Crochet Bat Halloween Garland
Looking to add a touch of spookiness to your Halloween decor? Consider creating a crochet bat Halloween garland! This DIY project is perfect for bringing a festive and fun atmosphere to your home during the spooky season. With just a few simple materials like black yarn and a crochet hook, you can whip up adorable little bats that will make a charming addition to your mantel, doorway, or party space. Whether you're an experienced crocheter or just starting out, this project is a joyful way to get crafty and infuse your home with Halloween spirit. So grab your supplies, put on your favorite spooky playlist, and let's get crafting!
Supplies:
- Size H-8 (5 mm) crochet hook
- Medium (4) weight yarn in 4 colors:
- Yarn A – orange (example uses Red Heart Super Saver: Pumpkin)
- Yarn B – green (example uses Big Twist Value: Slime)
- Yarn C – purple (example uses Red Heart Super Saver: Amethyst)
- Yarn D – black (example uses Red Heart Super Saver: Black)
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
- Stitch markers
Terminology:
This free crochet bat Halloween garland pattern uses English (US) terminology:
- st (sts) = stitch (stitches)
- ch = chain stitch
- sl st = slip stitch
- sc = single crochet
- sc3tog = single crochet 3 together (over the span of 3 stitches)
- hdc = half double crochet
- dc = double crochet
- dc3tog = double crochet 3 together (over the span of 3 stitches)
- tr = treble crochet
- sk = skip
Please note that this pattern is written so that each crochet stitch abbreviation is attached to a number, such as 1sc, 2sc, etc. This number denotes how many of that stitch is to be worked into the same stitch.
In other words, 1sc = one single crochet, whereas 2sc = two single crochet worked into one stitch, also known as an increase.
Crochet Bat Halloween Garland Motif – Round 1:
With yarn A (orange), chain 22.
Round 1 of this free crochet bat Halloween garland motif will worked into both sides of your chain stitches.
For best results, twist the front side of your chain downwards so that the back side of the chain stitches are facing upwards.
Then, try working the first half of round 1 into the back bars, not the back loops, of each chain stitch across, as seen below.
Working into the back bars of your chain stitches will create two loops on the bottom of your chain, similar to the tops of your single crochet stitches.
This will make it easier to identify where to work your stitches into the other side of your chain, as well as minimize the size of any holes in your chain.
When you reach the last stitch on the top side of your chain, rotate your work and continue working back in the opposite direction along the bottom side of your chain.
Work each stitch on the other side of your chain by inserting your hook under both loops. This is the same space that each stitch on the top side has been worked into, as well.
If you are finding your chain stitches too tight to work into with this method, you can also try sizing up your crochet hook for the chain stitches only.
Rnd 1: beginning in 2nd ch from hook, 1sc into each of next 9 ch, sc3tog over next 3 ch, 1sc into each of next 8 ch, 2sc into next ch, working into other side of ch sts, 1sc into each of next 10 ch, 3sc into next ch, 1sc into each of next 9 ch, 2sc into next ch, do not join (44).
Crochet Bat Halloween Garland Motif – Round 2:
Round 2 of this free crochet bat Halloween garland motif will include several unique stitch sequences to fill out the shape of your bat.
You may follow along with the tutorial below, where we will go over each sequence individually, or you may skip ahead to the abbreviated round instructions at the bottom of this section.
You will now be working in the round. Your next round begins in the 1st stitch from round 1.
Slip stitch into each of the next 8 stitches. Then, chain 4.
Slip stitch into the 3rd chain from your hook. This is also known as a picot stitch.
For best results, try working your slip stitch into the back bar, not the back loop, just as you did at the beginning of round 1.
This will create a slightly more defined edge on your picot stitch.
Skip the 4th chain stitch after your picot stitch, and continue into the next stitch from round 1 of your crochet bat motif.
Double crochet 3 together over the next 3 stitches. Then, chain 3.
Slip stitch into the 3rd chain from your hook.
Again, try working your slip stitch into the back bar, not the back loop, just like before.
Chain 1, then slip stitch into each of the next 9 stitches along the top of your crochet bat motif.
You will now be working 4 scallop-like sequences along the bottom of your crochet bat motif, as seen below.
For the 1st scallop, work 1 single crochet, 1 double crochet, and 1 treble crochet, all into the next stitch.
