In a decade drenched in neon, big hair, and boomboxes, nothing was more thrilling—or terrifying—than a night spent with a knife-wielding maniac on VHS.
With a bit of a nip in the air, the leaves will begin to turn soon and I’ll be pulling out my fleece lined leggings, cozy slippers, and my “blood” drenched coffee mug. I love Halloween, and I’ve waited all summer to dive into my next family costume. We create them mostly from scratch, and while my boys are young we keep them family friendly. I can’t wait for the day they are ready for a more gruesome, gory and horrific holiday.
80’s Slasher films have always been a favorite of mine. They gave us blood, guts, and killer soundtracks, plus a few lessons on why we should never split up. I love that feeling when you are on the edge of your seat, yelling “don’t go that way!” (with a few other choice words, but I dare not mention those here). The rush is unmatched.
I wanted to create some slasher-inspired yarn crafts that bring that nostalgic feeling back, and make you want to watch one of your favorites tonight while you craft it. I have also included a link to some other patterns I have found, that truly inspire. Get ready to relive your best bloodcurdling moments!
crochet your own bloody masterpiece
In the world of 80s slasher films, nothing screams terror louder than the words ‘HELP ME!’ smeared in blood across a wall—because in these movies, help is always too little, too late.
Just imagine, you’re in an old hunting cabin after being split up from your friends. You can hear your heart beating so loudly it drowns out the footsteps getting closer. The cuts from running through the woods cover your arms and legs, and in your last desperate attempt at getting someone’s attention, you write HELP ME with your blood on one of the clouded windows.
This bloody beauty is my creation. You can download the crochet pattern here for the pixel perfect block. I love to crochet corner-to-corner (C2C). Check out my other blogs on the subject, the ultimate guide to crafting 8-bit crochet patterns, and decode the C2C. I hope to add some of my own tutorials in the coming months. You can create a smaller block with mini C2C and incorporate it into a larger blanket with other blocks (feel free to collect from my site!), or crochet individual granny squares in each color and put it together to make a larger throw.
If you give this a go, please add your comments and pictures – I would also love some reviews to add to my site!
NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET INSPIRED SWEATER
There’s a reason why the slasher villains of the 80s are still haunting our nightmares: they showed us that fear never goes out of style.
When I think of the iconic Freddy Krueger I think of his wit (“I’m going to split you in two”), his glove (great for slashing!) and his not-so-cozy sweater. If I were to see someone in it, it would instantly bring me back to my favorite scenes where Tina ends up on the ceiling covered in her blood, and Glen is pulled into his mattress followed by a volcano of blood. Oh, so much blood.
I found this free pattern from All Free Knitting you might enjoy, simply update the colors to the terrifying red and green. Or knit the entire outfit for you toddler here!
I have yet to learn how to knit, however that will be a goal of mine over the winter. Our winters get quite cold around here, so I plan to enjoy some time on the couch in my cozy socks, enjoying my fireplace, while watching the snow fall. Maybe with a slasher movie on the tv to inspire some more gruesome patterns of my own for next season.
Child’s Play inspired sweater
Every child believes their toys come to life when they’re not looking, but nobody expects them to become their worst nightmare.
Since we are on the topic of cozy clothing, why don’t we add in yet another iconic piece of slasher history – Chucky’s adorable yet horrifying rainbow sweater. The ultimate “good guy” turned serial killer. He’s really quite inventive, since his size gives him a bit of a disadvantage. I must say he does better than expected. Even in pieces.
You could easily adjust the colors in the knit pattern above from All Free Knitting, or here is cute pattern for a child to wear from Yarnspirations. You could even add a patch. Who doesn’t love children dressed as Chucky, it’s not creepy at all…wanna play?
scream queen’s of the 80’s
The 80s were the perfect breeding ground for masked killers, unstoppable monsters, and the teenage heroes who dared to face them.
Starring Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie, “The Ultimate Scream Queen”, the Halloween franchise was nothing short of suspenseful and gruesome. Even though it started in 1978, the bulk of the Michael Myers slaughters happened during the 1980’s and we are forever grateful.
