This free grim reaper crochet pattern works in continuous rounds using DK or worsted yarn and a 2.5–3.5 mm hook. Make a standard plush or a mini/keychain in 60–180 minutes with simple stitches (MR, sc, inc/dec, FLO/BLO). You’ll place 6–8 mm safety eyes between rounds 10–11 and finish with a curved scythe and draped hood, no downloads needed. It’s a perfect Halloween grim reaper crochet pattern for spooky-cute decor or gifts..
New to amigurumi? Start with the First Amigurumi Step-By-Step Guide. If stitch names confuse you, keep this US vs UK Crochet Terms Conversion Chart handy. For neat stitch tracking, try these tips to Count Rounds in Crochet. Curious why the hood and scythe are iconic? See the cultural background in the Grim Reaper entry.
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Materials & Tools (Beginner-Friendly)
- Yarn (DK or worsted): black, white, brown, gray
- Safety eyes: 6–8 mm
- Hook: 2.5–3.5 mm (tight fabric; pick to match your yarn) see the Yarn Weight, Gauge & Hook Size Guide
- Notions: fiberfill, yarn needle, stitch marker, small wooden base (optional)
- Technique helpers: Magic Ring (MR) refresher: Magic Ring vs Chain Circle
- Safety-eyes sizing reference (external): brief overview of sizes and washers on LoveCrafts (use once for authority)
Work in a spiral unless noted. Use a stitch marker and stuff firmly for smooth shaping. This grim reaper crochet pattern benefits from firm stuffing for a clean skull shape and crisp hood edge, great for Halloween amigurumi displays.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- MR = magic ring ·
- sc = single crochet ·
- inc = 2 sc in same st ·
- dec = invisible decrease ·
- FLO/BLO = front/back loop only
If you prefer a refresher on how patterns are written, skim How to Read an Amigurumi Pattern
Gauge & Finished Size
- Gauge: not critical; aim for a tight fabric that doesn’t show stuffing. Adjust hook size within 2.5–3.5 mm to tighten/loosen.
- Finished size (standard): ~12–16 cm (4.7–6.3″) tall depending on yarn/hook/tension.
- Mini/keychain: ~7–9 cm (covered later).
Stuff firmly for a smooth sphere and crisp cloak edges, the hallmark look of a neat grim reaper crochet pattern for Halloween.
Crochet Grim Reaper Free Pattern — Standard Size
Head (white) — R1–R26
- R1: MR 6 (6)
- R2: inc ×6 (12)
- R3: (sc, inc) ×6 (18)
- R4: (2 sc, inc) ×6 (24)
- R5: (3 sc, inc) ×6 (30)
- R6: (4 sc, inc) ×6 (36)
- R7: (5 sc, inc) ×6 (42)
- R8–R10: sc around (42)
- R11: (6 sc, inc) ×6 (48)
- R12–R16: sc around (48)
- 👉 Place 6–8 mm eyes ~between R10–R11, 8–9 sts apart. Embroider a stitched mouth.
- R17: (6 sc, dec) ×6 (42)
- R18–R20: sc around (42)
- R21: (5 sc, dec) ×6 (36)
- R22: (4 sc, dec) ×6 (30)
- R23: (3 sc, dec) ×6 (24)
- R24: (2 sc, dec) ×6 (18)
- R25: (sc, dec) ×6 (12)
- R26: dec ×6 (6)
- FO, close.
Tip: for neat shaping, use the Invisible Decrease Crochet technique when working dec, it keeps this grim reaper crochet pattern skull smooth for Halloween photos.
Body (black) — R1–R24
- R1: MR 6 (6)
- R2: inc ×6 (12)
- R3: (sc, inc) ×6 (18)
- R4: (2 sc, inc) ×6 (24)
- R5: (3 sc, inc) ×6 (30)
- R6: (4 sc, inc) ×6 (36)
- R7: (5 sc, inc) ×6 (42)
- R8: (6 sc, inc) ×6 (48)
- R9: FLO sc around (48) — forms the robe “layer” ridge.
- R10–R12: sc around (48)
- R13: (22 sc, dec) ×2 (46)
- R14: (21 sc, dec) ×2 (44)
- R15: (20 sc, dec) ×2 (42)
- R16: (19 sc, dec) ×2 (40)
- R17: (18 sc, dec) ×2 (38)
- R18: (17 sc, dec) ×2 (36)
- R19: (16 sc, dec) ×2 (34)
- R20: (15 sc, dec) ×2 (32)
- R21: (14 sc, dec) ×2 (30)
- R22: (13 sc, dec) ×2 (28)
- R23: (12 sc, dec) ×2 (26)
- R24: (11 sc, dec) ×2 (24)
- FO, stuff, leave a long tail to sew.
