For Halloween, Day of the Dead, Punk Rockers, Goth Princesses…
…and whoever else might like to use them, and for whatever else you might like to use them for. These designs would be fabulous for wearing to rock concerts, horror movies, pirate parties, or — if this is your style — just around town living your life.
Free Crochet Skull Patterns
1. Crochet Skull Applique Pattern
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Pictured at right is a skull applique that was made using crochet thread — but don’t worry about that if you don’t enjoy crocheting with thread. It’s easy to crochet this pattern using yarn, or the fiber of your choice.
Pattern Details:l
- A Free Crochet Pattern is available for this design.
- Crochet Skill Level: Easy
2. Skull Crochet Pattern
Pictured here is a different design for a skull patch or applique. Mine is crocheted using the same crochet thread and hook I used for working the skull pictured above.
If you want to crochet this skull, you’ll be working from a photo tutorial posted by Yella at her blog. She includes some pictures of most of the steps, which is helpful because the written instructions aren’t always clear.
Be aware that I added a round of surface crochet slip stitches around the outer edge of my skull, which isn’t specified in the original pattern. I did this because my skull turned out jagged and uneven, and I wasn’t happy with it. Also, this pattern includes a lot of ending off and re-joining your thread, which results in a lot of extra work when weaving in ends.
Pattern Details:
- A Free Crochet Pattern is available for this design.
- Crochet Skill Level: Not mentioned in the pattern — but I’d recommend it to experienced crocheters.
- Pattern Designer: Yella
- Where to Get More Info: See this page for more details.
3. Skull Motif Pattern, Plus Skull Necklace and Garlands
Shara Lambeth has shared a skull motif patterns, plus several interesting ideas for using the motif. Shara put her skull on a chain to wear as a necklace. She also made some of these skulls into garlands (also known as “buntings.”)
Pattern Details:
- A Free Crochet Pattern is available for this design.
- Crochet Skill Level: Not mentioned in the pattern.
- Pattern Designer: Shara Lambeth
4. Pirate Throw
This boy-friendly throw pattern could be fun for other family members too. The classic skull and crossbones motif goes contemporary with this design. You’ll combine crochet and embroidery to create the bandanna-adorned skull motif.
Pattern Details:
- A Free Crochet Pattern is available for this design.
- Crochet Skill Level: Intermediate
- Pattern Designer: Kim Rutledge
- Finished Size: The sample throw measures approximately 60″/152.5cm wide by 60″/152.5 cm long. If you work at the same gauge specified in the pattern, this would also be the finished size of your throw.
5. Dancing Skeleton Applique
In the project sample shown at the Red Heart website, the skeleton applique adorns a little boy’s t-shirt.
Pattern Details:
- A Free Crochet Pattern is available for this design.
- Crochet Skill Level: This is marked as being an easy pattern. You may also want to take into consideration the materials you need — size 10 crochet thread — which some crocheters find challenging to work with.
- Pattern Designer: Nancy Anderson
- Where to Get the Crochet Pattern: This link takes you to the downloadable free pattern in PDF format.
6. Sugar Skull Garland
This garland or bunting is comprised of crochet flower and skull motifs. The skulls are adorned with additional crocheted flowers plus rhinestones, sequins and glitter fabric paint.
Pattern Details:
- A Free Crochet Pattern is available for this design.
- Crochet Skill Level: Intermediate
- Pattern Designer: Brenda K.B. Anderson
- Where to Get the Crochet Pattern: You can download it here in PDF format.
7. Crochet Shawl With Skull Motifs
This is a lace shawl that incorporates shawl motifs into the design — the perfect accessory for goth princesses.
Pattern Details:
- A Free Crochet Pattern is available for this design. It’s written in two languages, one of which is English.
- Crochet Skill Level: Not mentioned in the English-language version of the pattern.
8. Filet Crochet Skull
This skull is rendered in filet crochet, a technique which results in a project that looks like delicate lace, yet is sturdy and practical and long-wearing (assuming proper care is taken when creating and caring for it.) There’s also a shell stitch edging, which is a pretty addition.
