Add a touch of spooky charm and autumn coziness to your ride with this free crochet pumpkin ghost car hanger pattern! Combining a sweet white ghost wearing or sitting on a cute orange pumpkin, this charming rear-view mirror accessory is the ultimate fast craft for Halloween decor, autumn markets, or whimsical gifts.
Car hangers have become one of the hottest trends in the handmade community because they offer a fun, customizable way to personalize everyday vehicle interiors. Whether you are using soft plush chenille yarn for a squishy finish or sturdy cotton yarn for fine detail, this step-by-step tutorial will guide you through crafting both pieces and securely joining them into a lightweight, swinging car charm.
Skill level: Easy and Beginner-friendly.
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Why You Should Crochet a Pumpkin Ghost Car Hanger Today
Seasonal car accessories are in high demand during the fall and spooky season. Here is why adding this design to your project queue is a brilliant choice:
- Autumn Market Bestseller: Halloween and autumn-themed crafts sell exceptionally well at October pop-up markets, craft fairs, and online handmade shops.
- Two Cute Designs in One: Crafting a ghost paired with a mini pumpkin allows you to practice different shaping techniques in a single, compact project.
- Fun & Practical Car Decor: Lightweight and soft, plush car hangers swing gently while driving without banging noisily against the windshield like heavy plastic or glass ornaments.
- Great Scrap Buster: Requiring modest amounts of white, orange, green, and black yarn, this project is ideal for using up leftover yarn skeins from your stash.
Design and Technique Tips for Car Accessories
Crafting a balanced car hanger requires attention to weight distribution, cord attachment, and secure stitching so the hanging charm withstands movement and sun exposure in a vehicle.
Balancing Weight and Cord Length
To ensure your pumpkin ghost hangs neatly without tilting sideways, attach the hanging cord centrally through the top of the ghost’s head. When crocheting the hanging strap chain, aim for a length of about 25 to 30 cm (10–12 inches). This allows you to easily loop it around a car rear-view mirror without obstructing the driver’s field of vision.
Stuffing and Shaping Guidelines
Keep the stuffing light and evenly distributed. Overstuffing can make the ghost or pumpkin bulky and heavy, causing unnecessary pull on the hanging loop. Use small, fluffy pinches of fiberfill to create a soft, defined silhouette for both the ghostly body and the ribbed pumpkin base.
Yarn Substitutions and Material Alternatives
Depending on your preferred texture and aesthetic, this pattern adapts beautifully to various yarn weights:
- Worsted Weight Cotton Yarn: Using mercerized cotton with a 2.5 mm or 3.0 mm hook yields a compact, crisp finish with tight stitches that hold up well under daily sunlight.
- Plush Chenille or Velvet Yarn: Swapping to super bulky plush yarn with a 3.5 mm or 4.0 mm hook creates an ultra-soft, squishy plushie charm that brings instant cozy vibes.
- Color Variations: While classic white for the ghost and burnt orange for the pumpkin is timeless, try experimenting with pastel purple ghosts, black cat accents, or cream-colored pumpkins for a dreamy gothic aesthetic.
More Patterns
Take a look also on these adorable and seasonal crochet patterns:
Materials Needed
- DK weight 100% cotton yarn in the following colors:
- Orange: for the pumpkin.
- White: for the ghost.
- Green: for the stem, leaves, and hanging strings.
- 3 mm crochet hook.
- Stitch marker.
- Scissors.
- Tapestry needle.
- Safety eyes (8 mm eyes or similar).
- Fiberfill stuffing.
Abbreviations (US Terminology)
- MR: magic ring.
- St: stitch.
- Sc: single crochet.
- Hdc: half double crochet.
- Dc: double crochet.
- Inc: increase.
- Dec: decrease.
- Sl st: slip stitch.
- CC: change colour.
- Ch: chain.
- FO: fasten off.
- BO: bobble stitch (popcorn stitch) of 4 loops.
- FLO: front loops only.
Finished Size
Approximately 7.8 inches (20 cm) (depending on yarn and tension) and including the hanger, using a 3 mm hook and DK weight 3 yarn.
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Shop the Crochet Car Hanger PDF Pattern on EtsyFree Crochet Pattern: Pumpkin & Ghost Halloween Hanger
Ghost
Start in white yarn.
Round 1: 6 sc in a MR (6)
Round 2: inc around (12)
Round 3: (sc, inc) x6 (18)
Round 4: (2 sc, inc) x6 (24)
Round 5: (3 sc, inc) x6 (30)
Rounds 6-10 (5 rounds): 30 sc (30)
Round 11: 8 sc, BO, 11 sc, BO, 9 sc (30)
Place safety eyes between rounds 9 and 10, about 6 stitches apart.
