The Crochet Skeleton Cuddler makes a fun addition to your Halloween décor or the perfect trick-or-treat lovey! Find the free pattern below.
Pattern Design + Construction
You'll find fun Halloween and Christmas movies playing in the background at our home just about any time of the year! I love the whimsical characters and the feel-good story mixed in with all the gothic scenery. This pattern was so much fun to design! I would classify this as an intermediate crochet pattern because there are several pieces and a variety of stitches used.
The finished Crochet Skeleton Cuddler measures approximately 7 inches tall and consists of a front and back panel, bow tie, vest/undershirt, eyes and arms. We'll be stitching on the face and stripes using a tapestry needle and adding a bit of stuffing between the front and back panel before joining together. You could easily make a larger skeleton by using bulkier yarn and a larger crochet hook.
Pin this Crochet Skeleton Cuddler Free Pattern to your crochet board on Pinterest for later!
Yarn:
We'll be using medium Worsted Weight (4) Yarn for this crochet skeleton cuddler pattern. This is my favorite yarn weight to work with for crochet rag dolls and its super affordable. Worsted weight is versatile and wears well while also being soft and cozy which is perfect for a stuffed animal or cuddler pattern! You could easily substitute brands of worsted weight yarn as long as the ounces per gram are similar.
For this tutorial, I used the following yarn:
Red Heart Super Saver, Medium 4, 7 oz / 198 g, in the color White
Red Heart Super Saver, Medium 4, 7 oz / 198 g, in the color Black
Additional Crochet Supplies:
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Size G (4mm) Crochet Hook - https://amzn.to/3IHorgE
Tapestry Needle / Yarn Needle - https://amzn.to/3zxppJo
Scissors - https://amzn.to/3Pvbetr
Stitch Markers - https://amzn.to/3bdJoiH
Stuffing - https://amzn.to/3sKYsgr
Stitches:
This pattern is written in US crochet terminology.
Chain
Magic Circle
Slip Stitch
SC - Single Crochet
INC - Single Crochet Increase
DEC - Single Crochet Decrease
TC - Triple Crochet (often referred to as treble crochet)
* - Repeat sequence until the end of the round
For the PDF printable, ad-free pattern: CLICK HERE
To pin this pattern on Pinterest for later: CLICK HERE
Crochet Skeleton Cuddler - Free Pattern
Body Panel (Make 2):
With white yarn, chain 11
Row 1: SC in each stitch, chain 1 (10 stitches)
Row 2: INC, SC in the next 8 stitches, INC, chain 1 (12 stitches)
Row 3: INC, SC in the next 10 stitches, INC, chain 1 (14 stitches)
Row 4: INC, SC in the next 12 stitches, INC, chain 1 (16 stitches)
Row 5: SC in each stitch, chain 1 (16 stitches)
Row 6: INC, SC in the next 14 stitches, INC, chain 1 (18 stitches)
Row 7: SC in each stitch, chain 1 (18 stitches)
Row 8: INC, SC in the next 16 stitches, INC, chain 1 (20 stitches)
Rows 9-11: SC in each stitch, chain 1 (20 stitches)
Row 12: INC, SC in the next 18 stitches, INC, chain 1 (22 stitches)
Row 13: SC in each stitch, chain 1 (22 stitches)
Row 14: DEC, SC in the next 18 stitches, DEC, chain 1 (20 stitches)
Row 15: DEC, SC in the next 16 stitches, DEC, chain 1 (18 stitches)
Row 16: DEC, SC in the next 14 stitches, DEC, chain 1 (16 stitches)
Row 17: DEC, SC in the next 12 stitches, DEC, chain 1 (14 stitches)
Row 18: DEC, SC in the next 10 stitches, DEC, chain 1 (12 stitches)
Row 19: DEC, SC in the next 8 stitches, DEC, chain 1 (10 stitches)
on the last stitch of the 19th row, switch to black yarn
Row 20: SC in each stitch, chain 1 (10 stitches)
Row 21: INC, SC in the next 8 stitches, INC, chain 1 (12 stitches)
Row 22: INC, SC in the next 10 stitches, INC, chain 1 (14 stitches)
Row 23: SC in each stitch, chain 1 (14 stitches)
Row 24: INC, SC in the next 12 stitches, INC, chain 1 (16 stitches)
Rows 25-30: SC in each stitch, chain 1 (16 stitches)
Row 31: INC, SC in the next 14 stitches, INC, chain 1 (18 stitches)
Row 32: SC in the first 7 stitches, chain 1 (7 stitches) (this begins the first leg)
Rows 33-35: SC in each stitch, chain 1 (7 stitches)
Row 36: DEC, SC in the next 5 stitches, chain 1 (6 stitches)
Row 37: DEC, SC in the next 4 stitches, chain 1 (5 stitches)
Row 38: DEC, SC in the next 3 stitches, chain 1 (4 stitches)
Row 39: DEC twice, chain 1 (2 stitches)
Tie off with a long enough tail to weave in the end.
