Tiny Turtle Keychain Crochet Pattern (Free + Step-by-Step)

I made these in a single afternoon. The keys feel different now. Less metallic, more mine.

I commissioned the base turtle pattern from a crocheter I work with. She designs original amigurumi, I pay for the rights, and I publish them here for free.

This is the keychain version of my Tiny Pocket Turtle pattern. Same little turtle, just attached to a keyring so it lives on your bag, your keys, or wherever you stash your daily essentials. Around the holidays, try the crochet tortoise with a Santa hat.

Quick Info

• Skill level: Intermediate (any confident beginner can do it)
• Finished size: about 10 cm (4 inches), plus the keyring
• Time to make: 1 to 2 hours
• Stitches used: sc, inc, dec, BLO
• Extra hardware: 1 split ring (25mm) per keychain, optional swivel clasp

Why This Makes a Great Gift

A handmade keychain is one of the few crochet pieces people actually use every day.

Plushies sit on shelves, scarves come out in winter, but a keychain travels everywhere. Friends notice it. Strangers ask about it.

The pair shown here used about 5 grams of yarn each. You can make a dozen of these from leftover scraps and have a year of birthday gifts sorted.

Materials You’ll Need

• Milk cotton yarn (4-ply) in three colors per turtle: dark green or blue for the shell, mint green or cream for the head and legs, and black for the eyes
• 3.5 mm crochet hook
• Fiberfill stuffing
• Tapestry needle
• Small scissors
• 1 split ring per keychain (about 25mm)
• Optional: 1 swivel clasp per keychain if you want it to rotate freely on the ring

A note on the hardware. Split rings are the cheapest option and totally fine for casual everyday use.

If you want it to feel more like a “real” keychain (the kind that doesn’t twist your keys around), add a small swivel clasp between the turtle and the split ring. Hobby stores sell them for pennies in packs of 50.

A note on yarn colorway. The pair you see here is mint with dark green shells, and cream with denim blue shells. Any two-tone combo works.

I’d avoid pure pastels for the keychain version because they show dirt fast. A medium-saturated color holds up better through daily handling.

Abbreviations

• MR = Magic Ring
• ch = Chain
• sc = Single Crochet
• inc = Increase (2 sc in one stitch)
• dec = Decrease (sc 2 stitches together, see invisible decrease tip below)
• sl st = Slip Stitch
• R = Round
• BLO = Back Loop Only

A quick note on Magic Ring before we start. A magic ring lets you start crocheting in the round without leaving a hole in the center.

You wrap the yarn around your finger to form a loop, work your stitches into the loop, then pull the tail tight to close.

If MR feels impossible the first few times, chain 2 and work into the second chain instead. The center will have a tiny hole, but it gets hidden when you stuff and close.

On invisible decrease (it’s worth using here): instead of the standard sc2tog, insert your hook into the front loops only of the next two stitches, then yarn over and pull through all three loops. It leaves a much cleaner edge and is the standard for amigurumi.

Pattern: The Shell

The shell is the heart of the turtle’s look. The BLO round is what gives it that distinct rim where the shell sits on top of the body, so don’t skip it.

• R1: 7 sc in MR [7]
• R2: inc in each stitch [14]
• R3: (1 sc, 1 inc) × 7 [21]
• R4 to R5: sc around [21]

Stuff with fiberfill before the next round. Use small pinches of stuffing, not one big lump.

Pack it firmly enough that the shell holds its shape but not so tight the stitches stretch open.

• R6: BLO, (1 sc, 1 dec) × 7 [14]

When you see “BLO” here, only insert your hook into the back loop of each stitch instead of both loops. This is what creates the visible rim around the shell.

• R7: dec around [7]

Finish off, weave in the tail to close the small hole at the bottom. For the keychain version, leave a 6-inch tail at the top center of the shell, which you’ll use to attach the split ring.

A note on R1 with 7 stitches. Seven stitches is unusually tight to fit inside a magic ring.

Take it slow, count out loud, and don’t worry if your ring looks crowded. Once you increase on R2 it opens up.

Pattern: The Head and Legs

Same yarn for both pieces. Crochet the head first, then knock out the four legs.

Head

• R1: 7 sc in MR [7]
• R2: inc in each stitch [14]
• R3 to R5: sc around [14]

Stuff before R6. The head should be firm and round, not floppy.

• R6: dec around [7]

Fasten off and leave a long tail of 6 to 8 inches for sewing.

Trying to thread a tapestry needle with 2 inches of yarn while finishing assembly is genuinely the worst.

Legs (make 4)

You’ll repeat this small piece four times. Each leg only takes a couple of minutes.

• R1: 7 sc in MR [7]
• R2: sc around [7]
• R3: 1 dec, 5 sc [6]

Leave a long tail for sewing. Stuffing the legs is optional.

I’d skip stuffing them for the cleanest look. They’re tiny enough that no one notices.

