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Let's crochet an adorable and festive pumpkin keychain! This tiny project is perfect for using up small amounts of leftover orange and green yarn. It's quick to make, super cute, and a great way to add a touch of autumn charm to your keys, bag, or even as a small gift.
How to Make a Crochet Pumpkin Keychain! 🎃
This detailed tutorial will guide you through crafting a charming mini 3D pumpkin, complete with a tiny stem. We'll use simple stitches and basic shaping techniques to create a delightful autumn accessory.
Skill Level: Beginner
This project is perfect if you're comfortable with (or ready to learn!):
Holding your hook and yarn: The fundamental grip.
Making a slip knot: The starting point.
Chain (ch): The basic stitch.
Slip Stitch (sl st): For joining and neatening.
Single Crochet (sc): A dense stitch, great for amigurumi (3D crochet).
Working in continuous rounds (spiral): This avoids a visible seam in your pumpkin.
Increasing (inc): Making more stitches to expand your work.
Decreasing (dec) / Single Crochet 2 Together (sc2tog): Making fewer stitches to shape your work.
Changing colors: For the pumpkin and stem.
Stuffing: Adding filler to your 3D piece.
Weaving in ends: The essential finishing touch.
Finished Pumpkin Keychain Dimensions (Approximate):
Using worsted weight yarn and the suggested hook, your finished pumpkin will typically be about 1.5 - 2 inches (4 - 5 cm) in diameter, making it the perfect small size for a keychain. The exact size will vary slightly based on your personal tension and how much you stuff it.
Materials You'll Need:
Gathering your materials beforehand makes the process smoother and more enjoyable.
Yarn: Small amounts of Worsted Weight (Medium #4) Yarn.
Orange: Approximately 5-10 yards (4.5-9 meters) for the pumpkin body. Any shade of orange will work!
Green/Brown: Approximately 1-2 yards (1-2 meters) for the stem. Dark green, light green, or brown all look great.
Crochet Hook: Size G/4.0mm or H/5.0mm. A smaller hook (like a G/4.0mm) will create a denser fabric, preventing the stuffing from showing through, which is ideal for amigurumi. If you crochet tightly, an H/5.0mm might be more comfortable.
Yarn Needle (Tapestry Needle): Essential for sewing the pumpkin closed, adding the ridges, and weaving in ends.
Scissors: For cutting yarn.
Stitch Marker: Highly recommended when working in continuous rounds to keep track of the beginning of your rounds. A small safety pin, paperclip, or a scrap of contrasting yarn works perfectly.
Fiberfill Stuffing: A small handful of polyester fiberfill to give your pumpkin its plump shape.
Keychain Ring/Hardware: A small split ring or a lobster clasp to attach your finished pumpkin to keys or bags. You can find these at craft stores or online.
Understanding the Pumpkin Construction: Building a 3D Shape
The pumpkin is crocheted in a spiral (continuous rounds), starting from the top. We'll increase stitches to make it expand, then decrease stitches to bring it back in, creating the round shape. The stem is worked separately and then attached. Finally, we'll add the classic pumpkin ridges by wrapping yarn around the finished piece.
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Let's Crochet Your Adorable Pumpkin Keychain!
Follow these steps carefully. Take your time, especially with increases and decreases, to ensure a neat shape.
Part 1: Crocheting the Pumpkin Body (Orange Yarn)
Start with a Magic Ring (MR):
With your orange yarn, create a Magic Ring (MR). This is an adjustable loop that allows you to pull the center tight for a neat, hole-free start.
How to make a Magic Ring: Loop the yarn around your fingers (usually pointer and middle) to form a ring, leaving a tail. Insert your hook into the center of this ring, yarn over, pull up a loop. Then, chain 1. Now you're ready to work stitches into the ring.
Alternative Start (if MR is tricky): If the Magic Ring is too challenging, you can chain 2, then work your stitches into the 2nd chain from your hook. This will leave a small hole in the center, but it's often acceptable for small projects.
Round 1:
Work 6 single crochet (sc) stitches into the Magic Ring (or into the 2nd chain from your hook).
