7 fun ways to customise your halloween knitted shapes!

One of the things I love about Halloween is that you don’t need to be super serious about it, it’s meant to be spooky but can also be cute, a little silly and fun! When I make my knitted ghosts, pumpkins or bats, I often end up adding extra details.

Here are some of my favourite (and super easy) ideas you can try too:

Dress up your ghosties

Last year I made a plain little ghost, and as I was looking at my cat out the window I noticed my sheer curtains moving with the wind. That’s when it hit me...why not give my ghost some fabric too? I cut a piece of lace from a vintage curtain I’d bought years ago at an op shop, and suddenly it became this cute little guy… who ended up going viral on Instagram! Old lace, tulle, gauze, or even cheesecloth can all give your ghost a floaty, spooky vibe. So don’t throw away those fabric scraps; they’re perfect for dressing up your tricotin.

Googly eyes everywhere

Honestly, googly eyes are a game-changer. I stick them on ghosts, spiders, even skeleton… and suddenly they look cheeky instead of scary. If you’re crafting with kids, be prepared: they’ll want to put eyes on everything. (Yes, I’ve had a pumpkin with four eyes before… still kind of cute!)

Mix yarn & naked wire

Here’s a little trick: not everything has to be covered in i-cord. I made a pumpkin where the body was knitted, but I left the stem in bare gold wire. It looked so nice, clean, simple, but with a bit of contrast. You could try the same with bat wings or spider legs too.

Add thread details

Another fun option is to use plain yarn as stitched details. By thread details, I mean sewing yarn across your design to create lines, textures, or patterns. For example, the ribs of a skeleton are way too thin to be made with i-cord and wire, so I just stitched some yarn through the rib cage. It’s quick, easy, and adds so much character to the final piece.

Have fun with colours

Who says Halloween has to be just orange and black? Last year, I made pastel pumpkins and they looked so sweet. White pumpkins are also gorgeous (and a lot more modern). Basically: if you love a colour, use it. There are no rules!

A bit of sparkle never hurts

Glitter glue, metallic pens, shiny yarn… I say go for it! I sometimes just run a metallic thread alongside my yarn while knitting the i-cord and it gives such a subtle shimmer. Perfect if you don’t want full-on glitter everywhere (because let’s be honest, glitter gets everywhere). I also use some ready to use shimmer yarn from spotlight! There are a few colours that are jst perfect for halloween (but also for Christmas!)

Tiny extras make a big difference

Little bows, sequins, or even scraps of ribbon tied around a pumpkin stem can make your creations pop. I’ve got a whole box of leftover craft bits, and Halloween is the best excuse to use them up. Just experiment! Have fun, play with textures! Sometimes it doesn’t work out, and sometimes you’ll be amazed by what you’ve created. I don’t have any Halloween-related examples in photos right now, but I do have a gingerbread man ornament where I added some wavy ribbon and a bow, so you can get a better idea of what I mean.

A little note before you go…

Crafting for Halloween doesn’t need to be complicated. Honestly, half the fun is in experimenting with whatever you’ve got lying around. And if you want a head start with the shapes themselves, my Halloween Template Bundle has everything you need—pumpkins, ghosts, bats, cats—you name it. Just print, bend your wire, and then go wild with the customising part!

I hope you enjoyed this article and picked up a few new ideas to try on your Halloween tricotin decorations! I’d love to hear from you! Leave me a comment to let me know what you think, or share some of the ways you customise your own creations. And if you try any of these tips, please feel free to send me photos of your projects! I get so much joy from seeing your work come to life.

For more tips, hacks, and behind-the-scenes crafty fun, come hang out with me on Instagram. I share lots of advice there and love connecting with fellow makers.

Happy crafting,

xx Lucie 🎃👻