Assembly: The Turtle

Position the head so it sits at the front edge of the shell, just under the rim. Use small whip stitches and sew all the way around the base of the head where it meets the shell.

If you want to be extra precise, pin the head in place first with a sewing pin or a stitch marker. It makes the sewing much easier when the head can’t roll out of position.

For the legs, imagine the bottom of the shell as a clock face. Place the legs at roughly 4, 5, 7, and 8 o’clock so they angle out slightly to the front and back.

Sew each leg on with a few small stitches, then secure the yarn tail and pull it back through the body to hide it inside the stuffing.

The Eyes

The eyes are what take this from “yarn ball” to “actual creature.” Use a single ply of black yarn. Split a strand if your yarn is too thick.

Place the eyes on the 3rd round of the head, about 4 stitches apart. Less is more here. Small dots read cuter than big eyes.

A common mistake is making the eyes too far apart. Tiny amigurumi look cuter when the eyes are close together, almost touching.

Attaching the Keyring

This is the part that turns the turtle into a keychain. There are two clean ways to do it.

Method 1: Direct split-ring attachment

This is what I used in the photos. Simple, sturdy, and doesn’t add bulk.

1. Take the 6-inch tail you left at the top center of the shell.
2. Thread it onto a tapestry needle.
3. Pass the needle through one side of the split ring twice, looping the yarn securely around the ring.
4. Pull the loops tight so the ring sits flush against the top of the shell.
5. Push the needle back down through the shell and out the bottom edge. Tie off and weave the tail back into the body to hide it.

Test it by giving the ring a firm tug. If it shifts at all, repeat with another loop or two through the ring before tying off.

Method 2: Crochet a chain loop first

Use this if you want a small loop of yarn between the turtle and the ring (a more flexible, dangly look).

1. After finishing the shell, attach yarn at the top center.
2. Chain 6, then slip stitch back into the starting point to form a small loop.
3. Fasten off and weave in the tail.
4. Slide the split ring through the loop.

Both methods are equally durable. Method 1 keeps the turtle close to your keys (less swinging). Method 2 lets it dangle, which looks playful.

Optional: Add a Swivel Clasp

If you’ve ever had keys twist and tangle around each other, you know why a swivel matters.

A swivel clasp lets the turtle rotate independently of the keyring. It also makes it easier to clip onto bag zippers, belt loops, or backpack straps.

To add one:

1. Attach your turtle to a small split ring using either method above.
2. Attach the small split ring to one end of the swivel clasp.
3. Attach the other end of the swivel clasp to your main keyring.

Done. Now your turtle can spin freely and your keys won’t get twisted.

Tips for Success

A few things I’d want to know before starting this pattern:

• Tension matters more than yarn weight. If you crochet loosely, the stuffing will show through the stitches. Work tight.
• Reinforce the ring attachment. A keychain takes more wear than a desk plushie. When in doubt, loop the yarn through the ring one more time.
• Skip stuffing the legs. With a keychain, less bulk reads cleaner.
• Make a pair as a gift. Two keychains, two colorways, gift one to a friend and keep one for yourself. The yarn cost is negligible.

FAQ

Will the yarn fray from daily use?

Milk cotton holds up well. After a few months you might see slight fuzzing at the edges, but the structure stays intact. If you want extra durability, dab a tiny bit of fabric glue on the knot where you attached the ring.

Can I attach this to a backpack instead?

Yes. Use a swivel clasp instead of a plain split ring (see the section above). Clip it onto the zipper pull or one of the bag’s D-rings.

Where do I buy split rings and swivels?

Any craft store, hardware store, or jewelry-making section online. A pack of 50 split rings is usually under $5. Swivel clasps are slightly pricier but you only need one per keychain.

What yarn color combos work best?

For keychains, I’d lean toward medium-saturated colors that don’t show dirt. The blue + cream and green + mint combos in the photos are both winners. Pastels look pretty initially but get grimy fast on a keyring.

How is this different from your standalone Tiny Pocket Turtle?

Same base pattern, same little turtle. The keychain version just adds a split ring (and optionally a swivel clasp) to the top of the shell. If you want the standalone amigurumi version, see the Tiny Pocket Turtle Crochet Pattern.

Can I sell what I make from this pattern?

Yes. You can sell the finished keychains. Please don’t republish or resell the pattern itself.

Why does my turtle keep flipping upside down on my keys?

Add a swivel clasp. Without one, the turtle can rotate around the ring, but it can’t right itself. A swivel solves it instantly.

Make a Pair. Tag Crochee.

If you make this pattern, I’d love to see your colorway. The crocheter who designed the base turtle gets a kick out of seeing finished pieces in different colors and finishes.

Save the pattern to Pinterest so you can find it again, and check out more free patterns in the Keychains & Charms category.

If you want to see how this one stacks up against the rest, I put together a roundup of crochet keychain ideas with ten free patterns sorted by how long each one takes. There is a companion list of crochet keychains for men and boys too, and this turtle earns a spot on it for being the one that works at any age.