Also, if skulls are your thing, you’re likely to enjoy taking a look around this blog. It features bunches of different skull designs executed in a variety of different art and craft techniques.
Pattern Details:
- A Free Crochet Pattern is available for this design.
- Crochet Skill Level: If you are able to work with crochet thread, and you can do the chain stitch and the double crochet, you have all the skills you need to work the skull portion of this pattern.
- Pattern Designer: Abby Davis
9. and 10. Skull Scarves
This link takes you to two different patterns for skull scarves worked in filet crochet. One is called the “Tessellation Skull Scarf Pattern” and the other is the “Double Ended Skull Scarf”.
Pattern Details:
- Free Crochet Patterns are available for both of these designs.
- Pattern Designer: Abby Davis
11. Skull Trick or Treat Bag
Pattern Details:
- A Free Crochet Pattern is available for this design.
- Crochet Skill Level: Not mentioned in the pattern.
- Where to Get the Crochet Pattern: Click here to download the pattern from the Yarnspirations.com Website
12. Scary Scull Bag
This could be a treat bag for kids who go trick-or-treating, or a prize bag for filling with goodies and giving to kids at Halloween parties if they win a game.
Pattern Details:
- A Free Crochet Pattern is available for this design.
- Crochet Skill Level: Easy.
- Pattern Designer: Michele Wilcox
- Where to Get the Crochet Pattern: It’s available to download at the Red Heart website.
13. Skull Pin Crochet Pattern
Pattern Details:
- A Free Crochet Pattern is available for this design.
- Crochet Skill Level: Not mentioned in the pattern
- Pattern Designer: Shellie Wilson
14. Skully the Skull
This is a pattern for a skull-shaped applique.
Pattern Details:
- A Free Crochet Pattern is available for this design.
- Crochet Skill Level: Not mentioned in the pattern.
15. Poor Yorrick
If you should happen to need a pattern for a disembodied head with no skeleton, this is the place to go. Bonus points because the pattern also includes instructions for creepy three-dimensional eyes.
Pattern Details:
- A Free Crochet Pattern is available for this design.
- Crochet Skill Level: Not mentioned in the pattern.
- Pattern Designer: Apparently, someone who goes by the name of “Lyzard.”
16. Crocheted Skull Coasters
This set of orange, black and white coasters makes for a Halloween-friendly crochet project.
- A Free Crochet Pattern is available for this design.
- Crochet Skill Level: ?
- Pattern Designer: Vickie Howell
Buy Crochet Skull Patterns
17. Small Crochet Skull Patch or Hair Pin
Pattern Details:
18. Zippy Skully Neck Warmer
This neck warmer includes a small skull applique, which can also be used to embellish other items. The neck warmer is a two-color design crocheted using back loop single crochet stitch.
Pattern Details:
19. Sugar Skull Shoulder Bag
This shoulder bag is shaped like a giant skull. It is embellished with crocheted appliques that are shaped like hearts, flowers and vines, plus a few sequins. The entire piece was inspired by Day-of-the-Dead arts and crafts, which the author collects.
Pattern Details:
Knit Skulls — Free Patterns
20. Dia De Los Muertos Free Skull Knitting Pattern
This skull is large, intricate and detailed. The design incorporates scrollwork and flowers.
Pattern Details:
- A free, downloadable Chart is available for this design. The designer made charts available for knitting the skull in both the horizontal and vertical directions.
- Knitting Skill Level: Not mentioned in the pattern.
- Pattern Designer: Yaroslavа Rud, whose Ravelry username is Green-Mouse
21. Skull Knit Scarf With Chart
Pattern Details:
This pattern gives you a two-color knit scarf finished with fringe. A repeating skull pattern is the focal point of the design.
- A Free Knitting Pattern is available for this design, including both chart and written pattern.
- Knitting Skill Level: Not mentioned in the pattern, but I’d estimate this to be an advanced knitting pattern.
