Hand Knit Halloween: Gifts, Decor, and more

It’s time to start hand knitting Halloween gifts!

In this collection, you’ll find a variety of free Halloween knitting patterns. There are options for knitting accessories for cooler weather, knitted toys and stash busters, and fall gifts for house and home.

Just a quick note before we dive in. The patterns in this collection are not my own. If you find you have questions about a particular pattern, please contact the designer directly.

Ready to begin? Let’s go!

Hand Knit Accessories for Halloween

In my experience, some of the best Halloween gifts are the hand knitted ones. The following knitting accessories are no exception. Here’s an assortment of Halloween gift ideas your friends and family will love.  

Candy Corn Hat

If you’re looking for Halloween gift ideas for kids, this cute candy corn pixie hat is perfect for the holiday.

Knit in the round with the three traditional candy corn colors, it requires soft worsted weight yarn. Check your yarn stash.

You’ll need to know how to change yarn colors in knitting, and how to decrease using knit two together (k2tog) to create the pixie hat peak.

This hand knitted hat pattern works up with circular needles or double pointed needles (DPNs), and a stitch marker. It includes written knitting instructions for three sizes for your littles.

Sweet Pumpkin

Here’s a free pattern from Garn Studio Drops Design that would make a great Halloween gift for children. I mean, who doesn’t love fall pumpkins?

This adorable knitted pumpkin hat pattern includes several sizes from baby to child. The knitting pattern recommends Drops Karisma yarn, a DK weight superwash wool yarn.

You’ll need to know how to join in the round and stockinette stitch in the round using DPNs. The pattern includes partial written knitting instructions followed by a knitting chart.

Get started on this sweet pumpkin for the little ones in your life.

Weirwood Cowl

Looking for a great Halloween gift for adults? Even if you’re not a Game of Thrones fan, you’ll love this Game of Thrones inspired weirwood tree colorwork cowl.

Designed by Andrea Krüß-Anders, this hand knitted cowl pattern works up with two strands of sock yarn/fingering yarn. It includes a simple 2x2 rib stitch knitting (knits and purls) for both edges, and a stretchy cast on and bind off. To knit this free cowl knitting pattern with circular needles, you’ll need to be able to read a knitting pattern as well as how to read a knitting color chart.

This men’s knitted cowl would look great with hand dyed tonal yarn and would be an amazing hand knitted Halloween gift. Consider knitting this stranded colorwork pattern for that special someone in your life.  

Knitted Skull Cap

Looking for Halloween gift ideas for him? This knit skull cap pattern is the perfect thing. But it doesn’t have to be just for him. With three sizes to choose from, you can knit this skull cap beanie for your whole family.

This two color knitting pattern has a simple pattern motif that’s perfect for beginners. It’ll give you a chance to practice stranded colorwork and color dominance in your knitting. You’ll also work on catching floats, and knitting with two colors.

Just choose your favorite medium weight yarn (worsted 4), grab your circular needles, and get started. You can’t go wrong with this knitted skull hat.

Halloween Houndstooth Cowl

Here’s a quick knitting project for gift giving. This knitted neck warmer with houndstooth design makes a great men’s knitted cowl, too.

Using 100% bulky merino yarn and the slip stitch knitting technique, you can knit this cozy cowl and quick. You’ll need to know how to knit, how to slip a stitch, and knit with two colors of yarn. Unlike other colorwork knitting patterns, slip stitches are really easy and a great knitting project for beginners.

X-Ray Gloves

Need that finishing touch for your skeleton costume, or need the ultimate Halloween gift idea? Check out these skeleton hand knit gloves. They have so much detail. They look just like a hand x-ray image.

These knitted gloves are an intermediate knit that requires stranded colorwork knitting. Each one is knit in the round, bottom up, in one piece. You can also knit flat, but it’ll leave you more work in the end.

The really cool thing about this pattern is that it can be modified in three ways. You can make it a fingerless gloves knitting pattern, hand knit mittens, or stick with the knitted gloves pattern. Amazing! Just look at some of these finished projects from other knitters.

You’ll need to be able to knit in the round with circular needles or with DPNs, and read a knitting color chart.

Don’t have the recommended yarn? You can always do a yarn substitution. I’ve included one to try below using Drops Baby Merino Wool.

One last note regarding the pattern. It was originally a knit along (KAL) so it is published in 3 sections. The pattern is also written in both English and Finnish, so just look for your sections and begin.

Halloween Knit Hat

If you're big into DIY Halloween gifts, here’s a fun colorwork knitting pattern that’s perfect for all your favorite little ghouls.

