Crochet Ghost Treat Basket Pattern

About this pattern

This friendly ghost is a useful catchall rather than a stuffed toy. A 72-stitch circle creates the approximately 5½-inch base; a back-loop-only turning round gives the sides a clear corner, and 14 even white rounds build the open body. Two charcoal rounds make a narrow lower accent, followed by a low scalloped ghost edge. The face is finished with two small black oval eyes and a tiny oval mouth.

US crochet terminology is used throughout. The finished basket has no lid, stuffing, or extra embellishments and is intended for dry, lightweight treats or craft supplies.

Materials

• #4 medium-weight cotton-blend yarn: approximately 180 yd (165 m) warm white, 25 yd (23 m) muted charcoal gray, and a small amount of black
• 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
• Tapestry needle, yarn needle, scissors, and stitch marker
• Optional removable stitch markers for handle placement

Finished size and gauge

The basket measures approximately 6 in (15 cm) wide × 6.5 in (16.5 cm) tall, excluding the handle. The base is about 5.5 in (14 cm) in diameter. Aim for about 14 sc and 15 rounds per 4 in (10 cm); a firm fabric helps the open basket stand upright.

Abbreviations

• ch — chain
• sc — single crochet
• BLO — back loop only
• sl st — slip stitch
• hdc — half double crochet
• dc — double crochet
• inc — 2 sc in the same stitch
• st(s) — stitch(es)

Pattern notes

• Work the basket in joined rounds. Ch 1 does not count as a stitch; join with a slip stitch to the first sc.
• Move the stitch marker to the first stitch after every join.
• The base increases by six stitches per round through Round 12, ending at 72 stitches. Do not increase after the turning round; all wall rounds remain 72 stitches.
• Change color in the final slip stitch of the round so the next round starts cleanly.

Instructions

Flat circular base

With warm white yarn, make a magic ring. Alternatively, ch 2 and work Round 1 into the second chain.

1. Round 1: Ch 1, work 6 sc in the ring — 6 sts. Join.
2. Round 2: Ch 1, inc in each stitch around — 12 sts. Join.
3. Round 3: Ch 1, sc in the next st, inc in the next st around — 18 sts. Join.
4. Round 4: Ch 1, sc in the next 2 sts, inc in the next st around — 24 sts. Join.
5. Round 5: Ch 1, sc in the next 3 sts, inc in the next st around — 30 sts. Join.
6. Round 6: Ch 1, sc in the next 4 sts, inc in the next st around — 36 sts. Join.
7. Round 7: Ch 1, sc in the next 5 sts, inc in the next st around — 42 sts. Join.
8. Round 8: Ch 1, sc in the next 6 sts, inc in the next st around — 48 sts. Join.
9. Round 9: Ch 1, sc in the next 7 sts, inc in the next st around — 54 sts. Join.
10. Round 10: Ch 1, sc in the next 8 sts, inc in the next st around — 60 sts. Join.
11. Round 11: Ch 1, sc in the next 9 sts, inc in the next st around — 66 sts. Join.
12. Round 12: Ch 1, sc in the next 10 sts, inc in the next st around — 72 sts. Join.

Turning round and lower accent

13. Round 13 (turning round): Ch 1, sc in the BLO of every stitch around — 72 sts. Join. Working in the back loops makes the base-to-wall corner and turns the fabric upward.
14. Rounds 14–15 (charcoal): Change to muted charcoal gray. Ch 1, sc in every stitch around — 72 sts. Join after each round. Change back to warm white in the last slip stitch of Round 15.

Warm-white body

15. Rounds 16–29 (warm white): Ch 1, sc in every stitch around — 72 sts. Join after each round. The sides should measure close to 6 inches from the base; add or remove even rounds if your gauge differs.

Ghost scalloped edge

16. Round 30 (charcoal edge): Change to charcoal. Ch 1. Work the following six-stitch wave across the round: sl st in the next st, sc in the next st, hdc in the next st, dc in the next st, hdc in the next st, sc in the next st; repeat from * around — 72 sts (12 waves). Join, fasten off, and weave in the end.

Handle

With warm white yarn, ch 31.

1. Row 1: Sc in the second chain from the hook and across — 30 sc. Turn.
2. Row 2: Ch 1, sc across — 30 sc. Fasten off, leaving long tails.

Fold the strip lengthwise so its two long edges touch. With the tapestry needle, whipstitch the edges together to make a sturdy tube. Position the handle ends on opposite sides of the basket, about 18 stitches apart, with each end overlapping the inside wall by 5 stitches. Sew each end through several wall rounds, then weave the tails through the tube and inside of the basket.

Face pieces

Make two eyes in black.

1. Round 1: Ch 5. Sc in the second chain from the hook and in the next 2 chains, 3 sc in the last chain; continue along the underside with sc in the next 2 chains, then 2 sc in the final chain — 10 sc. Do not turn.
2. Round 2: Sc in the next 3 sts, inc in each of the next 3 sts, sc in the next 2 sts, inc in each of the final 2 sts — 15 sts. Slip stitch to the first stitch, fasten off, and leave a sewing tail.

For the mouth, ch 3. Sc in the second chain from the hook and in the last chain — 2 sc. Turn, ch 1, sc across — 2 sc. Fasten off, leaving a tail. Curve the strip slightly as you sew it in place.

Assembly and finishing

1. Pin the two eyes evenly on the front of the white body, several rounds below the rim. Sew around each oval through the outer loops only.
2. Sew the tiny mouth below and centered between the eyes. Knot the tails inside the basket and weave them through nearby stitches.
3. Check every handle attachment and the charcoal edge. Shape the basket over a small bowl close to the base diameter, lightly mist it, and let it dry flat and upright. Do not stretch the rim.
4. Fill with wrapped Halloween candy, lightweight toys, stitch markers, or other small craft supplies. Do not overload the handle.

Helpful tips and customization

• Confirm the base counts: 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, 60, 66, then 72 stitches. A flat base is the best check that the increases are evenly spaced.
• If the walls flare, your tension may be too loose; try a 4.5 mm hook. If the basket narrows, use a 5.5 mm hook.
• Make the handle shorter with Ch 25 or taller with Ch 37, keeping an odd chain count so the finished strip has an even number of stitches.
• Swap charcoal for purple, green, or black for a different Halloween mood while keeping the warm-white body.

This open basket is for lightweight treats and craft storage. It is not a toy, and the small face pieces and handle should be kept away from babies and pets.

Enjoy your friendly ghost catchall—an easy seasonal project that is useful long after Halloween.