Then, chain 3 and slip stitch into the same stitch as you’ve just worked the previous 3 stitches into.
For the 2nd scallop, work 1 single crochet into the next stitch. Then, work 1 double crochet, 1 treble crochet, and 1 more double crochet, all into the next stitch.
Work 1 single crochet into the next stitch, then 1 slip stitch into the next stitch after that to complete your second scallop.
Repeat the instructions for the 2nd scallop once more to create your 3rd scallop.
To begin the bottom scallop, work 1 single crochet into the next stitch, then 1 half double crochet into the next stitch after that.
Work 3 double crochet into the next stitch, then chain 3.
Slip stitch into the back bar of the 3rd chain from your hook to complete your 3rd and last picot stitch.
Work 3 double crochet into the same stitch as you’ve worked your previous 3 double crochet into.
Work 1 half double crochet into the next stitch, then 1 single crochet into the next stitch after that. Finally, slip stitch into the next stitch to complete the bottom scallop.
Next, repeat the instructions for the 2nd scallop 2 more times, to create your 5th and 6th scallops.
Then, chain 3. Work 1 treble crochet, 1 double crochet, and 1 single crochet, all into the same stitch as you’ve worked your last slip stitch into.
Finally, slip stitch into the next stitch to complete your round. Then, fasten off and weave in your ends.
You’ve now completed your first crochet bat motif!
Repeat rounds 1 and 2 of the free crochet bat Halloween garland motif below, 5 more times, for a total of 6 bats.
The example garland uses a combination of 2 bats in yarn A (orange), 2 bats in yarn B (green), and 2 bats in yarn C (purple), but you may use as many or as few colors as you desire!
Likewise, you may also create more or fewer crochet bat motifs for a longer or shorter garland, respectively.
With chosen yarn, chain 22.
Rnd 1: beginning in 2nd ch from hook, 1sc into each of next 9 ch, sc3tog over next 3 ch, 1sc into each of next 8 ch, 2sc into next ch, working into other side of ch sts, 1sc into each of next 10 ch, 3sc into next ch, 1sc into each of next 9 ch, 2sc into next ch, do not join (44).
Rnd 2: sl st into each of next 8 sts, ch 4, sl st into 3rd ch from hook, sk 4th ch, dc3tog over next 3 sts, ch 3, sl st into 3rd ch from hook, ch 1, sl st into each of next 9 sts, (1sc, 1dc, 1tr) into next st, ch 3, sl st into same stitch as last tr, [1sc into next st, (1dc, 1tr, 1dc) into next st, 1sc into next st, sl st into next st] 2 times, 1sc into next st, 1hdc into next st, 3dc into next st, ch 3, sl st into 3rd ch from hook, 3dc into same st as last 3dc, 1hdc into next st, 1sc into next st, sl st into next st, [1sc into next st, (1dc, 1tr, 1dc) into next st, 1sc into next st, sl st into next st] 2 times, ch 3, (1tr, 1dc, 1sc) into same st as last sl st, sl st into next st (69 + 3 picots).
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Connecting Motifs:
Once you have all of your crochet bat Halloween garland motifs finished, you may begin attaching them together onto your garland string.
To make this step easier, use stitch markers to mark each of your crochet bat motifs in the stitches where you will be attaching them to the garland, as seen above.
Add one stitch marker into each wing, into the innermost stitch of each top edge.
This should be stitch #1 and stitch #20 (excluding picot stitches) of round 2 of your crochet bat motif.
With yarn D (black), work row 1 below to attach your crochet bat motifs into a garland.
To attach each crochet bat motif to the garland, you will be working one double crochet into the marked stitch of each bat wing.
If you plan to use your beginning and end tails to tie up your garland, be sure to leave some tail at the beginning of your work.
Row 1: ch 13, [1dc into 1st marked st of next bat, ch 13, 1dc into 2nd marked st of same bat, ch 13] 6 times (181).
The pattern given above is for the example garland, which consists of six bats in a repeating color sequence of orange, green, and purple.
To make the garland longer, simply repeat the bracketed sequence in the pattern once more for each additional crochet bat motif that you’d like to attach.
Once all of your crochet bat motifs are attached and your garland reaches your desired length, fasten off yarn D and leave a tail for either tying or sewing.
Finally, you may use your beginning and end tails to tie up your garland, or weave them into your chain for a more finished look. Choose whichever method works best for you!