There is something undeniably satisfying about the rhythmic progression of a top-down hat, watching the rounds expand stitch by stitch until the crown takes shape. This Pac-Man Ghost Crochet Hat captures that magic perfectly, blending the smooth flow of double crochet increases with the distinct, pixelated texture of the waistcoat stitch. It is the little details that keep crocheters hooked—the precise color changes that form Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde, and the tiny embroidered pupils that bring the ghosts to life. The structured rounds and careful tension required for the knit-look stitch create a fabric that is both sturdy and beautifully textured, making this project a rewarding challenge for anyone who loves the tactile satisfaction of crochet.
Texture and Stitch Notes
The visual appeal of this hat lies in its unique construction. Unlike standard colorwork that floats loosely on the back, this design utilizes the waistcoat stitch to create a dense, knit-like fabric. This texture is essential for the pixel-art aesthetic, ensuring that the ghosts look crisp and defined against the black background. The contrast between the smooth double crochet used for the crown and the structured waistcoat stitch used for the colorwork adds a professional finish to the wearable. Additionally, the inclusion of Royal Blue rounds above and below the ghosts mimics the classic maze walls, grounding the design in its retro gaming roots while adding a pop of vibrant color.
Project Overview
This top-down hat features four distinct ghosts centered across the front, framed by black background stitches and blue maze stripes. The pattern uses a 7-stitch sizing progression, allowing for a perfect fit from baby to adult. The waistcoat stitch is employed specifically for the six rounds of pixel colorwork, requiring a loose tension to ensure the hook can easily enter the center post of the stitches.
Materials
- Red Heart Super Saver worsted weight yarn (or favorite worsted weight substitute)
- Black: Background and pupils
- Royal Blue: Pac-Man maze stripes and pupils
- Hot Red: Blinky
- Petal Pink: Pinky
- Minty: Inky
- Saffron: Clyde
- White: Eyes
- Size H (5.0 mm) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
Abbreviations
- CH = Chain
- DC = Double Crochet
- SC = Single Crochet
- WC SC = Waistcoat Single Crochet
- ST(S) = Stitch(es)
- HDC = Half Double Crochet
Pattern Notes
Waistcoat (Knit-Look) Stitch
This hat is worked from the top down. The main portion of the hat is crocheted in double crochet (DC or HDC) as specified in the pattern. The waistcoat stitch is used only for the 6 rounds of pixel colorwork. If you can make a single crochet, you can make the waistcoat stitch! Instead of crocheting into the tops of the stitches, insert your hook into the center post of the stitch — right in the middle of the “V” you see on the front. Complete the stitch just like a regular single crochet. This creates the smooth, knit-look texture that works so well for pixel-style colorwork.
Tip: Keep your tension a little loose. If your stitches are too tight, it can be difficult to insert your hook into the center of the V.
Centering the Ghost Panel
The hat uses the same 7-stitch sizing progression as the original Ghosts in a Row Hat. The Pac-Man ghost panel itself is always 28 stitches wide — 7 stitches for each of the four ghosts. Instead of adding more ghosts for the larger sizes, you will add background stitches before and after the 28-stitch panel so Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde stay grouped together across the front of the hat.
Important: Your beginning-of-round join should be positioned at the center back of the hat. This allows the background stitches at the beginning and end of each round to center the four ghosts across the front.
Hat Sizes
- Baby: 42 stitches (7 background, 28 panel, 7 background)
- Toddler/Preschool: 49 stitches (10 background, 28 panel, 11 background)
- Child: 56 stitches (14 background, 28 panel, 14 background)
- Teen: 63 stitches (17 background, 28 panel, 18 background)
- Adult: 70 stitches (21 background, 28 panel, 21 background)
Crochet Hat Pattern
Baby — 42 stitches
Round 1: Magic Ring, chain 1 and make 14 DC in ring, join, chain 2. (14 DC)
Round 2: 2 DC in each stitch around, join, chain 2. (28 DC)
Round 3: 2 DC in first stitch, DC in next 3 stitches; repeat around, join, chain 2. (35 DC)
Round 4: 2 DC in first stitch, DC in next 4 stitches; repeat around, (42 DC) join in blue yarn, chain 1
Round 5: HDC in each stitch around, join in black yarn, chain 1. (42 HDC)
Rounds 6–11: Using waistcoat stitch, WC SC in next 7 stitches with Black, work the corresponding row of the 28-stitch Ghost Graph, WC SC in next 7 stitches with Black, join. Continue working the graph from Row 6 down through Row 1. join in blue yarn, chain 1
Round 12: HDC in each stitch around, join (42 HDC)
Work ribbing with black yarn.