Jamie also made her name with Prom Night and Terror Train. She isn’t the only Scream Queen of the 80s however, we have to give a nod to the other beauties screaming their way to become the final girl. Heather Langenkamp and Lisa Wilcox from A Nightmare on Elm Street series (as Nancy and Alice), Deborah Foreman as Muffy from April Fool’s Day, and Jill Schoelen as Paula in Cutting Class just to name a few.
My Scream Queens C2C free crochet pattern can be downloaded here. Add it to your collection of blocks to create a cozy throw to snuggle under while you cheer on all the courageous women who fight back, and always have one more scream left.
summer camp massacres
If you ever found yourself wondering why teens in the 80s kept heading into the woods, you’re not alone—and that’s exactly what made slasher films so irresistible.
I haven’t personally spent my summers at camp, but looking back I thought about how much fun it would have been to hang out with friends all summer, playing games and boating. Then I remembered all the movies growing up that took place in a camp, like Sleepaway Camp, Madman, or the ever-popular Friday the 13th. Combining the innocence of camp activities with the terror of a lurking killer.
Personally, a nice scenic view of the lake and cabins at night would be my go to for a walk (or run) down memory lane. Download my summer camp slasher C2C free crochet pattern here, bloody axe included.
I also found a couple blanket patterns that might inspire that feeling, including a cabin in the woods. You could change up the colors to red and grey to add some of that slasher feeling, or yellow and red inspired by the Camp Crystal Lake sign. I love the idea of adding a patch or two here as well. Especially Camp Crystal Lake and the iconic hockey mask of Michael Myers.
killer holiday garland with iconic horror weapons
Before streaming and jump scares, there was the golden era of slasher flicks, where every scream was a symphony and every villain had a signature weapon.
The killers wouldn’t be nearly as effective without their signature weapons. It seems to me the axe is the favorite amongst most of the villains, with knives and machetes coming in as a close second. Who can’t forget the axe-wielding Madman or the Miner from My Bloody Valentine, or Jason Voorhees and his machete. My most memorable would have to be the terrifying glove of Freddy’s. Chucky and Michael Myers seemed to prefer a knife, small and quick. Of course, the chainsaw from Pieces provided us with the most horrifying gore of them all.
Why not combine them all into a garland fit for the holidays? My downloadable (and free!) banner designs include the axe, machete, knife and chainsaw – or make them into full blocks, instructions for both are included in the download. Many of the killers enjoyed using a variety of weapons, such as Angela from Sleepaway Camp (the list is extensive but includes a curling iron, an arrow, and bees). You could even make make an entire garland of this movie alone.
turn iconic masks into killer pillow decor
Each mask hides more than a face — it hides a soul consumed by pure, unstoppable evil.
These serial killers stalking us are not only known for their weapons, but their masks as well. Some show a mutilated face, but most hide their true identity from their victims. Eventually we figure out who is behind that ski mask in Prom Night, but not knowing is part of the excitement. We all know Jason Voorhees’ infamous hockey mask and Michael Myers’ emotionless facade. We can’t forget about the miners oxygen mask of the Madman and the strange yet totally creepy joker mask of Marty’s from Slaughter High. Each mask concealed a unique brand of brutality and obsession.
You probably won’t want to knit a black ski mask like Alex’s, but pillows are a fun way to rest your head on their head. My ski mask C2C free crochet pattern can be downloaded here, and if you use a sparkly black you can slice your way back to the disco days!
Less iconic, yet completely effective, are the various costumes from Terror Train. Once the killer boards the train as Groucho Marx, he picks off each victim and wears their costume. The list includes a space lizard and old monk. If you use more than just the costumes Kenny wears, you could create a quilt like blanket with crochet blocks of each.
Whether driven by revenge, madness, or pure evil, these killers left behind a trail of blood and fear, forever haunting the nightmares of their victims. As they stalked summer camps, trains, and city streets, their masked identities became symbols of the unknown dangers lurking in the dark. The masked slashers of the 80’s continue to captivate and terrify, proving that sometimes, what lies behind the mask is far more terrifying than the mask itself.
run!
Thank you for reminiscing with me about the iconic era of slashers. I hope you enjoy my ideas, and keep coming back for more.
Now run and grab your yarn, needles, and hooks, and get ready to craft your own piece of slasher movie magic!
Don’t forget to check out all my designs here – happy collecting!