- Pattern Designer: Stephannie C. Roy
22. Skull and Crossbones Lace Knitting Chart
Skull and crossbone motifs emerge as you knit this interesting lace pattern.
Pattern Details:
- A Free Knitting Pattern is available for this design.
- Knitting Skill Level: Not mentioned in the pattern, but it looks like a project for experienced knitters.
- Pattern Designer: Sarah Bradberry
23. Skull Stockings
These stockings incorporate elements from Sarah Bradberry’s skull lace knitting chart, which is linked above. They also incorporate elements from a vintage 1940s pattern.
- A Free Knitting Pattern is available for this design.
- Knitting Skill Level: Not mentioned in the pattern. Even without having knit this myself, I’d say it’s a safe bet that this is a pattern for experienced knitters.
- Pattern Designer: Severina
24. and 25. Skull Hoodie and Hat Set for Kids
This child-sized set includes a matching hoodie and hat featuring a skull motif. This is a unisex pattern that’s boy-friendly, but you could make it for girls too.
Pattern Details:
- Free Knitting Patterns are available for these designs.
- Knitting Skill Level: Not mentioned in the pattern.
- Where to Get the KnittingPattern: Click here to download the free patterns at the Yarnspirations.com website
26. Yorick Knit Scarf With Skulls at Each End
This scarf is knit using felt-able yarn that’s part angora and part wool. The scarf has a skull design at each end. It is a unisex design that either guys or gals could wear.
Pattern Details:
- A Free Knitting Pattern is available for this design.
- Knitting Skill Level: Not mentioned in the pattern.
- Pattern Designer: Kate Kuckro
27. Crossbones Knitting Chart
Pattern Details:
- A Free Chart is available for this design.
- Knitting Skill Level: It will take an experienced knitter to know what to do with this.
- Pattern Designer: Jennifer Stafford
28. Skull Chart
This charted design features a grinning skull’s head in two colors.
Pattern Details:
- A Free Knitting Chart is available for this design.
- Knitting Skill Level: Not mentioned in the pattern.
- Pattern Designer: Jennifer Stafford and her husband
Buy Skull Knitting Patterns
29, 30, and 31. “Always a Bridesmaid Mittens”, “Laughing Skull Short Socks” and “Lauging Skull Long Socks”: 3 Skull Knitting Patterns From Wild Mittens Unruly Socks 2 by Lumi Karmitsa
Get the Skull Patterns or Learn More About This Book:
- Click here to check out our detailed book review of Wild Mittens Unruly Socks 2.
- Click here to shop for this book at Knitpicks.
- Click here to shop for this book at Amazon.
- Click here to shop for this book at the publisher’s website.
So there you have it: our roundup of fantastic knit and crochet skull patterns. I hope you found some great patterns to work on and / or add to your pattern archives. Thanks so much for your interest!
Please Help Us Keep This List Updated With the Latest Skull Patterns!
If you are a knitting or crochet pattern designer who has posted or published a skull or skeleton pattern that I missed including on this list, I would love to hear from you. Please contact me by email with the details about your skull pattern, including the following information:
- A link to the pattern online, if it is posted online;
- A link to the book where the pattern was published, if it is included in a book;
- Permission to use the photo on our website; this permission must be granted by either the photographer who took to use your photo, if s/he is the current copyright owner; or from the current copyright owner, if the photo has been published in a book, or the photo was a work made for hire, or the photo copyright was sold.
- The name of the pattern designer, so s/he can be properly credited for the pattern on our website
- Any other relevant details that our readers would be interested in knowing: the crochet or knitting skill level, the materials and hook or needle size needed to complete the project, etc.
Thanks to all the talented crochet and knitting pattern designers who so generously share their work with us. We appreciate all the love and hard work that goes into your patterns.
Get More Halloween Patterns
Crocheting or knitting for Halloween? If so, you’re invited to check out our list of Halloween patterns to knit and crochet.
This page was last updated on 9-6-2020.