Toddler/Preschool — 49 stitches
Round 1: Magic Ring, chain 1 and make 14 DC in ring, join, chain 2. (14 DC)
Round 2: 2 DC in each stitch around, join, chain 2. (28 DC)
Round 3: 2 DC in first stitch, DC in next 3 stitches; repeat around, join, chain 2. (35 DC)
Round 4: 2 DC in first stitch, DC in next 4 stitches; repeat around, join, chain 2. (42 DC)
Round 5: 2 DC in first stitch, DC in next 5 stitches; repeat around, (49 DC) join in blue yarn, chain 1
Round 6: HDC in each stitch around, join in black yarn, chain 1. (49 HDC)
Rounds 7–12: Using waistcoat stitch, WC SC in next 10 stitches with Black, work the corresponding row of the 28-stitch Ghost Graph, WC SC in next 11 stitches with Black, join. Continue working the graph from Row 6 down through Row 1. join in blue yarn, chain 1
Round 13: HDC in each stitch around, join in black yarn, chain 2 (49 HDC)
Round 14: DC in each stitch around (49 DC)
Work ribbing with black yarn.
Child — 56 stitches
Round 1: Magic Ring, chain 1 and make 14 DC in ring, join, chain 2. (14 DC)
Round 2: 2 DC in each stitch around, join, chain 2. (28 DC)
Round 3: 2 DC in first stitch, DC in next 3 stitches; repeat around, join, chain 2. (35 DC)
Round 4: 2 DC in first stitch, DC in next 4 stitches; repeat around, join, chain 2. (42 DC)
Round 5: 2 DC in first stitch, DC in next 5 stitches; repeat around, join, chain 2. (49 DC)
Round 6: 2 DC in first stitch, DC in next 6 stitches; repeat around, join, chain 2. (56 DC)
Round 7: DC in each stitch around, join, chain 1. (56 DC) Join in blue yarn.
Round 8: HDC in each stitch around, join in black yarn, chain 1. (56 HDC)
Rounds 9–14: Using waistcoat stitch, WC SC in next 14 stitches with Black, work the corresponding row of the 28-stitch Ghost Graph, WC SC in next 14 stitches with Black, join. Continue working the graph from Row 6 down through Row 1. Join in blue yarn, chain 1.
Round 15: HDC in each stitch around, join in black yarn, chain 2. (56 HDC)
Round 16: DC in each stitch around, join. (56 DC)
Work ribbing with black yarn.
Teen — 63 stitches
Round 1: Magic Ring, chain 1 and make 14 DC in ring, join, chain 2. (14 DC)
Round 2: 2 DC in each stitch around, join, chain 2. (28 DC)
Round 3: 2 DC in first stitch, DC in next 3 stitches; repeat around, join, chain 2. (35 DC)
Round 4: 2 DC in first stitch, DC in next 4 stitches; repeat around, join, chain 2. (42 DC)
Round 5: 2 DC in first stitch, DC in next 5 stitches; repeat around, join, chain 2. (49 DC)
Round 6: 2 DC in first stitch, DC in next 6 stitches; repeat around, join, chain 2. (56 DC)
Round 7: 2 DC in first stitch, DC in next 7 stitches; repeat around, join, chain 2. (63 DC)
Round 8: DC in each stitch around, join, chain 1. (63 DC) Join in blue yarn.
Round 9: HDC in each stitch around, join in black yarn, chain 1. (63 HDC)
Rounds 10–15: Using waistcoat stitch, WC SC in next 17 stitches with Black, work the corresponding row of the 28-stitch Ghost Graph, WC SC in next 18 stitches with Black, join. Continue working the graph from Row 6 down through Row 1. Join in blue yarn, chain 1.
