Ghost Crochet Treat Bag

Every part of these Halloween Crochet Treat Bags is designed to make them quick and easy to work up and very convenient to use. Whether that’s the use of the sturdy single crochet stitch to make the body of the bag, the thick drawstrings that can easily open and close it while it’s in use, or the features which are seamed on securely, these are the best crochet treat bags to have on hand. They can even be made from the scraps of your bigger Halloween-themed projects!

Related: If you’re looking for a “monstrous” bowl to store your candy in for the trick-or-treaters, check out Frankenstein’s Monster Candy Bowl.

How to Crochet a Drawstring Treat Bag

These Halloween goody bags are made from the bottom up by crocheting in a spiral. Once the top of the bag is reached, you’ll use chains to create spaces for the drawstrings to be woven through.

Different pieces are made depending on which character you’re making. Once you have all of them, the pieces are sewn onto the goody bag. Lastly, a double drawstring is made which is weaved through the gaps that you created to secure the top of the bag and keep the candy safe inside. This drawstring doubles as a handle for the bag.

Best Yarn for Crochet Bags

I typically recommend using 100% cotton yarn for a crochet treat bag for several reasons:

• Cotton yarns are soft and durable.
• Cotton yarns don’t pill easily.
• They hold up well to several washes in a washing machine.
• They show crochet stitch definition really well.
• They keep their shape.
• They don’t snag easily.
• They’re fairly inexpensive.

My second favorite yarn to crochet a bag with is 100% worsted weight wool, but keep in mind that animal fibers have a tendency to felt. And my third choice is double stranded acrylic yarn with a smaller hook than what’s recommended on the yarn label (because acrylic is stretchier).

If you’re going to line a Halloween crochet treat bag with fabric, you can use any yarn you’d like because the fabric will bear the weight of the items you place in the bag.

Yarn

Since I love to use cotton for crochet bags, for the ghost crochet treat bag, I chose Lion Brand Yarn 24/7 Cotton which is 100% mercerized cotton.

This collection is known for both its sheen and structure which remain no matter how much you wash and wear out your project. Since it’s machine washable, your handmade drawstring bag can easily get a lot of use before you clean it and will definitely be able to withstand a night of vigorous trick-or-treating.

The weight of this yarn give it a firmness and density that help the bag hold its shape better compared to lighter yarns.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• ch(s): chain(s)
• sl st(s): slip stitch(es)
• st(s): stitch(es)
• sc: single crochet
• hdc: half double crochet
• dc: double crochet
• sc2tog: single crochet decrease
• Rep: repeat
• RS: right side
• SM: stitch marker
• Rnd: round
• yo: yarn over
• sp: space
• MC: Main Color

Experience Level

• Easy

Gauge

• Measurements given throughout pattern.

Special Stitches

• Join with a standing single crochet: Begin with a slip knot on your hook, insert your hook into the stitch or space indicated, yo, pull up a loop, yo and draw thru both loops on hook.

Pattern Notes

• Turning chains are not included in stitch count unless noted otherwise.
• Yarn Notes: Lion Brand Yarn 24/7 Cotton (3.5oz / 100 g / 186 yards / 170 meters / 100% mercerized cotton) was used for the samples. Another comparable worsted weight yarn may be substituted.
• Yardage & Colors:
  • MC: White (1 Ball / 120 yards)
  • Black (1 Ball / 15 yards)
  • Orange (1 Ball / 2 yards)
• Construction Notes: These Halloween goody bags are made from the bottom up by crocheting in a spiral. Once the top of the bag is reached, chains are used to create spaces for the drawstrings to be woven through. Different pieces are made depending on which character you’re making. The pieces are sewn onto the goody bag. Lastly, a double drawstring is made.

Ghost Crochet Treat Bag – Written Pattern

Goody Bag

Gauge isn’t crucial for this project. Gauge checks have been added at the end of rounds 4 and 10.