Knit in the round with Caron Simply Soft Party yarn, this free pattern features stranded colorwork knitting. Using 5 total colors, it’s complete with scary black cats, jack o’lanterns, white ghosts, and green skulls.

Aside from the rib knit brim, you’ll need to read a knitting chart. For the crown, you’ll need to know how to decrease in knitting using make ones (M1) and slip slip knits (ssk).

What you’ll have when you’re done is one unique Halloween gift!

The Skullkerchief

Here’s another skull knitting pattern that would make an amazing knitting project and an even cooler Halloween gift! 

This knit neck gaiter features a picot bind off and works up in contrasting colors of DK yarn. Use the recommended yarn or use a yarn substitute like Valley Yarns Superwash DK (link below), 

To make this neck warmer knitting pattern, you’ll need to know stranded colorwork knitting in the round and how to knit with two colors of yarn. You’ll need stitch markers for this men’s neckerchief as well. 

The knitting pattern includes written instructions and a color knitting chart. Happy haunting!

Hand Knit Toys for Halloween

If you’re a fan of small knitting projects or simply love small things to knit, then you’ll love these adorable toy knitting patterns. They’re the perfect stash busters and make some pretty cute Halloween gifts.

Check out these free knitting patterns for toys.

Candy Corn

These tiny knitted things are about the cutest candy corn decorations I’ve ever seen.   

A free candy corn pattern from MochiMochiLand, each one uses small amounts of Cascade Heritage sock yarn. Buy yourself some new yarn or make it a stash buster project.

For this project, knitting gauge doesn’t matter, but knitting tension does. You’ll need to knit on the tighter side with this small knitting project.

You’ll be so impressed with how fast you’re knitting. These sweet DIY Halloween gifts will be flying off your tiny knitting needles!

Gus & Augustus Ghosts

Here’s a pair of happy Halloween ghosts decorations that are just so adorably spooky.

Each knitted ghost works up in worsted weight wool yarn, like Paton’s Classic Wool or Cascade 220, and is a great stash buster. These DIY Halloween ghosts are also a great introduction into knitted toy construction.

For this cute Halloween pattern you’ll need double pointed needles (DPNs) and about 50 yards of knitting yarn. You also don’t have to worry about your yarn tails as they’ll stay hidden inside and seamed up. This fact alone makes this free Halloween pattern the perfect quick knit gift to make.

Frankenstein

If you’re looking for gothic Halloween décor with just a touch of cute, this Frankenstein toy is just the thing.

To make this hand knitted Halloween toy you’ll need DPNs and medium weight acrylic yarn (worsted weight). You can use solid colors or variegated yarn. As for knitting techniques, this Frankenstein is knit flat and in the round.

There are some basic knit increases and decreases in your knitting, along with picking up stitches. Then you’ll bind off and assemble your cute Halloween Frankenstein.

This free toy knitting pattern would make a great Halloween gift for teachers or make your favorite adult a Halloween gift bag. They’ll love it!

Zero the Ghostly Dog

If you’re a fan of the ghost dog Zero from the Nightmare Before Christmas, then you’ll want to hand knit this Halloween pattern.

This small knit project uses DK or worsted weight yarn and size 3 knitting needles (3.25 mm). It’s knit in multiple pieces then sewn together.

While you don’t need to worry about knitting gauge for Zero the ghost dog, you will need to know basic knitting increases and knitting decreases. Specifically, the KFB (knit front and back) and the k2tog (knit 2 together). That’s it though.

Finally, the pattern recommends glow in the dark yarn for your ghost dog. The pattern's suggested yarn has been discontinued, but I’ve included two yarn substitutes, one of which actually glows in the dark. You can find them listed below. 

Voodoo Doll Pincushion

If voodoo dolls are your thing, here’s a free Halloween knitting pattern for a creepy yet cute knitted doll. 

This custom voodoo doll toy uses acrylic yarn, DK weight, and knits up in two pieces on straight knitting needles. Before you seam up this hand knit doll, you’ll decorate with buttons and embroider the face with yarn or thread. 

To make this voodoo doll, you’ll need to know the kfb knitting increase (knit into front and back), the cable cast on (tutorial), and a knitting decrease as well. Check out this free knitted Halloween pattern for step-by-step written instructions.

Hand Knit Halloween Decor

Get ready to cozy up to all the warm fall colors. Here are some simple knitting gift ideas for hand knitted decorations for your home. They’re the perfect quick knit gifts for Halloween and fall.

