18 October 2026 · 5 min read · by Léa
Halloween charm: pumpkin, ghost and mushroom in crochet
A crochet Halloween charm slips onto a bag, keys or a pencil case. Pumpkin, ghost or mushroom: how to choose it, wear it and give it as a gift.
A Halloween charm is a small piece you hang from your bag, your keys or a pencil case to join in the celebration without dressing up. Mine are crocheted by hand, one by one: two pumpkins, a mushroom and a little ghost. Here is how to choose them, where to attach them, and what to know before giving them as a gift.
Why a charm for Halloween?
Halloween falls on 31 October, and not everyone wants a costume. A charm nods to the celebration with a detail: you see it on a bag at the office, on a set of keys at the school gate, on the zip of a backpack.
It also has a practical advantage: it does not stop on 1 November. A pumpkin or a mushroom stays in season all autumn. Only the ghost really speaks of Halloween, and that is exactly why you choose it.
One detail is enough to join in the celebration.
My AUTOMNE Halloween charms
When I think of autumn, these little symbols come to mind: pumpkins, mushrooms, ghosts, and the gentle mood you find at this time of year. I made a series of charms out of them, AUTOMNE, crocheted by hand on the Côte d'Azur.
They come in four designs:
- Yellow pumpkin: a ribbed pumpkin, mustard yellow, with its dark green stalk.
- Red pumpkin: the same shape, in a deep red.
- Mushroom: a brown cap on a beige stem.
- Ghost: a little white ghost with two black eyes.
Each one is made with 100 % acrylic yarn certified OEKO-TEX®, filled with polyester fibre, and mounted on a steel clasp and ring. A pumpkin measures about 6 cm in diameter and 4 cm in height, the ghost and the mushroom about 5 cm by 5, excluding the clasp. As everything is handmade, each piece varies slightly from the next.
These small shapes, crocheted in three dimensions and then stuffed, have a name: they are amigurumi, a word that comes from Japanese.
Pumpkin, ghost or mushroom: which one to choose?
It all depends on what you want to say, and how long you want to wear it.
- For Halloween, no question: the ghost. White on a dark bag, it stands out straight away.
- For the whole autumn: a pumpkin. The yellow one warms up a canvas or light leather bag, the red one stands out on a black or navy bag.
- For a more discreet nod: the mushroom. It brings to mind the forest and seasonal walks more than the celebration.
You can also combine them. More and more bags carry several charms together, and a pumpkin with a ghost makes a little Halloween pair. On a small bag, two are enough.
Where to attach a Halloween charm
The gesture is the same as for any bag charm:
- on the metal ring of the handle, where it meets the bag;
- on the pull of a zip, on a pencil case or a backpack;
- on your keyring, if it lives in your bag;
- or as a decoration, hung from a branch in a vase or from a furniture handle, for the season.
For the details, with the different types of clasps, I wrote an article on how to attach a bag charm.
A small Halloween gift
A charm makes an easy gift: there is no size to guess, and it fits in a pocket. For a Halloween party, you can give it instead of sweets, or alongside them. For a colleague, a friend or someone who loves autumn, it is a little gift that stays.
A word of caution: with their metal clasp, these are charms and keyrings, not toys, and I do not recommend them for very young children.
Before ordering for a specific date, check the estimated delivery shown in the basket: each piece is prepared by hand, and the timing takes this into account.
And after Halloween?
The pumpkins and the mushroom carry on their season until winter. To change charms afterwards, the shop has others, grouped with the charms and lucky charms:
- the little NOVA UFOs, in four colours;
- the CLÉMENTINE fruits, in a mini size;
- the FLORE flower keyring, in many colours.
And if you have another little character or another colour in mind, you can describe it to me on the custom project page.
How to care for a crochet charm
A charm lives outdoors, against the bag and in your hands. Mine cannot be machine washed. If there is a stain, dab gently with a barely damp cloth, then leave to dry flat, in the open air. No tumble dryer, no bleach.
The ghost, all white, shows marks more quickly: it is best kept somewhere protected when you are not wearing it.
Frequently asked questions
When should you put on a Halloween charm?
From the beginning of October until the 31st. A pumpkin or a mushroom can stay on all autumn.
Can you put a Halloween charm on a backpack?
Yes. It attaches to the pull of a zip or to a ring on the bag, with its steel clasp.
How big is a pumpkin charm?
About 6 cm in diameter and 4 cm in height, not counting the clasp, which measures about 5.5 cm.
Can a crochet charm be machine washed?
No. Dab the stain with a barely damp cloth, and leave to dry flat.
All of Léa’s pieces are crocheted by hand, one by one, in the south of France. See the pieces