Note: This section is worked in continuous rounds to keep from having an unsightly seam. Do not join at the end of each round, instead use a scrap piece of yarn to keep track of the beginning of each round. Move the scrap of yarn up as you complete each round.

Rnd 1 (RS): With MC yarn & a 5.00mm crochet hook, ch 2, work 6 sc into the 2nd ch from your hook. Do not join. (6 sts)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)

Rnd 3: (2 sc in the next st, sc in the next st) 6 times. (18 sts)

Rnd 4: Sc in the next st, (2 sc in the next st, sc in each of the next 2 sts) 5 times, 2 sc in the next st, sc in the next st. (24 sts) Your circle should measure approximately 2″ in diameter at this point.

Rnd 5: (2 sc in the next st, sc in each of the next 3 sts) 6 times. (30 sts)

Rnd 6: Sc in each of the next 2 sts, (2 sc in the next st, sc in each of the next 4 sts) 5 times, 2 sc in the next st, sc in each of the next 2 sts. (36 sts)

Rnd 7: (2 sc in the next st, sc in each of the next 5 sts) 6 times. (42 sts)

Rnd 8: Sc in each of the next 3 sts, (2 sc in the next st, sc in each of the next 6 sts) 5 times, 2 sc in the next st, sc in each of the next 3 sts. (48 sts)

Rnd 9: (2 sc in the next st, sc in each of the next 7 sts) 6 times. (54 sts)

Rnd 10: Sc in each of the next 4 sts, (2 sc in the next st, sc in each of the next 8 sts) 5 times, 2 sc in the next st, sc in each of the next 4 sts. (60 sts) Your circle should measure approximately 4-1/2″ in diameter at this point.

Rnd 11: Sc in each st around. (60 sts)

Rep Rnd 11 until your goody bag measures 6-1/2″ H, when laid flat.

Do not fasten off. Continue on to Final Rounds.

Final Rounds

Note: This section is worked in continuous rounds to keep from having an unsightly seam. Do not join at the end of each round, instead use a scrap piece of yarn to keep track of the beginning of each round. Move the scrap of yarn up as you complete each round.

Rnds 1 – 4: Sc in each st around. Do not join. (60 sts)

Rnd 5: (sc in each of the next 3 sts, ch 2, skip each of the next 2 sts) rep from ( to ) around. (60 sts)

Rnd 6: Sc in each st and ch around. (60 sts)

Rnds 7 – 9: Sc in each st around. (60 sts)

Rnd 10: Sl st in each st around. Join using the Special Join Technique. (60 sts)

Fasten off. Weave in ends. Continue on to the Ghost’s Facial Features. When laid flat, bag should measure approximately 7″ W x 8″ H.

Facial Features

I’ve included more than one option for facial features. Choose the face you’d like to add to your ghost and make the corresponding pieces.

Note:The pieces in the shocked ghost face are shown in orange to make it easier to see the stitches in the photos.

• Shocked Ghost
  • Eyes: Crochet 2 black eyes.
  • Mouth: Crochet 1 shocked mouth.
• Happy Ghost
  • Eyes: Crochet 2 black eyes, then add the whites to the eyes as shown in the photos below. Add eyelashes, if desired.
  • Mouth: Crochet 1 happy mouth.
  • Bow: Crochet 1 bow, if desired.

Eyes (Make 2)

Rnd 1: With Black yarn & a 4.00 mm crochet hook, ch 2, work 6 sc in the 2nd ch from your hook. Do not join. (6 sts)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in the first st, 2 hdc in the next st, 2 sc in each of the next 2 sts, 2 hdc in the next st, 2 sc in the last st. Join sl st using the Invisible Join Technique. (12 sts)

Fasten off leaving an 8” tail for attaching the eyes to the goody bag. Weave in beginning tail end. If you are making a shocked ghost, continue on to make a shocked mouth. If you are making a happy ghost, follow the instructions below to finish the eyes. Eyes are approximately 1″ W x 1-1/8″ H.