Spicy Knit Pumpkins

I love fall scenes with pumpkins. Why not make your own fall pumpkin patch inside your home? These happy fall pumpkins are no muss, no fuss, too.

Knit with Red Heart acrylic yarn, this fall pumpkin pattern features a knit chevron stitch, which makes an interesting stripe knit fabric. You’ll also find this small knitting project to be a great stash buster.

To make this free Halloween knitting pattern, you’ll need DPNs to knit in the round, and worsted weight yarn. You’ll find written knitting pattern instructions, which includes simple increases and decreases. Easy enough to do, you’ll definitely want to make lots of these knitted decorations.

Get started on your fall pumpkin décor with this easy Halloween pumpkin pattern.

Skull and Crossbones Cushion Cover

Whether you need some spooky home decor or want to add to your everyday decor, you’ll love this simple Skull and Crossbones cushion cover pattern.

This free intarsia knitting pattern uses super bulky (6) yarn and size 15 knitting needles. With easy knits and purls, this chunky knit cushion cover works up in two pieces to be sewn together later. Beyond that, you’ll need to know how to knit intarsia, but the designer includes tips to help you.

The original yarn by Debbie Bliss has since been discontinued but here’s a link for yarn substitutes, and I’ve included another just below.

This intermediate knitting pattern includes written knitting instructions with a knitting chart for the intarsia design.

Spooky Skeleton Jar Cozy

Here’s a (not so) spooky mason jar cozy that hits all the sweet spots. It’s quick and easy to knit, can be knit flat or in the round, and is a stash buster! Plus, it’d make a great teacher's Halloween gift. My favorite kind of holiday knit.

This free Halloween pattern is an easy knit 2 purl 2 ribbing pattern and uses Red Heart acrylic yarn (worsted weight) in solid colors. The pattern has written instructions for flat knitting and includes instructions and tips on how to embroider your spookiest faces onto the cozy. 

To make this rib knit fabric, you’ll need to know how to cast on, knit, purl, and bind off. That’s it. If you convert it to knit it in the round, you’ll avoid having to seam it up. Time saver! And with an easy to remember k2, p2 pattern, you can take it on the go. Make this your next travel knit project.

Pumpkin Potholders

If you’re looking for easy home décor knitting ideas for Halloween knitting, or just looking for fall gift ideas, why not try this fall pumpkin knit potholder pattern?

This free knitted potholder pattern features wrap and turn short row knitting and uses DK weight cotton yarn. For knitting techniques, you’ll need to know how to knit garter stitch, the knitted cast on, and a stretchy bind off.

It’s an easy knitting project for gifts and makes some pretty (and functional) knitted potholders.

Halloween Knitting Spider Dishcloth

Need a quick knitting project gift? This Halloween spider is an easy knit and purl stitch pattern that any knitter could make.

The free knitted Halloween dishcloth pattern features a slip stitch edge with a garter stitch border. You’ll create the embossed spider knit texture with easy knits and purls. Aside from that, you’ll need to know how to cast on and how to bind off. This knitted dishcloth pattern couldn’t be simpler. 

Cotton makes the best yarn for knitting dishcloths. Check out our recommendation below so you can knit your diy Halloween spider. 

So what are you waiting for? Get in the spirit with this Halloween spider. It’s perfect for homemade Halloween gifts, too! 

This knit purl pattern includes written knitting instructions and a knitting chart.

Creeptacular Knit Halloween Bunting

Looking for minimalist cubicle decor that’s creepy cute? These Halloween bunting flags would brighten any small space!

This Halloween banner uses Caron Little Crafties yarn in worsted weight (4) and Size 6 knitting needles.

The pennant shapes are made by knitting M1L and M1R increases with a background of  stockinette stitch. You’ll need to pick up stitches and knit to join them. Then you can embroider their little faces on. The pattern shows a cute jack o’lantern face, Halloween ghost, Frankenstein face, and more. Your trick or treater will love them all, or you can design your own together. 

This pattern is easily adjustable for a longer or shorter Halloween bunting. 

---

I hope you enjoyed these free knitting patterns for hand knitting Halloween gifts. If you're looking for more knitting inspiration, you can find our patterns page here.  You'll find there's something for everyone. 

---

Like what you see? Share your experience in a comment below. I'd love to hear from you. Also, don't forget to follow me on Instagram. See you there!

---

• Yarn Cones: What You Need to Know
• What You Need to Know About Yarn Hanks
• How to Russian Join Yarn for Knitting (and Crochet)
• Knitting Needle Sizes and Conversion Charts
• How to Read Yarn Band Labels