Halloween Ghost Napkins Embroidery Project

Give your Halloween table scape a handcrafted twist with this set of four embroidered napkins. 

Featuring adorable characters dressed in classic Halloween costumes, they’re the perfect way to add a touch of spooky charm to your celebrations. 

Sara Davey, founder of Pixels and Purls, shares her delightful pattern and step-by-step guidance below.

Need an embroidery refresher? Click here!

You will need:

• A set of 4 cotton or linen napkins
• Adhesive water-soluble stabiliser
• Iron-on interfacing (optional)
• 4-inch embroidery hoop
• Stranded cotton (1 skein each): Orange, Peach, Black, Mid green, Golden yellow, Ecru, Metallic gold, Light beige, Red, Mid brown, Deep purple

Notes:

Before you start, wash your napkins according to their care label to avoid them shrinking after you have embroidered them. 

Make sure your threads are colourfast, so they won’t bleed when you wash away the soluble paper at the end.

Stitches used:

• Satin stitch
• Fly stitch
• Lazy daisy stitch
• Split stitch
• Long and short stitch
• French knot
• Backstitch
• Whipped backstitch
• Straight stitch

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Transferring the design

Trace the designs onto the soluble stabiliser using a light pad and a heat-erasable pen. Cut each design out and stick to the corner of each napkin, 5cm from the edges. Mount the first design into your embroidery hoop, making sure it is taut but not over-stretched.

Stitching the pumpkin ghost

Step one:

Fill the pumpkin hat with satin stitch using 2 strands of orange thread, working diagonally for the outer sections and horizontally for the middle section. 

Step two:

Fill the cheeks with satin stitch using 2 strands of peach thread and add the eyes and mouth with fly stitch using 2 strands of black thread. Add the ribbon and bow to the hat with 2 strands of black thread, using backstitch for the ribbon and lazy daisies for the bow.

Step three:

For the pumpkin on the left, start by filling the eyes and mouth with satin stitch using 1 strand of black thread. Fill both the pumpkins with satin stitch using 2 strands of thread, using medium orange for the left pumpkin and golden yellow for the right pumpkin. Add the stalks with split stitch using 2 strands of mid green thread.

Stitching the toadstool ghost

Step one

Fill in the spots with satin stitch using 2 strands of light beige thread, then fill in the rest of the mushroom top with long and short stitch using 4 strands of red thread. Add the detail underneath the mushroom cap with backstitch using 4 strands of mid brown thread. Fill the eyes with satin stitch using 2 strands of black thread.

Step two

Fill the mini mushroom’s top and stalk with satin stitch, using 2 strands of light beige for the spots and stalk and 2 strands of red for the mushroom top. Add the detail underneath the mushroom cap with backstitch using 2 strands of mid brown thread. Using 2 strands of black thread, add the frog’s eyes with French knots and mouth with fly stitch. Add the leg outlines with backstitch using 2 strands of mid brown. Then fill in the body and tummy with long and short stitch, using 2 strands of mid green for the body and light beige for the tummy. 

Stitching the bat ghost

Step one 

Fill the big wings, little wings and costume ears with satin stitch using 2 strands of deep purple. For the big wings work horizontally in the three marked sections – the thread meeting will create a dividing line. For the costume ears and little wings, work vertically.

Step two

Fill the bat body and ghost eyes with satin stitch using 2 strands of black thread. Add the mouth and teeth outline with backstitch using 2 strands of black thread. Add the headband with whipped backstitch using 4 strands of black thread. Fill in the teeth with satin stitch and add the mini bat’s eyes with French knots, using 1 strand of light beige thread. Outline each set of wings using 2 strands of black thread – using stem stitch for the big wings and backstitch for the little wings. The candles are satin stitch using 2 strands of light beige for the pillar and 2 strands of golden yellow for the flame.

Stitching the cat ghost

Step one

Fill in the small cat, cat ears, tail and eyes with satin stitch using 2 strands of black thread. Add the headband with whipped backstitch using 4 strands of black thread.

Step two

Fill in the body with long and short stitch using 2 strands of Ecru thread. Add the surrounding stars with crossed over single straight stitches, using 1 strand of gold metallic thread.

Step three

Add the costume nose and whiskers using 2 strands of black thread, the whiskers are long straight stitches and the nose is a French knot. Add the eyes and the whiskers to the mini cat with 1 strand of light beige thread – the eyes are satin stitch and the whiskers are long straight stitches. Use the pattern template as a guide on placement. 

Finishing off

Step one

Fill in the bodies of the other ghosts with long and short stitch using 2 strands of Ecru thread. Add the surrounding stars with crossed over single stitches, using 1 strand of gold metallic thread. 

Step two

When you’ve finished stitching, wash away the soluble stabiliser thoroughly using lukewarm water and then dry your napkins flat. If you want to add some extra security to your stitches, you can then add some iron-on interfacing (such as Sulky Tender Touch Cover-A-Stitch) to the back of your work.

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Discover more Halloween embroidery patterns on the Gathered Shop