Cozy Sheet Ghost Beanie

A close-fitting rounded beanie that reads as a classic bedsheet ghost. The dome is worked in dense, softly textured half double crochet so it sits snug to the head. It finishes in a wavy, uneven scalloped hem — short ripples mixed with longer draping points — like the hem of a ghost costume, not a flat brim. Two simple eyes and a small smile are embroidered straight onto the front. Slightly oversized, handmade, and meant for autumnal Halloween wear.

Skill level: Easy. If you can work hdc in the round, you can make this.

Materials

Yarn (bulky weight, category 5)

• Main color (MC): soft off-white, ivory, cream, or oatmeal — 140 (190) yd / 128 (174) m
• Face color (CC): small amount of dark yarn (black, charcoal gray, or dark brown), bulky or worsted leftover is fine — about 5 yd / 5 m

Choose a smooth or lightly textured bulky yarn (wool, acrylic, or blend). Avoid very stiff yarns so the hem can drape. Two typical 137-yd bulky skeins will cover the Adult size with leftovers.

Hooks

• US K/10.5 (6.5 mm) for the dome
• US L/11 (8.0 mm) for the draping hem
• Or sizes needed to obtain gauge (dome) and a slightly looser fabric (hem)

Notions

• Yarn needle
• Stitch marker
• Scissors
• Optional: rust-proof pins for shaping the points

Gauge

10 hdc and 8 rnds = 4 × 4" (10 × 10 cm) in hdc in the round with US K/10.5 (6.5 mm), unblocked.

Work a 5" (12.5 cm) swatch in the round (or a flat hdc swatch if needed), measure the inner 4" (10 cm), and change dome-hook size if you are off. Fabric should be cozy and slightly stretchy, not stiff.

Gauge check: 48 sts should measure about 19¼" (49 cm) around; 56 sts about 22½" (57 cm) around.

Sizes

Instructions are written Older Child (Adult). When only one number is given, it applies to both sizes.

The dome is meant to fit close to the head; bulky hdc has a little stretch. The “sheet” look comes from the flared, draping hem, not from a sloppy crown. For a slightly roomier dome, go up one hook size for the whole hat. Older Child also suits petite adults; Adult suits most teens and adults.

Abbreviations (US)

• BLO — back loop only
• CC — contrast color
• ch — chain
• dc — double crochet
• hdc — half double crochet
• inc — increase (2 hdc in the same st)
• MC — main color
• rep — repeat
• rnd(s) — round(s)
• sc — single crochet
• sl st — slip stitch
• st(s) — stitch(es)
• tr — treble (triple) crochet
• WS — wrong side
• * — repeat the instructions following the asterisk as directed

Pattern Notes

• The dome is worked in a continuous spiral (do not join, do not turn). Place a marker in the first st of every rnd and move it up as you go.
• Work hdc in both loops unless told otherwise.
• There is no turning chain on spiral rnds.
• Stitch counts appear in parentheses at the end of each rnd. Inline checks (✓) confirm the math.
• The hem is intentionally uneven: three point styles of different heights are mixed so the edge looks like a rumpled sheet, not a matching lace brim.
• Begin the scallop sequence wherever the rnd ends; because the points are mixed, there is no “right” center front. Optional: start at center back if you want to influence where a long point falls.
• Keep the face embroidery on the dome, well above the hem, so it does not sit on the draping points.

Special stitch — increase (inc): 2 hdc in the next st.

Pattern

Crown (dome shaping)

With MC and US K/10.5 (6.5 mm), make a magic ring.

Rnd 1: 8 hdc in ring. Pull tail to close. (8 sts)

Rnd 2: 2 hdc in each st around. (16 sts)
(8 increases → 8 + 8 = 16 ✓)

Rnd 3: *Hdc in next st, inc in next st; rep from * around. (24 sts)
(8 increases → 16 + 8 = 24 ✓)

Rnd 4: *Hdc in next 2 sts, inc in next st; rep from * around. (32 sts)
(8 increases → 24 + 8 = 32 ✓)

Rnd 5: *Hdc in next 3 sts, inc in next st; rep from * around. (40 sts)
(8 increases → 32 + 8 = 40 ✓)

Rnd 6: *Hdc in next 4 sts, inc in next st; rep from * around. (48 sts)
(8 increases → 40 + 8 = 48 ✓)

Older Child: Skip Rnd 7. Crown is complete at 48 sts. Go to Body.

Rnd 7 (Adult only): *Hdc in next 5 sts, inc in next st; rep from * around. (56 sts)
(8 increases → 48 + 8 = 56 ✓)

Body (snug dome)

Both sizes: Hdc in each st around, in a spiral, on 48 (56) sts.

Continue until the piece measures 7 (8)" / 18 (20.5) cm from the center of the crown, unstretched. Do not fasten off.

Try-on checkpoint: The dome should sit close to the head and reach about to the top of the ears / mid-ear. If you want more coverage before the sheet hem, add 1–2 extra rnds. Do not add so many that you grow a slouch; the ghost shape needs a rounded, close crown.

Suggested rnd counts at gauge: about 8 (9) even rnds after the last increase rnd, for a total of about 14 (16) rnds from Rnd 1. Trust the tape measure over the rnd count.

Level the spiral

Sl st in the next 2 sts (these sl sts do not count as extra sts and are only to level the jog of the spiral). You should still have 48 (56) hdc to work into on the next rnd.

