Fabric & SewingNo. 4645 · The 2026 edition
How to Make Spooky Halloween Cheesecloth Ghosts (Easy DIY Tutorial)
Turn simple cheesecloth and starch into spooky floating ghosts with this easy DIY Halloween craft.
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Create eerie cheesecloth ghosts using a balloon, jar, pipe cleaners, and liquid starch. After forming the armature and draping the starch-soaked cloth, let it dry, then add felt eyes and a twine bunting for a creepy, charming decoration.
You'll need
Directions
- Inflate a small balloon so it sits inside the mason jar with the top poking out to form the ghost's head. The jar size should match your desired ghost size.
- Secure two pipe cleaners to the jar top by screwing the lid over their ends. Bend them into arm shapes, making the middle dip slightly and the ends pull forward for a natural look.
- Place the assembled ghost form on a cookie sheet.
- Lay cheesecloth over the form, allowing extra material to drape down the sides, front, and back until you're happy with the length.
- Cut the cheesecloth with scissors once you've decided on the layout.
- Pour liquid starch into a bowl and submerge the entire cheesecloth piece.
- Squeeze out excess starch from the cloth.
- Drape the wet cheesecloth back over the form, positioning it exactly where you want the final ghost to sit.
- Allow it to dry completely.
- Once dry, cut eyes from black felt to glue or attach to the ghost. Optionally create a small Halloween bunting for the ghost to hold.
- To add the bunting, thread a needle with baker's twine, poke a hole through the cheesecloth near each hand, loop the twine, and tie a knot to secure it to each arm.