Arms ×2 (start white, then black) — R1–R17
- R1: MR 5 (5)
- R2: inc ×5 (10)
- R3–R5: sc (10)
- R6: change to black, sc (10)
- R7–R8: sc (10)
- R9: BLO sc (10) — wrist ridge
- R10–R16: sc (10)
- R17: dec ×5 (5)
- FO; close. Lightly stuff the hand only.
You’ll attach them later, see Attach Amigurumi Limbs Evenly for clean placement.This keeps the grim reaper crochet pattern silhouette tidy for Halloween displays.
Scythe Handle (brown) — R1–R22
- R1: MR 6 (6)
- R2–R22: sc (6)
- FO; wire optional; leave tails for sewing.
Scythe Blade (gray) — R1–R14
- R1: MR 6 (6)
- R2: sc (6)
- R3: 5 sc, inc (7)
- R4: sc (7)
- R5: 6 sc, inc (8)
- R6: sc (8)
- R7: 7 sc, inc (9)
- R8: sc (9)
- R9: 8 sc, inc (10)
- R10–R11: sc (10)
- R12: 9 sc, inc (11)
- R13–R14: sc (11)
- FO with a long tail; stuff very lightly and curve. Sew to handle end/side.
Hood (black) — R1–R37
- R1: MR 6 (6)
- R2: sc (6)
- R3: (sc, inc) ×3 (9)
- R4–R5: sc (9)
- R6: 2 sc, inc ×2, 5 sc (11)
- R7: sc (11)
- R8: 3 sc, inc ×2, 6 sc (13)
- R9: 4 sc, inc ×2, 7 sc (15)
- R10: 5 sc, inc ×2, 8 sc (17)
- R11: 6 sc, inc ×2, 9 sc (19)
- R12: 7 sc, inc ×2, 10 sc (21)
- R13: 8 sc, inc ×2, 11 sc (23)
- R14: 9 sc, inc ×2, 12 sc (25)
- R15: 10 sc, inc ×4, 11 sc (29)
- R16: 13 sc, inc ×2, 14 sc (31)
- R17: 13 sc, inc ×4, 14 sc (35)
- R18: 16 sc, inc ×2, 17 sc (37)
- R19: 17 sc, inc ×4, 16 sc (41)
- R20: 20 sc, inc ×2, 19 sc (43)
- R21: 21 sc, inc ×2, 20 sc (45)
- R22: 22 sc, inc ×2, 21 sc (47)
- R23: 23 sc, inc ×2, 22 sc (49)
- R24: sc (49)
- R25: 24 sc, inc ×2, 23 sc (51)
- R26–R27: sc (51)
- R28: 25 sc, inc ×2, 24 sc (53)
- R29–R30: sc (53)
- R31: 26 sc, inc ×2, 25 sc (55)
- R32–R33: sc (55)
- R34: 27 sc, inc ×2, 26 sc (57)
- R35: sc (57)
- R36: 9 sc, inc, 9 sc, inc, 17 sc, inc, 9 sc, inc, 9 sc (61)
- R37: sc (61)
- FO with a long tail.
Fitting: Put the hood on the head first and sew the hood to the head opening. Then sew the head (with hood on) to the body, the hood overlaps slightly. The point can be bent/soft-shaped for that classic Halloween grim reaper crochet pattern vibe.
Assembly & Finishing
- Head ↔ Body: Center the head over the FLO ridge from Body R9 so the robe looks layered. Pin, then sew with the head tail.
- Arms: Align at the body’s upper sides (just below the head seam). Pin both to check symmetry; sew through the arm’s side loops for a neat join.
- Hood: Slide the hood on first. Pin the brim all around the face opening, then sew the hood edge to the head. Let the back overlap slightly over the neck. Gently bend the hood tip to a soft point.
- Scythe: Sew the blade to the handle (you can add a slim wire inside the handle if you want it extra-sturdy). Position the scythe across the hands and tack in 2–3 spots so it “rests” naturally.
- Base (optional): Stitch or glue the Reaper to a small wood disk for display.
- Finish: Hide all tails, steam-block the cloak edge lightly if needed. If stuffing shows, use a smaller hook next time or add a touch more fiberfill.
Tip for clean results: skim Top 10 Amigurumi Mistakes to Avoid once to double-check tension, stuffing, and seam alignment (use once). This keeps your grim reaper crochet pattern looking crisp for Halloween photos.
Mini/Keychain Version (Chibi Reaper)
You can get a perfect mini without rewriting the pattern:
- Yarn & hook: Switch to DK (or even sport) with a 2.5–3.0 mm hook. Keep the same rounds; the piece naturally scales down to ~7–9 cm.