Ghost-sheet hem

Change to US L/11 (8.0 mm) for a softer, drapier edge. The larger hook is what lets the points fall like fabric instead of standing like a brim.

Hem Rnd 1 (flare): Ch 1 (does not count as a st).

• Older Child: *Hdc in next 5 sts, inc in next st; rep from * around, sl st to first hdc to join. (56 sts)
  (8 increases → 48 + 8 = 56 ✓)
• Adult: *Hdc in next 6 sts, inc in next st; rep from * around, sl st to first hdc to join. (64 sts)
  (8 increases → 56 + 8 = 64 ✓)

Hem Rnd 2 (drape): Ch 1 (does not count as a st), hdc in each st around, sl st to first hdc to join. 56 (64) sts.

Hem Rnd 3 (uneven scalloped points): Do not chain. Work the point sequence below, joining with a sl st to the first st of the rnd at the end. Each point uses 8 sts of the round.

Point styles (each uses 8 sts):

• A — short wave: Sc in next 2 sts, 5 hdc in next st, skip 2 sts, sc in next 3 sts.
  (worked 2 + 1 + 3 and skip 2 → 8 sts ✓)
• B — medium scallop: Sc in next st, skip 2 sts, 7 dc in next st, skip 2 sts, sc in next 2 sts.
  (worked 1 + 1 + 2 and skip 4 → 8 sts ✓)
• C — long draping point: Sl st in next st, skip 2 sts, (3 tr, ch 2, 3 tr) in next st, skip 2 sts, sl st in next 2 sts.
  (worked 1 + 1 + 2 and skip 4 → 8 sts ✓)

Older Child sequence (7 points on 56 sts):
Work A, B, C, B, A, C, B.
(2 A + 3 B + 2 C = 7 points → 7 × 8 = 56 sts ✓)

Adult sequence (8 points on 64 sts):
Work A, B, C, B, A, C, B, A.
(3 A + 3 B + 2 C = 8 points → 8 × 8 = 64 sts ✓)

Join with sl st to the first st of the rnd. Fasten off, leaving a 6" (15 cm) tail.

The edge should look a little wonky on purpose: low ripples next to longer dripping points, like a sheet thrown over a head.

Finishing

Weave ends

Thread the magic-ring tail and pull the crown closed if a hole remains. Weave all MC ends on the WS. Weave the hem tail along the WS of a short wave (Point A) so a bulky knot does not sit at the tip of a long point.

Light shaping (do not flatten the brim)

The hem should drape, not stand out like a visor. Steam or damp-block only the points:

1. Put the hat over a bowl, balloon, or your head-sized form so the dome stays rounded.
2. Pin the Point C tips down and slightly out, at slightly different lengths if you like.
3. Let Point A sit shallower and Point B in between.
4. Mist lightly with water (or hover a steam iron; do not press the fabric flat).
5. Dry completely. Do not stretch the dome.

Embroidered face (no patch, no appliqué)

Try the hat on and mark the face with two pins or a water-soluble marker before stitching. Placement is on the front of the dome, not on the hem.

Suggested placement (Adult in parentheses if it differs):

• Eyes: two simple ovals, each about ¾" tall × ½" wide (2 cm × 1.3 cm), 1½–2" (4–5 cm) apart at the inner edges, centered on the front. Top of eyes about 2¾–3¼" (7–8.5 cm) down from the crown center.
• Mouth: a small shallow smile, 1–1½" (2.5–4 cm) wide, about ½–¾" (1.5–2 cm) below the eyes. Keep it a gentle curve, not a wide cartoon grin, so it still reads as a sheet ghost.

With CC and a yarn needle, stitch directly through the hdc fabric:

1. Eyes: Satin stitch each oval vertically (or outline in backstitch and fill). Keep stitches snug but not so tight that the dome puckers. Two roundish ovals or slightly sleepy almond shapes both work.
2. Mouth: Backstitch (or split stitch) one simple curved line. Optional: a second pass to thicken it slightly.
3. Optional friendly glint: one tiny MC stitch at the upper corner of each eye.
4. Tie off on the WS and weave CC tails for at least 2" (5 cm) through hdc posts so they cannot work loose.

Do not use buttons, felt patches, or safety eyes — the face is yarn-on-yarn only.

Wear

Pull the dome on so it hugs the crown. The scallops should hang in uneven points around the ears and nape, like a ghost sheet. Pair with coats, flannel, and autumn knits.

Fit and tweak notes

• Hat too snug: Redo with US L/11 (8.0 mm) for the dome, or make the Adult size.
• Hat too loose: Use US J/10 (6.0 mm) for the dome, or make Older Child.
• Points too stiff: Go up another hook size for Hem Rnds 1–3 only, or swap the 7-dc shells for 7 hdc if your yarn is inelastic.
• Points too long: Work Point C as (2 tr, ch 1, 2 tr) instead of (3 tr, ch 2, 3 tr).
• More “sheet,” less “beanie”: Add one extra even hdc rnd with the larger hook between Hem Rnd 2 and the scallops. Do not increase again (stay on 56 / 64 sts).

Finished look: A snug off-white dome, subtle hdc texture, a rumpled uneven sheet hem, and two dark embroidered eyes with a small stitched smile — a cozy handmade ghost, not a costume mask.