Cempasúchil & Calavera Garland Free Pattern – Crochet a Festive Sugar Skull Banner

Celebrate Día de los Muertos with a handcrafted garland of vibrant marigold flowers and cheerful sugar skulls. This crochet pattern brings a cozy, festive touch to your home decor. Whether you're decorating for a special celebration or simply want to add a splash of color to your living space, this garland is the perfect project. The combination of bright yellow, pumpkin orange, and fuchsia against the crisp white skulls creates a stunning visual that honors tradition while adding a handmade, modern charm.

This pattern is beginner-friendly and works up quickly. You'll create five marigold flowers and five sugar skulls, then string them together on a bright yellow yarn chain. The result is a cheerful, textured banner that measures about 60 inches long—perfect for draping over a mantel, doorway, or window. Let's get started!

Materials Needed

Before you begin, gather the following supplies. All materials are readily available at craft stores or online.

• Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver in Bright Yellow, Pumpkin, White, Black, and Fuchsia (worsted weight, 100% acrylic). You'll need approximately 1 skein of each color, but you'll use only a fraction of each.
• Crochet Hook: US G/6 (4.0 mm) crochet hook.
• Yarn Needle: For weaving in ends and embroidering facial features.
• Fiberfill: A small amount for stuffing the sugar skulls.
• Scissors: For cutting yarn.

Gauge: 4" x 4" = 16 sc x 18 rows (not critical for this project). The gauge is flexible here, so don't worry about being exact—just keep your tension consistent.

Step-by-Step Instructions

This garland is made of two main components: crocheted marigold flowers and crocheted sugar skulls, strung together on a yarn chain. Work each piece separately, then assemble. Let's break it down.

Part 1: Marigold Flower (Make 5)

The marigold is a layered flower with a bright yellow center and a pumpkin-orange ruffled edge. Follow these steps carefully.

Round 1: With Bright Yellow, make a magic ring. Chain 2 (counts as a double crochet), then work 11 double crochets (dc) into the ring. Slip stitch (sl st) to the top of the starting chain-2 to join. You should have 12 double crochets total.

Round 2: Chain 2 (counts as dc), then work 1 dc in the same stitch. Work 2 dc in each stitch around. Slip stitch to join. You'll now have 24 double crochets.

Round 3: Switch to Pumpkin yarn. Chain 1. *Single crochet (sc) in the next stitch, chain 3, sc in the same stitch, skip the next stitch. Repeat from * around. Slip stitch to the first sc to join. Fasten off and weave in ends. This creates 12 ruffled petals.

Optional Second Layer (for a fuller flower): To make your marigold extra lush, add a smaller center flower. With Bright Yellow, chain 4 and slip stitch to the first chain to form a ring. Chain 1, work 8 sc into the ring, slip stitch to join. Then switch to Pumpkin. Chain 1, *sc in the next stitch, chain 5, sc in the same stitch, skip the next stitch. Repeat from * around. Fasten off and weave in ends. Attach this smaller flower to the center of the larger one using a yarn needle and a few stitches.

Part 2: Sugar Skull (Make 5)

The sugar skull is a small, stuffed sphere with embroidered facial features. Work in continuous rounds for a smooth finish.

Round 1: With White yarn, make a magic ring. Chain 1, work 6 single crochets (sc) into the ring. Slip stitch to join. (6 sc)

Round 2: Chain 1, work 2 sc in each stitch around. Slip stitch to join. (12 sc)

Round 3: Chain 1, *2 sc in the next stitch, sc in the next stitch. Repeat from * around. Slip stitch to join. (18 sc)

Round 4: Chain 1, *2 sc in the next stitch, sc in the next 2 stitches. Repeat from * around. Slip stitch to join. (24 sc)

Round 5: Chain 1, sc in each stitch around. Slip stitch to join. (24 sc)

Round 6: Chain 1, *sc2tog (single crochet two together), sc in the next 2 stitches. Repeat from * around. Slip stitch to join. (18 sc)

Round 7: Chain 1, *sc2tog, sc in the next stitch. Repeat from * around. Slip stitch to join. (12 sc)

Now, stuff the skull lightly with fiberfill. Don't overstuff—you want it to be soft and rounded, not lumpy.

Round 8: Chain 1, sc2tog around. Slip stitch to join. (6 sc) Fasten off, leaving a long tail (about 12 inches). Thread the tail through a yarn needle, weave it through the front loops of the remaining 6 stitches, and pull tight to close the opening. Weave in the end securely.

Decorating the Sugar Skull

This is where the personality comes in! Use a yarn needle and embroidery techniques to add the face.

• Eyes: With Black yarn, embroider two small "X" shapes. Position them about 4 stitches apart, centered on the front of the skull.
• Nose: With Black yarn, create a small inverted triangle just below the eyes. Make three small straight stitches that form a triangle shape.
• Smile: With Black yarn, add a few small stitches in a gentle curve below the nose to form a smile.
• Cheek and Forehead Accents: With Fuchsia yarn, embroider small flowers or dots. For a flower, make 5 small straight stitches radiating from a central point. Place one on each cheek and one on the forehead.

Weave in all ends carefully so they don't show.

Part 3: Assembly

Now it's time to string everything together into a beautiful garland.

Step 1: Cut a length of Bright Yellow yarn about 60 inches long (or your desired garland length). If you want a longer garland, cut a longer piece—just make sure it's manageable to work with.

Step 2: Attach the first marigold to the yarn. Thread the yarn through the center of the flower (between the stitches) and tie a secure knot. Slide the flower to your desired position, leaving about 6 inches of yarn at the end for a hanging loop.

Step 3: Next, thread the yarn through the top of a sugar skull. Insert the yarn needle through the stitches at the top of the skull (opposite the face) and pull the yarn through. Tie a knot to secure it in place.

Step 4: Continue alternating flowers and skulls, spacing them about 6 inches apart. You should have 5 flowers and 5 skulls total. Adjust the spacing as you go to ensure even distribution.

Step 5: Leave a 6-inch tail at the end. Tie a small loop at each end of the garland for easy hanging. Simply fold the yarn tail and tie a knot to form a loop.

Step 6: Weave in all loose ends with your yarn needle. Trim any excess yarn.

Your Cempasúchil & Calavera Garland is complete! Hang it proudly and enjoy the festive, handmade touch it brings to your space.

Tips for Success

• Magic Ring: If you're new to the magic ring, practice it a few times. It's essential for creating a tight, closed center for both the flowers and skulls.
• Consistent Tension: Keep your tension even throughout. This ensures your skulls are uniform in size and your flowers lie flat.
• Customization: Feel free to experiment with colors! Traditional marigolds are orange and yellow, but you could use pink, purple, or teal for a modern twist.
• Extra Decor: Add small beads or bells between the pieces for extra flair.

This garland is a wonderful way to celebrate Día de los Muertos or simply to add a pop of color to your home. The combination of textured flowers and cute, expressive skulls makes it a conversation starter. Plus, it's a great stash-buster project for leftover worsted weight yarn. Happy crocheting!