A crochet dog keychain pattern with real character

This crochet dog keychain pattern makes a small sitting puppy with floppy ears and a red bow. Hang it on your keys or your bag, or leave off the ring and keep it as a mini plush. At about 5 to 6 cm (2 to 2.4 in) tall with DK cotton and a 2 mm hook, it is small enough to carry everywhere and still has plenty of personality.

The head and body are made in one piece, which keeps the sewing to a minimum. The legs, ears, snout and tail are tiny pieces that you sew on at the end. That is the part that brings the puppy to life, and it is also the part where most small patterns leave you guessing.

Why this crochet dog keychain pattern is easy to follow

Tiny pieces are hard to place by eye, so this pattern gives you exact placement for every piece, counted in rounds from the top of the head. You always know where the ears and legs belong, and both sides come out even.

The PDF runs to 20 pages with 45 numbered steps and 49 photos. You see every round of the head and body, every small piece and every assembly step. Every round has its stitch count, and a two-page quick reference plus a troubleshooting page sit at the back for when you just need a number.

The stitches you need

We rate this easy. If you can crochet in the round and make increases and decreases, you can make this dog. The pattern uses US crochet terms and only basic stitches:

• Magic ring
• Chain and slip stitch
• Single crochet
• Half double crochet
• Double crochet

A 2 mm hook is small, and it takes a few rounds for your hands to settle in. It is worth it, because a tight fabric keeps the stuffing hidden and gives the puppy its neat, firm shape. If you find it hard going, the same pattern works with thicker yarn and a bigger hook, and you get a bigger dog.

Yarn and materials

Use DK (light worsted) cotton yarn. The Craft Yarn Council yarn weight chart is useful if your label uses another name for that weight. A small project like this is ideal for leftovers, since each colour goes a long way.

• DK cotton in white or cream, plus beige or light brown for the ears
• A little red and black yarn
• A 2 mm (B-1) crochet hook
• Two 5 mm black half pearls and textile glue, or black yarn to embroider the eyes
• Fibre stuffing, a stitch marker, a yarn needle and scissors
• Optional: a keychain ring and a little blush for the cheeks

Embroidered eyes are the better choice if the puppy will go to a young child, and half pearls give a brighter, more toy-like look for a bag charm. A touch of blush on the cheeks is optional and softens the face.

Make it your own

Once you know the pattern, change the coat and you have a new dog. Cream with light brown ears looks like a golden puppy, and white with beige ears looks like the one in the photos. You can swap the red bow for any colour you like, or match it to the bag it will hang on.

A small gift that does not feel small

A crochet dog keychain pattern is a good one to keep on hand for gifts, since each puppy uses very little yarn and you can use what you already own. If you like small makes, try our free crochet cherry keychain tutorial next.

Inside the PDF

This crochet dog keychain pattern opens with the materials list and the stitch guide. You then work the head and body as one piece, round by round, before moving on to the legs, ears, snout and tail. The placement guide covers each of those pieces and the eyes, so the final steps are about sewing rather than guessing.

Because every part of a crochet dog keychain pattern is so small, stuffing makes a real difference. Add it a little at a time and shape the head as you close it, so the puppy stays round and the fabric does not stretch open. The photos show each stage, so you can compare your own piece as you go. When you are done, add the bow and decide whether it becomes a keychain or stays a mini plush.

What happens after you buy

This crochet dog keychain pattern is a digital PDF, so you receive the file and not a finished keychain. You download it after checkout, then print it or open it on a phone or tablet while you work. Nothing is shipped, and every step is there whenever you come back to it.

On the blog: Crochet Cherry Keychain: A Beautiful Little Charm, 25 Steps