Cheesecloth Ghost Decorations That Stand on Their Own

A cheesecloth ghost looks as if it is floating, yet it is only stiffened fabric that has dried in the shape of whatever was underneath it. Take the support away and the ghost stays standing, hollow and feather light, with folds you arranged yourself.

The method is simple and a little messy: build a temporary form, soak the cloth, drape it, and wait. Most of the time is drying time, so this is a good project to start in the evening and finish the next day.

Materials for One Tabletop Ghost

• Cheesecloth, roughly 1 yard (about 0.9 m) for a ghost 10 inches (25 cm) tall
• White school glue and water, or liquid fabric stiffener
• An empty plastic bottle, a small ball or a ball of crumpled foil, and craft wire
• Clear tape, a mixing bowl and a spoon
• A plastic sheet or cut-open trash bag for the table, plus wax paper
• Black felt or black paper for eyes, and craft glue

Loose, open-weave cheesecloth gives the most ghostly, see-through result. A tighter weave makes a more solid figure.

Build the Temporary Form

The form decides the height and the pose, and it comes out once the fabric is dry. For a tabletop ghost, a bottle between 8 and 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) tall is about right.

1. Add a little water or a handful of dry rice to the bottle and close the cap, so it does not tip over.
2. Tape the ball to the top of the cap to make a rounded head.
3. Cut a piece of wire about 14 inches (36 cm) long. Wrap the middle once around the bottle neck and bend each end outward and slightly up for arms.
4. Curl the wire tips into small loops so there are no sharp ends to snag the cloth.
5. Wrap the whole form loosely in plastic wrap or slip a thin plastic bag over it. Glue releases from plastic far more easily than from a paper label.

Cutting wire is an adult job, and the offcuts are small and sharp, so clear them away before children join in for the draping.

Mix the Stiffener and Protect the Table

Cover the work surface with plastic and lay a sheet of wax paper where the ghost will stand. The hem of the cloth will rest on this while it dries, and wax paper peels away cleanly.

For a homemade mix, stir roughly two parts white glue with one part water until it looks like thin cream. Too much water and the ghost will sag; too little and the cloth is hard to arrange. Liquid fabric stiffener can be used straight from the bottle, following its label.

Soak and Drape the Cheesecloth

1. Cut the cheesecloth into a rough square large enough to cover the form with about 3 inches (8 cm) pooling on the table all around. Ragged edges are an advantage here.
2. Push the cloth into the bowl and press it down until every thread is wet.
3. Lift it out and squeeze gently along its length. It should be saturated but not dripping in streams.
4. Open the cloth and find the center. Lay the center over the head and let the rest fall.
5. Smooth the fabric lightly over the head and along the arms so those shapes read clearly.
6. Add a second layer, turned so its corners fall between the corners of the first, if you want a fuller figure.

Shape the Folds

This is where the character comes from. Pinch the fabric below the arms into vertical pleats so it hangs like a sheet. Tease the hem outward on the wax paper into a wide, wavy circle; this spread base is what lets the finished ghost stand on its own.

Make sure the hem touches the table all the way around, with no single point carrying the weight. Lift one arm slightly higher than the other for a waving pose, or tilt the head ball before you drape for a curious look.

Let It Dry Fully, Then Lift It Off

Leave the ghost alone in a dry room with moving air. Drying often takes around 12 to 24 hours, but it varies a great deal with humidity, the thickness of the cloth and how wet it was. Do not rely on the clock. Touch the thickest folds near the base: they should feel hard and room temperature, not cool or flexible.

When it is ready, peel the hem from the wax paper first. Then slide a hand up inside, steady the bottle, and ease the fabric away from the head and arms a little at a time. If the wire arms catch, bend them down toward the bottle and draw the form out through the bottom. A ghost that slumps when you lift it is still damp inside; set it back on the form for a few more hours.

Add Eyes and a Glow

Cut two ovals from black felt or paper, about half an inch (1.3 cm) tall for a 10-inch ghost, and stick them on with a dot of craft glue. Eyes set low and wide look friendly.

To light it, set a battery tea light on the table and lower the ghost over it. Stiffened cheesecloth is still fabric and glue, so do not put a real flame anywhere near it. The guide to battery LED lights for Halloween decor compares the small flameless options that fit under a figure this size.

Where to Display and How to Store

These ghosts are indoor decorations. Damp air softens the glue, so keep them away from steamy kitchens and open windows. Three ghosts of different heights make a stronger group than one, and they sit well at one end of a shelf as part of your Halloween mantel decor.

For the lawn, a larger and sturdier build is the better choice; see the method for fabric yard ghosts.

Store each ghost upright in a box with crumpled tissue around it, not flattened.