Rounds 12-15 (4 rounds): 30 sc (30)
Round 16: crochet FLO: (in the same st: (sc, hdc, sc), then sl st in next st) x15
Round 17: crochet in the back loops you left free in previous round: (3 sc, dec) x6 (24)
Round 18: (2 sc, dec) x6 (18)
Stuff firmly.
Round 19: (sc, dec) x6 (12)
Round 20: dec x6 (6)
FO, weave through the front loops of the remaining stitches and pull to close. Hide the yarn end inside.
Optional: embroider cheeks with pink yarn below eyes.
Pumpkin
Start in green yarn.
Round 1: 6 sc in a MR (6)
Rounds 2-3 (2 rounds): sc around (6)
Round 4: (sc, inc) x3 (9)
Round 5: (2 sc, inc) x3 (12)
Round 6: CC to orange in previous st, then (2 sc, inc) x4 (16).
Round 7: continue with orange: (sc, inc) x8 (24)
Round 8: (2 sc, inc) x8 (32)
Rounds 9-15 (7 rounds): 32 sc (32)
Round 16: (2 sc, dec) x8 (24)
Round 17: (sc, dec) x8 (16)
Stuff firmly.
Round 18: dec around (8)
Leave a long tail (about 1 meter). Sew through the eight remaining stitches and pull tight to close the pumpkin.
Next, insert the needle through the center of the top (right next to the brown stem) and bring it out through the center of the bottom. Pull the yarn firmly to shape the pumpkin. Repeat this process a total of six times, spacing the yarn evenly around the pumpkin to create its natural segments.
To finish, FO, hide the yarn end inside, and cut.
Leaves
Ch16
R1: sc, hdc, dc, dc, dc, hdc, sc, sl st, sc, hdc, dc, dc, dc, hdc, inc in last st.
Turn your work (crochet along the other side of the chain):
hdc, dc, dc, dc, hdc, sc, sl st, sc, hdc, dc, dc, dc, hdc, sc, sl st.
FO.
Hanger & Assembly
Insert your hook into the top of the ghost, attach the green yarn, and pull it through. Yarn over both yarn tails, tie a knot between them, and then make a chain of about 70 stitches (you can adjust the length if you prefer).
Next, thread the chain through the center strands of the leaves using a tapestry needle (see photos for reference). Pass the chain back through the adjacent strands to form the hanger, and then thread the tail of the chain through the leaf on the pumpkin. Tie a knot securely, hide the green yarn inside, and cut the excess.
Finally, hide the remaining green yarn end inside the ghost as well.
Finishing Touches and Attachment Guide
Once both the ghost and pumpkin are completed, join them securely using matching yarn and a tapestry needle. Embroider sweet black eyes and a playful smile on the ghost, and add a tiny brown stem or green leaf onto the pumpkin. When installing the hanger in a vehicle, tie a secure slip knot or button attachment around the mirror base so it remains steady while driving.
Safety Note: Ensure the final hanging length of your car charm complies with local driving regulations regarding windshield visibility. Keep the hanger short enough so it does not block the driver’s view of the road.
And that’s it!
I hope you enjoyed crocheting this free pumpkin & ghost charm crochet pattern just as much as I loved designing it. If you decide to make one, I would love to see how it turns out—don’t forget to tag me on Instagram (@crochetbysilvia) so I can admire your cute amigurumi!
Your support means the world and helps me keep creating and sharing more free patterns with you!
Don’t doubt to check our other free crochet patterns.
—Happy crocheting!
This pattern is for personal use only. You may not copy, reproduce, alter, publish, or distribute this pattern in any format (including video tutorials). If you wish to share this pattern, please share a link to it rather than reprinting it on your site or blog.
You are welcome to sell finished items made from this pattern in small quantities, but do NOT use my photos as your listing or promotional photos. Please credit Crochet by Silvia as the designer.
Want to make more cute and spooky halloween amigurumi friends? Check out my free pumpkin crochet pattern or my free spider crochet pattern!
Frequently Asked Questions About This Pattern
Yes! This pattern utilizes fundamental amigurumi stitches, including the magic ring, single crochet, chain stitches, increases, and simple decreases. It is a fantastic beginner project.
Thanks to its small scale, most crocheters can complete both the ghost and pumpkin and assemble the hanger in about 45 to 60 minutes.
Absolutely! You are welcome to sell physical finished accessories made with this free pattern at craft fairs, autumn markets, or online shops. Don’t use the original photos as your listing pictures.
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