Pixel Bite Pac-Man and Ghost Buddies Free Pattern – Crochet a Retro Arcade Duo

Bring the Arcade Home: Crochet Your Own Pac-Man and Ghost Buddies

Do you remember the satisfying waka-waka of the original arcade? Now you can capture that nostalgic magic in a soft, huggable form. This free amigurumi pattern lets you create an adorable crocheted Pac-Man and his colorful ghostly sidekicks—Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde. These squishy characters are perfect for desk buddies, shelf decor, or a one-of-a-kind gift for the retro gamer in your life. Even if you're a beginner, this pattern is designed to be simple, repetitive, and incredibly rewarding. Let's get started!

Materials Needed

Before you begin your crafting adventure, gather these supplies. The gauge isn't critical for amigurumi, but you'll want to keep your stitches tight so the stuffing doesn't peek through.

• Yarn: Worsted weight cotton or acrylic yarn in the following colors:
  • Yellow (for Pac-Man)
  • Red, Pink, Cyan, and Orange (for the four ghosts)
  • Small amounts of Black and White (for eyes and mouth details)
• Crochet Hook: 3.5mm (E) hook
• Other: Yarn needle, fiberfill stuffing, stitch marker (optional), scissors

Step-by-Step Instructions

Let's break this down into manageable pieces. We'll start with the star of the show, Pac-Man, and then move on to his ghostly friends. All pieces are worked in continuous spirals unless otherwise noted.

Part 1: Crocheting Pac-Man (Yellow)

Pac-Man is essentially a perfect sphere with a bite taken out. We'll create the sphere first, then add the mouth and eye.

Pac-Man's Head (Sphere)

1. R1: Start with a magic ring and work 6 single crochet (sc) into it. (6 stitches)
2. R2: Increase (inc) in each stitch around. (12 stitches)
3. R3: *Sc in the next stitch, inc* — repeat from * to * around. (18 stitches)
4. R4: *Sc in the next 2 stitches, inc* — repeat around. (24 stitches)
5. R5: *Sc in the next 3 stitches, inc* — repeat around. (30 stitches)
6. R6: *Sc in the next 4 stitches, inc* — repeat around. (36 stitches)
7. R7-12: Sc in each stitch around for 6 even rounds. (36 stitches)
8. R13: *Sc in the next 4 stitches, decrease (dec)* — repeat around. (30 stitches)
9. R14: *Sc in the next 3 stitches, dec* — repeat around. (24 stitches)
10. R15: *Sc in the next 2 stitches, dec* — repeat around. (18 stitches)
11. Stuff firmly: Now is the time to fill the head with fiberfill. Make sure it's packed well to hold its shape.
12. R16: *Sc in the next stitch, dec* — repeat around. (12 stitches)
13. R17: Dec around. (6 stitches)
14. Finish: Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Weave the tail through the front loops of the remaining stitches and pull tight to close the hole. Weave in the end securely.

Pac-Man's Mouth (Black)

This small wedge creates the iconic bite. It's easier to sew on than to shape the sphere itself.

1. R1: With black yarn, make a magic ring with 4 sc. (4 stitches)
2. R2: Sc in each stitch around. (4 stitches)
3. R3: Inc in each stitch around. (8 stitches)
4. Finish: Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Pac-Man's Eye

1. With white yarn, make a magic ring with 6 sc. Close the ring and fasten off.
2. With black yarn, embroider a small pupil in the center of the white circle.
3. Leave a tail for sewing.

Pac-Man Assembly

1. Position the black wedge onto the front of the yellow sphere, angled slightly to one side to mimic the classic chomping shape. Sew it on securely using the long tail.
2. Sew the white eye above the mouth, on the opposite side of the bite. Make sure it's centered and looks cute!

Part 2: Crocheting the Ghost Buddies (Red, Pink, Cyan, Orange)

You'll make four of these, one in each color. The process is the same for all of them. Each ghost has a body and a separate skirt piece.

Ghost Body (Make 1 in each color)

1. R1: Magic ring with 6 sc. (6 stitches)
2. R2: Inc in each stitch around. (12 stitches)
3. R3: *Sc in the next stitch, inc* — repeat around. (18 stitches)
4. R4: *Sc in the next 2 stitches, inc* — repeat around. (24 stitches)
5. R5-8: Sc in each stitch around for 4 even rounds. (24 stitches)
6. R9: *Sc in the next 2 stitches, dec* — repeat around. (18 stitches)
7. R10: *Sc in the next stitch, dec* — repeat around. (12 stitches)
8. Stuff firmly: Fill the body with fiberfill.
9. R11: Dec around. (6 stitches)
10. Finish: Fasten off and weave in the end.

Ghost Skirt/Bottom (Make 1 in matching color)

This piece creates the wavy, scalloped hem at the bottom of the ghost.

1. R1: Magic ring with 6 sc. (6 stitches)
2. R2: Inc in each stitch around. (12 stitches)
3. R3: *Sc in the next stitch, inc* — repeat around. (18 stitches)
4. R4: Sc in each stitch around. (18 stitches)
5. Finish: Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Ghost Eyes (Make 2 per ghost)

1. With white yarn, make a magic ring with 6 sc. Close the ring and fasten off.
2. With black yarn, embroider a small pupil in the center of each white circle.
3. Leave tails for sewing.

Ghost Assembly

1. Sew the skirt piece to the bottom of the body. The skirt is slightly wider than the body's opening, so as you sew, gently gather or pleat the skirt to create the wavy, scalloped edge. Leave the very bottom edge of the skirt open to show the wavy hem.
2. Sew the two eyes onto the front of the body, spaced evenly apart and positioned about a third of the way down from the top.
3. Repeat for all four ghosts.

Final Touches and Display

Once your Pac-Man and all four ghosts are assembled, you're ready to display your retro crew! Arrange them on a shelf, desk, or mantle. For an extra touch, you can attach a small loop of yarn to the top of each ghost's head to turn them into hanging ornaments.

These little guys are sure to bring a smile to anyone who sees them. They're a fantastic project for using up scrap yarn and make wonderful, nostalgic gifts. Happy crocheting!