Adding Whites to the Eyes for a Happy Ghost Face

Using a yarn needle and 8″ piece of white yarn, add a small bit of white to the eye as shown in the photos below. You’ll see in the photos that I started by making a small triangle, then I worked back and forth filling in the small space.

After you’ve completed both eyes, continue on to make a happy mouth.

Shocked Mouth

Rnd 1: With Black yarn and a 4.00 mm crochet hook, ch 2, work 8 sc in the 2nd ch from your hook. Do not join. (8 sts)

Rnd 2: (2 sc in each of the next 2 sts, 2 hdc in each of the next 2 sts) 2 times. Join using the Invisible Join Technique. (16 sts)

Fasten off leaving an 8” tail for attaching the mouth to the goody bag. Continue on to attaching the facial features to the goody bag. Shocked Mouth is approximately 1-1/8″ W x 1-3/8″ H.

Happy Mouth

Row 1: With Black yarn and a 4.00 mm crochet hook, ch 10, working into the back hump of the chain, sl st in the 2nd ch from your hook, sc in the next ch, hdc in the next ch, dc in the next ch, 3 tr in the next ch, dc in the next ch, hdc in the next ch, sc in the next ch, sl st in the next ch. (11 sts)

Fasten off leaving an 10” tail for attaching the mouth to the goody bag. Continue on to Attaching Ghost Facial Features to the Goody Bag. Happy Mouth is approximately 2-1/8″ W x 1″ H.

Attaching Facial Features to the Goody Bag

Center the eyes and mouth on the goody bag. Use a yarn needle and the tails of yarn on each piece to sew the eyes and mouth onto the goody bag. Position the eyes and mouth as close or as far apart as you prefer.

Eyes: I placed the top of my eyes on the stitches 9 rounds below the drawstring holes, 2 stitches apart.

Eyelashes – If you choose to add eyelashes to your ghost, use a yarn needle and an 8″ long piece of black yarn and sew 3 little lashes on each eye, as shown in the photos below. The eyelashes I stitched on range between 1/4″ – 3/8″ L.

Bow

Rnd 1: With yarn & a 4.00mm crochet hook, ch 4. work 3 tr in the 4th ch from your hook, ch 3, sl st in the same ch, ch 3, work 3 tr in the same ch, ch 3, sl st in the same ch.

Fasten off leaving an 8″ tail of yarn for attaching the bow to the goody bag. Using a yarn needle and tail of yarn, wrap the tail of yarn around the center of the bow 3 to 4 times, then sew the bow onto the goody bag. Bow is approximately 1-3/4″ W x 1″ H.

Continue on to Drawstrings.

Drawstrings (Make 2)

Note: You may notice that I added my drawstrings before I added the facial features. I only did this so that you could see the drawstring holes in the progression photos.

Note #2: If you prefer a thinner drawstring, instead of following the directions for Row 1 below, simply create a chain that is 32″ L. Then skip working slip stitches into the chain.

Row 1: With any color yarn & a 5.00mm crochet hook, create a chain that is approximately 32″ long. Switch to a 4.00mm crochet hook, then working into the back humps of the chain, sl st into the 2nd ch from your hook and in each ch across. Stitch count isn’t crucial.

Fasten off. Weave in ends. Make a second drawstring. Continue on to Finishing.

Finishing

In this section, follow the numbered chart below to weave each of the drawstrings through the openings to create a double drawstring bag.

Drawstring #1 (Purple): Begin at any hole. This hole will become Hole #1. Insert one end of a drawstring into hole #1. Then continue to weave the drawstring in and out of all 12 holes around the bag. You’ll end by coming out Hole #12.

Drawstring #2 (Green): Begin at Hole #7. Insert one end of the second drawstring into Hole #7. Then continue to weave the drawstring in and out of all 12 holes around the bag. You’ll end by coming out Hole #6.

Finishing: Knot the ends of the purple drawstring together. Knot the ends of the green drawstring together.