Rope Ghost Craft: Easy DIY Halloween Decorations!
Home » CREATE » Crafts » Halloween Crafts »This Rope Ghost Craft is a fun and easy Halloween project that adds a spooky-cute touch to your home décor!
Bring some handmade charm to your Halloween decorating with this adorable rope ghost craft! Using simple supplies like white yarn, cotton rope, and felt, you can make friendly ghosts perfect for tiered trays, mantels, or party displays. Kids and adults alike will enjoy this no-sew project that’s full of Halloween spirit!
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Why You’ll Love This Rope Ghost Craft
These little rope ghosts are the perfect mix of rustic and cute! The project uses thick cotton rope wrapped in white yarn to create soft, textured bodies with frayed ends that look like flowing ghost tails. With just a few basic supplies, you can whip up a whole ghostly family in under an hour.
They look great as tiered tray decorations, place-setting toppers, or even as gift bag ornaments. You can scale them up or down depending on your display space, and customize the faces for spooky, silly, or sweet Halloween vibes!
For more spooky crafting, why not have a go at making a Ghost Felt Scrap Wreath, Tissue Paper Ghosts, a cute, mini Felt Ghost Plush, or grab some leaves and make a Ghost Leaf Garland!
Craft Supplies to Make Rope Ghosts
The materials and tools needed for this project are linked on Amazon below for your convenience. The quantities are on the craft tutorial card at the end of this post.
- Craft Yarn—White, soft acrylic or cotton works best.
- Thick Cotton Rope—About 6–10 inches per ghost; choose sturdy rope with a natural twist.
- Glue Gun and Glue Sticks—For wrapping and attaching pieces. If crafting with kids, opt for a low-temp glue gun for added safety. Hot glue works best, but liquid craft glue can be used if you allow extra drying time.
- Painter’s Tape—To prevent fraying while cutting.
- Black Permanent Marker—For marking lengths.
- Black Craft Felt Sheet—For ghost faces.
- Ruler and Scissors—for measuring and trimming.
- Wide Tooth Comb—To fluff the rope ends into a fringe.
How Do I Make a Rope Ghost for Halloween?
You’ll find the printable tutorial card below the step-by-step images for this spooky craft—use them as a visual guide while making your ghosts.
Rope Ghost Craft
Materials
- White Yarn
- Thick Cotton Rope
- Black Craft Felt
Instructions
- Measure and cut the cotton rope into lengths—8″ (20 cm) and 10″ (25 cm) for the tall ghost, and 6″ (15 cm) and 8″ (20 cm) for the small one. Wrap painter’s tape around each cut mark before cutting to prevent fraying.
- Lay out all the rope sections on your work surface to plan each ghost. Use a permanent marker to number or label the pieces so you can keep track of their order when assembling later.
- Apply a small dab of hot glue to one end of a rope section. Press the end of the white yarn into the glue and let it cool. Wrap the yarn tightly and evenly around the rope until it’s fully covered, keeping the rows close together so none of the rope shows through. Secure the end with another dot of glue. Repeat for all rope pieces.
- For each ghost, take the two wrapped rope sections and fold them in half. Apply a thin line of hot glue along the fold of the shorter piece and press it against the fold of the longer piece so the two halves sit side by side. Hold them together until the glue sets—this forms the ghost’s body. Repeat for the second ghost.
- Carefully remove the painter’s tape from both ends of each ghost. Use a comb or brush to gently separate the cotton rope fibers, creating a soft fringe that looks like flowing ghost tails. Trim the ends evenly with scissors.
- Cut two oval eyes and a small mouth from black craft felt for each ghost. Glue them onto the front of the ghost bodies to give them their expressions.
- Display rope ghosts where desired—Happy Halloween!
Notes
Handy Tips & More Ideas
- Wrap Tightly for Best Results—Keep the yarn snug and close together as you wrap the rope so none of the base shows through.
- Tame the Fringe—After removing the tape, use a fine-tooth comb or pet brush to separate the rope strands for a soft, wispy finish.
- No Hot Glue?—Liquid craft glue works too—it just takes longer to dry but is safer for kids.
- Add a Pop of Color—Use pastel or metallic yarns for a whimsical twist, or to match your seasonal decor.
- Get Creative with Faces—Cut different expressions from black felt—surprised, happy, or even winking ghosts!
- Make a Mini Ghost Garland—Attach several smaller ghosts to twine for an adorable hanging decoration.
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More Halloween Crafts
Can’t get enough Halloween crafting? These creative projects are just what you need for more spooky-season fun!
Ready to Make These Rope Ghosts?
These wrapped rope ghosts are quick, affordable, and oh-so-cute for Halloween! They’re great for kids’ craft afternoons or cozy weekends decorating with family. Make a few to display around the house or tie one to a gift bag for a handmade Halloween touch.
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This post is part of my long-running Crafty October series on The Purple Pumpkin Blog. Since 2012, I’ve shared Halloween recipes, printables, and crafts every October. While I don’t officially run the series anymore, all my new Halloween posts are still part of this decades-long celebration of spooky fun! Browse past Crafty October years for even more inspiration: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, and 2012.