Looking for a free crochet keychain pattern? Here are 21 of them: puffy hearts, strawberries, a mini lemon, daisies and tulips, a tiny ghost, a bee, a no-sew octopus and a little cat, plus useful ones like a lip balm holder, an AirPods backpack, a zippered coin purse, wristlets and a lanyard. Every pattern is free in full on the designer's own site, with no sign-up. Most use a few yards of scrap yarn and take under an hour, which makes them perfect for stocking stuffers, teacher gifts, party favors and craft fair tables.
For each one I've noted the yarn, the hook, the finished size where the designer gives it, and how it starts. If you'd rather braid than crochet, we also have a roundup of paracord keychains.
A quick note on hardware. Most of these hang from a split keyring with a short chain and a jump ring, or from a lobster clasp so you can clip them to a bag. Wristlets and lanyards need a swivel clasp. Buy a mixed bag of hardware and you'll be set for a whole batch.
Hearts
Heart Keychain — Jo to the World Creations. A puffy, stuffed 3-inch heart in about 20 yards of worsted yarn on a 4.5mm (G/7) hook. Each lobe starts as a magic circle of 6 sc, and the two are joined so there's no sewing. There's a video and a neat invisible decrease tip. A sweet Valentine's or Mother's Day gift.
Patriotic Heart Keychain — GoldenLucyCrafts. A flat 2-inch heart in worsted cotton on a 3.5mm (E) hook, worked as a single round of hdc, sc and dc into a magic ring. It's shown in red, white and blue, but it works in any color. Very quick, and great for using up dishcloth cotton.
Fruit and flowers
Strawberry Keychain — Bella Coco Crochet. A cluster charm with two small strawberries, leaves and a flower on chains, about 13cm long, in DK cotton on 3mm and 4mm hooks. The page switches between UK and US terms, so pick US if that's what you're used to.
Strawberry Amigurumi Keychain — DIY Fluffies. A chubby 2-inch berry in sport-weight cotton on a 2.5mm hook, starting with 6 sc in a magic ring. Beginner, with a full video. The designer also shows a big chenille version.
Mini Lemon Keychain — DIY Fluffies. A bright 2-inch lemon with a little leaf worked in rows, in sport-weight yarn on a 2.5mm hook. You can add a tiny embroidered face. Beginner, in US terms, with a video.
Daisy Flower Keychain — DIY Fluffies. A 3-inch daisy in sport-weight cotton on 2.5mm and 3.5mm hooks. It starts with 6 sc in a magic ring. With a rattle insert inside, the same pattern makes a baby rattle.
Crochet Flower Keychain — Viv Crochets. A 2.6-inch flower with puffy popcorn petals, in about 10g of Red Heart Super Saver on a 5mm hook. Round 1 is 10 dc into a ring, and two centers are sewn together so it looks good from both sides. Video included.
Tulip Keychain — The Caffeinated Snail. A tulip under 2 inches tall in worsted yarn on a 4.5mm hook. It starts with 6 sc in a magic ring. Beginner, and there's a loop-only option if you want a bag charm without metal hardware.
Mini animals and cute characters
Tiny Ghost — The Nicole Chase. A 2-inch ghost with a ruffled hem, in worsted yarn on a 4mm (G) hook. Round 1 is 6 sc in a magic ring, and the ruffle is worked in front loops. Add a keyring or lobster clasp at the top. Beginner, with a video, and cute all year round, not just at Halloween.
Tiny Pumpkin — The Nicole Chase. The same designer's 2-inch pumpkin, made with the same hook and yarn. The ridges come from wrapping yarn around the stuffed ball, so there's no tricky shaping. Add a keyring on top for a fall bag charm.
Amigurumi Bee — Sweet Softies. A 1.5-inch striped bee in fingering-weight cotton on a 2.75mm hook. Round 1 is 6 sc in a magic ring, and the wings start in a magic ring too. Rated for confident beginners. The designer is happy for you to sell what you make, with credit.
No-Sew Octopus Keychain — Viv Crochets. A 2-inch octopus with curly legs and no sewing at all, in about 15g of worsted on a 4mm hook. Round 1 is 8 sc into the second chain from the hook. Beginner, with a video. It uses 8mm safety eyes.
Mushroom Keychain — The Caffeinated Snail. A 2-inch toadstool with embroidered white spots, in Red Heart worsted on a 4.5mm hook. It starts with 6 sc in a magic ring. Beginner, with a video.
