility is to mould the back curved upwards giving the impression of the existence of a supernatural force at work.

Use a piece of approximately 40 cm of white thread for this pattern. See the illustration.

Prepare a liquid mixture of white glue and water in a ratio of 5 amounts of water to 1 of white glue.

Dip the ghost into the solution gently so that the shape does not deform. It is important that the entire crochet is well-wetted with the water and glue solution.

Hang it up, make the final settings on your ghost shape and let it dry.

This process can take a few hours. I like to leave at least 24 hours.

When the ghost is completely dry and very hard, it's time to glue the eyes. Note the eye marking done earlier. I liked using different-sized eyes and positioning them in a slightly crooked way.

Your little ghost is ready! Congratulations!

Tell me the plans you have for this cutie you just made. I would love to receive a message from you.