- Stuffing: Use lighter stuffing—too much will widen the hood and stiffen the cloak.
- Safety eyes: 6 mm works best on the mini; still place between R10–R11 of the head.
- Keychain hardware: After assembling, stitch a small jump ring inside the hood point or the head’s crown. Add a split ring/keychain. For durability, pass the yarn tail through 3–4 times before weaving in.
- Travel-safe scythe: If gifting to kids, embroider the blade shape instead of stuffing a separate blade.
(Advanced quick-shrink option: to make an extra tiny charm, you can remove one “sc around” repeat row from the Head and Body sections, but keep the increase/dec math intact.)
This keeps your Halloween amigurumi set cohesive while the grim reaper crochet pattern stays beginner-friendly.
Customizations — Creepy Cute Crochet Grim Reaper
- Eyes & expression: Swap safety eyes for embroidered ovals; add a single stitched mouth or a tiny frown for spooky-cute vibes.
- Cape edge: Work a decorative crab stitch or BLO hem around the cloak edge after assembly.
- Glow details: Use a small strand of glow-in-the-dark yarn to wrap the scythe handle or outline the blade.
- Aesthetic variants:
- Super-cute: blush dots (light pink embroidery floss), smaller blade.
- Spooky: darker gray blade, embroidered cracks, slightly longer hood tip.
- Display ideas: Perch the Reaper on a mini wood base with a bit of moss or thread a black cord through the hood for a hanging ornament, great Halloween crochet decor.
Safety-eyes sizing (external reference, use once): a concise overview of sizes and washer types is available on LoveCrafts for quick checking.
Troubleshooting FAQ about grim reaper crochet pattern
Is this grim reaper crochet pattern free?
Yes, everything is on this page with step-by-step rounds, notes, and assembly guidance. No downloads required for your Halloween grim reaper crochet pattern.
What yarn and hook sizes work best?
Use DK or worsted acrylic/cotton. Pick a hook that gives a tight fabric (2.5–3.5 mm) so stuffing doesn’t show. Mini/keychain looks best at the smaller end of that range.
How long does it take grim reaper crochet pattern?
Mini/keychain: 60–90 minutes. Standard plush: 2–3 hours depending on your pace and photo-stops—perfect for a last-minute Halloween crochet project
Is the grim reaper crochet pattern beginner-friendly?
Yes—only MR, sc, inc, dec, and occasional FLO/BLO. Place a stitch marker and stuff firmly for smooth shaping.
Where exactly do the eyes go?
Place 6–8 mm eyes between R10–R11, about 8–9 stitches apart. Embroider a simple stitched mouth to taste.
My hood doesn’t drape nicely help!
Under-stuff the top of the head slightly, then pin the hood all around the face opening before sewing. Steam the hood tip lightly and bend to shape.
The scythe blade won’t curve.
Stuff very lightly (or not at all) and massage into a curve as you sew it to the handle. A slim wire inside the handle can add support.
Can I sell finished items?
Yes—small-batch, handmade sales are fine. Please credit this page as the pattern source.
More Spooky-Cute Free Patterns (You’ll Also Love)
Round out your Halloween amigurumi set:
- Pumpkin Witch Crochet Pattern — perfect companion for the Reaper.
- Crochet Pattern for Candy Corn — quick seasonal make.
- Amigurumi Duck Pattern Free – Keychain — fast practice for keychain hardware.
- Crochet Bee Pattern — beginner-friendly warm-up.
- Mini Potted Puff Flower — cute desk buddy.
- Lucky Rainbow Koi Fish Keychain — color-play and shaping practice.
Pattern Summary Card
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Skill Level | Confident beginner |
| Stitches Used | MR, sc, inc (2 sc in 1 st), invisible dec, FLO/BLO |
| Hook | 2.5–3.5 mm (tight fabric) |
| Yarn | DK or worsted: black, white, brown, gray |
| Safety Eyes | 6–8 mm (head R10–R11, 8–9 sts apart) |
| Sizes | Standard ≈ 12–16 cm; Mini/Keychain ≈ 7–9 cm |
| Time | Mini: 60–90 min; Standard: 2–3 h |
| Construction | Head, body, arms, scythe (handle + blade), hood; sew and shape |
| Notes | Work in a spiral; stuff firmly; body R9 FLO creates robe ridge; blade lightly stuffed/curved; hood tip can be bent. Ideal grim reaper crochet pattern for Halloween gifts and decor. |
Spooky-creepy and beginner-friendly—this grim reaper crochet pattern is perfect for Halloween! 🎃🧶
Pin it for later → Grim Reaper Crochet Pattern — Free • 2 Sizes + Keychain 📌