Join to the other side and repeat Rows 32-39.
Tie off and weave in all ends. Trim any excess yarn.
Using a tapestry needle and white yarn, stitch some pin stripes onto the black portions of his suit.
Bow Tie Base:
With black yarn, chain 4
Rows 1-3: SC in each stitch, chain 1 (3 stitches)
Row 4: INC, SC in the next 2 stitches, chain 1 (4 stitches)
Row 5: SC in each stitch, chain 1 (4 stitches)
Row 6: Chain 6, slip stitch in the 3rd chain from the hook, slip stitch in the next, SC in the next two stitches, slip stitch into the next stitch of row 6* repeat this sequence three times
Chain 1, tie off and weave in ends.
Join to the beginning chain stitches and repeat rows 1-6 for the other side of the bow tie. Tie off with a long enough tail to attach it to the body. Weave in the other ends.
Using a tapestry needle and white yarn, stitch some pin stripes onto the bow tie.
Black Bat for Bow Tie:
With black yarn,
Round 1: In a magic circle, SC 6, pull tight (6 stitches)
Round 2: We are only working into the first three stitches of round 2:
[2 SC in the first stitch],
in the next stitch [chain 1, TC, chain 2, slip stitch],
in the next stitch [chain 2, TC, chain 1, slip stitch],
Chain 1 and tie off with a long tail. Weave the ends to the back, making sure the magic circle is pulled tight.
Using white yarn and a tapestry needle, stitch on two little eyes. Tie off on the back and trim any excess yarn (keeping the long black tail).
Using the long black tail and a tapestry needle, attach the bat to the bow tie. Set aside.
'Vest' or Undershirt:
With white yarn, chain 9
Rows 1-4: SC in each stitch, chain 1 (8 stitches)
Row 5: DEC, SC in the next 4 stitches, DEC, chain 1 (6 stitches)
Row 6: DEC, SC in the next 2 stitches, DEC, chain 1 (4 stitches)
Row 7: SC in each stitch, chain 1 (4 stitches)
Row 8: DEC twice, chain 1 (2 stitches)
Row 9: DEC, chain 1 (1 stitch) *don't tie off
Border:
Continue up the left side with a round of slip stitches.
Chain 1 at each corner of the top before turning and continuing.
At the bottom point: [chain 1, DC, chain 1], slip stitch into the next
Tie off with a long tail.
Arms (Make 2):
With white yarn,
Round 1: In a magic circle, SC 6, pull tight (6 stitches)
Round 2: INC, SC in the next stitch* (9 stitches)
On the last stitch of round 2, switch to black yarn
Rounds 3-5: SC in each stitch (9 stitches)
Slip stitch, chain 1, tie off with a long tail.
Stuff the remaining tails (except the long black tail) inside the arm.
Using a tapestry needle and white yarn, add pin stripes to the black portion.
Set aside.
Eyes (Make 2):
With black yarn, chain 3
Row 1: SC in each stitch, chain 1 (2 stitches)
Row 2: INC, SC in the next stitch, chain 1 (3 stitches)
Row 3: INC, SC in the next two stitches, chain 1 (4 stitches)
Rows 4-5: SC in each stitch, chain 1 (4 stitches)
Row 6: DEC, SC in the next two stitches, chain 1 (3 stitches)
Row 7: DEC, SC in the next stitch, chain 1 (2 stitches)
Row 8: SC in each stitch, chain 1 (2 stitches)
Border: Continue left around the eye with a round of SC to clean up the edges.
When you arrive back to the beginning of the border, slip stitch, chain 1
Tie off with a long tail.
Front Panel & Face Assembly:
Using a tapestry needle and the long tail, stitch the vest/undershirt onto one side of the body under the head.
Attach the bow tie at the top of the vest/undershirt.
Using the long black tails, stitch the eyes onto one side of the face.
Using black yarn and a tapestry needle, stitch on the mouth/nose holes/ eye brows.
Tie off on the back side and trim any excess yarn.
Body Assembly:
Line up both sides of the body base (making sure the face/stripes are on the outside).
Join the front and back together with a round of single crochet using corresponding colors black for the body, white for the head.
Be sure to add your stuffing before closing entirely and tying off.
Using a tapestry needle and the long tails, attach the arms.
Tie off and trim any excess yarn.
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Chat with you soon,
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