Cat Keychain — The Caffeinated Snail. A small, round cat head with ears, in worsted on a 5mm hook, with 10mm safety eyes and an embroidered nose. Round 1 is 6 sc in a magic ring. A nice match for our crochet cat toy patterns if you're making a cat-lover gift set.
Safety eyes on keychains: they're fine for adults and teens. If the keychain is for a young child, or will hang on a backpack a toddler can reach, embroider the eyes with black yarn instead.
Useful keychains: holders and pouches
These are the keychains people actually use every day, so they're great gifts and great sellers.
Chapstick Key Chain Cozy — Crochet Spot. A 3.5-inch lip balm holder in worsted on a 5mm (H) hook. It starts with 8 hdc in the third chain from the hook and builds up into a tube with a chain loop for the keyring. It takes about 20 minutes and is a classic stocking stuffer.
Tiny Backpack Keychain / AirPods Case — Nicki's Homemade Crafts. A 2.25 x 2.5-inch backpack with a drawstring, button flap and optional straps, in less than 100 yards of sport yarn on a 3mm hook. It starts on an oval base of chain 10. It's sized to hold AirPods, or a lip balm and a few coins.
Coin Purse With Zipper — Blue Star Crochet. A 5 x 7cm zip pouch in aran/worsted acrylic on a 4mm hook, worked in a spiral around a chain of 11. You sew in a 5cm zip and a small leather strap with a keyring. Beginner, and the zipper steps are clearly shown.
Granny Square Key Chain — Crochet Spot. A 2.5-inch, four-round granny square in thread or fine yarn on a 3.75mm (F) hook. Round 1 is a chain-5 ring. It's a great scrap buster, and a good first project if you're learning granny squares.
Wristlets and lanyards
Easy Crochet Wristlet Keychain — love. life. yarn. A 7-inch wristlet in thick thermal stitch, in fingering to worsted yarn on a 3.75mm (F) hook. Row 1 is 6 sc worked straight around the ring of a swivel clasp. Beginner, with a video.
Quick and Easy Wristlet Keychain — Bella Coco Crochet. A slim wristlet in DK cotton on a 3mm hook, about 11.5cm long when folded. It starts with 6 stitches around the key chain attachment. The page toggles UK and US terms, and the full pattern is open on the page (the email box is only for a PDF).
Lanyard Keychain — Blue Star Crochet. A puff stitch lanyard with a picot edge, in sport-weight merino on a 3mm hook, to any length you like. Chain a multiple of 3 plus 2, and finish with a D-shaped lobster clasp. Great for teachers, nurses and anyone with an ID badge. For a corded version, see our paracord lanyard patterns.
Tips for keychains that last
- Use cotton or tight acrylic. Keychains get rubbed in pockets and bags all day. Cotton holds its shape, and fuzzy yarn pills fast.
- Go down a hook size. Tighter stitches keep the stuffing in and stop the shape from stretching.
- Anchor the hardware well. Attach the chain or loop to a strong stitch, not just the last round, and sew through it a few times.
- Weave ends in both directions. Small pieces get pulled hard, so change direction once or twice when you weave in your ends.
- Make a batch. A dozen in different colors is a lovely party favor or craft fair stock.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest crochet keychain?
A flat heart or a granny square. The patriotic heart is one round into a magic ring, and the granny square is four rounds of dc clusters. Both take well under 30 minutes. For a first amigurumi keychain, try the tulip or the tiny ghost.
How do I attach a crochet keychain to a keyring?
Most patterns leave a tail at the top. Thread it through a jump ring, or sew a short crochet chain loop into the top, then open the jump ring with pliers and close it around the keyring. A lobster clasp clips on the same way.
What yarn is best for crochet keychains?
Cotton or a smooth acrylic in sport, DK or worsted weight. Use a smaller hook than the label says so the stitches are tight. Scraps are perfect, since most of these use less than 20 yards.
Can I sell keychains made from free patterns?
Often, yes, but check each designer's page. Many, like Sweet Softies, say you can sell finished items with credit. You can't sell or share the pattern itself.
More small crochet gifts
Keychains are one of the best cheap crochet stocking stuffers, and a keychain or lanyard makes a sweet teacher gift. If you liked the mini animals, try our easy amigurumi patterns for beginners, a mini toadstool from our crochet mushroom patterns or some amigurumi Christmas ornaments. For more small accessories, see our crochet earring patterns and crochet bracelet patterns, and tuck your keychain into a crochet gift bag.