Round 16: HDC in each stitch around, join in black yarn, chain 2. (63 HDC)
Round 17: DC in each stitch around, join. (63 DC)
Work ribbing with black yarn.
Adult — 70 stitches
Round 1: Magic Ring, chain 1 and make 14 DC in ring, join, chain 2. (14 DC)
Round 2: 2 DC in each stitch around, join, chain 2. (28 DC)
Round 3: 2 DC in first stitch, DC in next 3 stitches; repeat around, join, chain 2. (35 DC)
Round 4: 2 DC in first stitch, DC in next 4 stitches; repeat around, join, chain 2. (42 DC)
Round 5: 2 DC in first stitch, DC in next 5 stitches; repeat around, join, chain 2. (49 DC)
Round 6: 2 DC in first stitch, DC in next 6 stitches; repeat around, join, chain 2. (56 DC)
Round 7: 2 DC in first stitch, DC in next 7 stitches; repeat around, join, chain 2. (63 DC)
Round 8: 2 DC in first stitch, DC in next 8 stitches; repeat around, join, chain 2. (70 DC)
Rounds 9–10: DC in each stitch around, join, chain 2. (70 DC) Join in blue yarn, chain 1.
Round 11: HDC in each stitch around, join in black yarn, chain 1. (70 HDC)
Rounds 12–17: Using waistcoat stitch, WC SC in next 21 stitches with Black, work the corresponding row of the 28-stitch Ghost Graph, WC SC in next 21 stitches with Black, join. Continue working the graph from Row 6 down through Row 1. Join in blue yarn, chain 1.
Round 18: HDC in each stitch around, join in black yarn, chain 2. (70 HDC)
Round 19: DC in each stitch around, join. (70 DC)
Work ribbing with black yarn.
Assembly
Finish the Hat with a Ribbed Border
Watch a tutorial on how to make a single crochet ribbed border (such as the one by Daisy Farm Crafts). This technique allows you to crochet the ribbing right onto the edge of the hat without sewing it on separately. It is basically a chain 7 (or however long/short you want your ribbed border), SC in each chain until you get back to the hat edge, slip stitch in two stitches along the hat edge, and then SC in the back loops of the ribbing and repeat.
When you’ve finished the ribbed border along the edge of the hat, slip stitch the seam together.
Fasten off and weave in all ends.
Tips
- Carrying Your Yarn: I recommend using a separate strand or small ball of yarn for each ghost rather than carrying all four colors around the hat. I also chose not to carry the darker yarn through the lighter stitches. Instead, float the unused yarn loosely along the back of the work and pick it back up when needed. Be careful not to pull your floats too tightly or the hat may pucker and lose some of its stretch.
- Tension: Keep your tension a little loose when working the waistcoat stitch to ensure the hook can easily enter the center of the V.
FAQs
Can I substitute the yarn brand?
Yes, feel free to substitute your favorite worsted weight colors for the four ghosts, as long as you maintain a similar weight to ensure the stitch definition remains crisp.
How do I center the ghosts correctly?
Position your beginning-of-round join at the center back of the hat. This ensures that the background stitches at the start and end of each round are equal, keeping the 28-stitch ghost panel perfectly centered on the front.
What is the waistcoat stitch?
The waistcoat stitch (or knit-look stitch) involves inserting your hook into the center post of the stitch (the middle of the “V”) rather than the top loops. This creates a smooth, vertical texture ideal for pixel art.
How do I add the pupils?
The white eye stitches are crocheted directly into the graph. Afterward, a tiny bit of blue yarn is stitched over the white to create the pupils.
Is this pattern suitable for beginners?
This pattern is best for crocheters comfortable with color changes, reading a graph, and working in the round. The waistcoat stitch requires a bit of practice to get the tension right, but if you can make a single crochet, you can learn it.
For more creative wearable ideas, check out our Halloween Pumpkin Bouquet or our Halloween Bat Pattern.
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