Halloween Wind-Spinner — The Witch Hat That Spins With 5 Little Charms

Why a spinner and not just charms

Single charms are cute, but when you hang 5 from a hat and the wind catches them, they dance. The secret is the hat acts as a little parachute — it catches air and slowly turns, and the charms underneath spin opposite. My first version was just a flat circle and it didn't spin — the cone shape is what makes it work.

I tried 3 charms first — looked empty. 7 was too heavy and tangled. 5 is perfect — odd number keeps it balanced, and you get one spiral that really catches wind plus 4 solid shapes.

I hang mine on my porch with fishing line so it looks like it's floating. In the window it spins even with just the heater on.

What you need — my Halloween yarn basket

• Yarn: DK — Black 60g, Purple 20g, Orange 20g, White 15g, Green scrap, Yellow scrap for cat eyes if embroidered
• Hook: 4.0mm for hat (so it's a bit bigger and stiff), 3.5mm for charms (tight, no stuffing show)
• String: Clear fishing line or white crochet thread — 1m, plus small stick or embroidery hoop 5" for inside brim if you want it stiffer (optional)
• Extras: Polyfill small amount, tapestry needle, scissors, stitch markers

Witch hat — black cone with purple band, I add purple border too for pop like in your photo.

Step 1: Witch hat — black with purple band

This is the same hat as my frog witch but bigger brim — 90 stitches gives it that wide witch look that catches wind. I don't stuff it — I leave it hollow so it's light. If you want it to hold shape perfectly, cut a 5" circle of cardboard and slip inside brim.

Step 2: Spiral — orange & black double spiral

The photo you sent has that orange/black twisted spiral — I do it by making two separate small spirals (ch 25 each) and twisting them together. Faster than color changing and it spins twice as fast because it's double weight. Length ~6".

Step 3: Black cat — with pink nose like yours

Same cat as your hair clips but 1.5x bigger — 2" tall. Yellow eyes make it pop against black. I use pink yarn for nose, not black, so it's cuter from far.

My 5 charms before stringing — cat, cauldron, star, pumpkin, and double spiral. All under 3 inches.

Step 4: Cauldron — purple pot with green bubbles

This is the cutest one — purple cauldron with green bubbly brew. The bubbles are just tiny balls, I make 2 small and 2 medium so it looks bubbling over. Add little green spirals for steam — ch 12, 3 sc per ch.

Step 5: Star — white 5-point

I do flat version for spinner — lighter and spins faster. About 2.5" across. White stands out against black hat.

Step 6: Pumpkin — ridged with stem

Same pumpkin as hair clips — 1.5". Ridge wraps are key.

Hat top — leave small loop at tip for hanging string. Brim wide so it catches wind.

Step 7: Assembly — stringing it so it spins balanced

This is important for it to spin and not tangle:

• Cut 5 pieces fishing line: 8", 10", 12", 10", 8" — shortest on outsides (spiral and pumpkin), longest in middle (cauldron).
• Attach lines to brim of hat: at 12 o'clock, 2, 5, 7, 10 o'clock positions — sew through brim, knot inside.
• Top hanging loop: 10" fishing line through tip of hat, knot to form loop for hanging.
• Tie charms to bottom of each line: spiral on left outside, black cat next, cauldron center longest, star next, pumpkin right outside — like your photo.
• Balance check: hold by top loop — if one side dips, shorten that line 0.5".

I add a small clear bead above each charm knot so knot doesn't slip through stitch.

Finishing and hanging

Weave all tails. Steam hat lightly if curling. Hang by window or porch — needs just a little breeze. If indoor, near vent or doorway works. Fishing line invisible so charms look floating.

Troubleshooting

Hat flops: Brim needs 90 sts — if you stopped at 72 it's too small and floppy. Add R23 to 90. Optional cardboard inside brim.

Charms tangle: Lines too long or too close. Keep 2" between attachment points on brim, shortest lines on outside.

Doesn't spin: Hat too heavy stuffed — leave hollow. Or fishing line too thick — use thin clear.

Spiral not striped orange/black: Make two small spirals one orange one black and twist together — easiest way to get stripe in photo.

Make it yours

I made a pastel version — white hat with pink charms — for a baby nursery, and a Christmas version — red hat with snowman, tree, star, gingerbread, candy cane. Same hat base, different charms. If you make it, send me a photo of where you hung it — I love seeing them in windows.

— Sara

SARA RAIN CROCHET · HANDMADE WITH LOVE

This spinner is my favorite porch make — it spins every time someone opens the door and my kids say the cat is flying. I hope yours brings a little floating Halloween magic to your window too. 🎃👻🖤