Skull Party Sticks & Pompoms in Red Heart Super Saver Economy Solids - LW5394 - Downloadable PDF

Skull Party Sticks & Pompoms in Red Heart Super Saver Economy Solids (LW5394)

This free downloadable crochet pattern by Jessie Rayot (with top adaptation by Rebecca Venton) guides crafters through creating festive crocheted skull party sticks and pompoms — fun, spooky decorations perfect for Halloween parties, seasonal displays, or any skull-themed celebration. Each finished skull measures 4 inches wide by 5¼ inches long (10 x 13.5 cm), making them an ideal size for party props, photo booth accessories, or decorative picks. Rated as a beginner-level crochet project, this pattern is accessible to those just learning the craft while still producing eye-catching, dimensional results.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces crocheted skull decorations mounted on dowel sticks, accented with pompoms and embellished with felt cutouts. Each skull is worked in the round to create a three-dimensional shape, then finished with decorative felt pieces — including a forehead flower, nose, and two eyes — cut from a printed template included in the pattern. The felt details are attached using a hot glue gun (adult supervision required for this step). The skulls are mounted on 12-inch lengths of 3/16-inch diameter dowel rod, transforming them into whimsical party sticks. Pompoms made from a 2½-inch pompom maker card or board add a playful, colorful finishing touch.

Techniques Used

• Crocheting in the round — the skull body is built up from a magic ring (chain 4, joined with a slip stitch to form a ring), with each round joined using a slip stitch
• Working in ends of rows — used when joining the bottom section of the skull to create a clean, even edge
• Increases — worked by placing 2 single crochet stitches into a single stitch, used consistently across multiple rounds to shape the rounded skull form
• Decreasing with sc2tog — a special stitch used to reduce stitch count and shape the skull; worked by inserting the hook into the next stitch, pulling up a loop, repeating in the following stitch, then drawing yarn through all 3 loops on the hook
• Pompom making — using a 2½-inch pompom maker card or board to create fluffy yarn pompoms as decorative accents
• Felt appliqué and hot glue assembly — felt pieces are cut using a printed template and glued onto the crocheted skull to create facial features, with color combinations varied across skulls for a festive, personalized look

Stitches Used

• Chain stitch (ch) — used to begin the foundation ring and as turning/joining chains throughout
• Slip stitch (slip st) — used to form the initial ring and to join each round
• Single crochet (sc) — the primary stitch used throughout the entire skull construction
• sc2tog (single crochet two together) — the pattern's special decrease stitch, used to shape the skull

Materials

The pattern calls for Red Heart Super Saver Economy Solids yarn, an aran weight yarn, in five colors:

• 311 White (Color A)
• 312 Black (Color B)
• 254 Pumpkin (Color C)
• 324 Bright Yellow (Color D)
• 722 Pretty 'n Pink (Color E)

One skein of each color is required. The recommended hook is a Susan Bates crochet hook in size 5.5mm (US I-9). The pattern gauge is 12 stitches per the specified measurement. Additional materials include a sharp-pointed yarn needle, three 6-inch by 9-inch white adhesive-back foam sheets, felt pieces in assorted bright colors,