Do NOT join this round with a slip stitch if working in a continuous spiral. This means you'll just start crocheting directly into the first stitch of the next round.
Place your stitch marker into the first sc stitch you made in this round. This marks the beginning of your rounds.
[Total: 6 sc]
If you used a Magic Ring, gently pull the tail of the Magic Ring tightly to close the center hole.
Round 2 (Increase Round):
Work 2 single crochet (sc) into each stitch around. (This is an increase: you're creating more stitches to expand your circle.)
Move your stitch marker to the first sc you make in this new round. Remember to do this at the start of every round.
[Total: 12 sc]
Round 3 (Increase Round):
Work 1 sc into the first stitch.
Work 2 sc into the next stitch (this is your increase).
Repeat the pattern: * 1 sc into the next stitch, 2 sc into the next stitch * around the entire round.
[Total: 18 sc]
Round 4 (Increase Round):
Work 1 sc into the first stitch.
Work 1 sc into the next stitch.
Work 2 sc into the next stitch.
Repeat the pattern: * 1 sc into each of the next 2 stitches, 2 sc into the next stitch * around the entire round.
[Total: 24 sc]
For a slightly larger pumpkin: You could add one more increase round here: 1 sc in next 3 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch (30 sc total). Adjust subsequent rounds accordingly.
Round 5 (Even Round):
Work 1 single crochet (sc) into each stitch around. (No increases in this round; this gives your pumpkin some height.)
[Total: 24 sc]
Round 6 (Decrease Round):
Now we'll start decreasing to shape the top of the pumpkin.
Work 1 sc into the first stitch.
Work 1 sc into the next stitch.
Work Single Crochet 2 Together (sc2tog) over the next two stitches.
How to make an sc2tog (invisible decrease is best for amigurumi, but standard sc2tog works):
Standard sc2tog: Insert hook into next stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook). Insert hook into the next stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). Yarn over, pull through all 3 loops on hook.
Invisible sc2tog (recommended for a neater look): Insert hook into front loop only of next stitch. Insert hook into front loop only of the following stitch. Yarn over, pull through both front loops (2 loops on hook). Yarn over, pull through both loops on hook.
Repeat the pattern: * 1 sc into each of the next 2 stitches, sc2tog over the next two stitches * around the entire round.
[Total: 18 sc]
Start Stuffing! Your pumpkin is beginning to close up. Now is a good time to start firmly stuffing your pumpkin with fiberfill. Make sure it's packed evenly and firmly to maintain a good round shape, but don't overstuff so much that the stitches stretch open.
Round 7 (Decrease Round):
Work 1 sc into the first stitch.
Work Single Crochet 2 Together (sc2tog) over the next two stitches.
Repeat the pattern: * 1 sc into the next stitch, sc2tog over the next two stitches * around the entire round.
[Total: 12 sc]
Continue Stuffing: Top off the stuffing to ensure your pumpkin is firm and nicely shaped.
Round 8 (Final Decrease Round):
Work Single Crochet 2 Together (sc2tog) over the next two stitches.
Repeat this pattern: * sc2tog over the next two stitches * around the entire round.
[Total: 6 sc]
Remove your stitch marker.
Finishing the Pumpkin Body:
Cut your orange yarn, leaving a long tail (about 8-10 inches / 20-25 cm).
Thread this tail onto your yarn needle.
Pass the needle through the front loop only of each of the remaining 6 stitches. Pull the tail gently but firmly to cinch the hole closed.
Make a few stitches through the closed hole to secure it even further. Do not cut the tail yet; we will use it for the ridges.
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Part 2: Crocheting the Stem (Green/Brown Yarn)
Starting Chain:
With your green/brown yarn, make a slip knot.
Chain (ch) 4.
Working Back on the Chain:
Work 1 slip stitch (sl st) into the 2nd chain from your hook.
Work 1 sl st into the next chain.
Work 1 sc into the last chain. (This creates a slight bump or widening at the base of the stem.)
Fasten Off:
Cut your yarn, leaving a tail about 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) long.
Yarn over, pull the tail completely through the loop on your hook, and tug to secure.
Part 3: Assembling Your Pumpkin Keychain
Attach the Stem:
Thread the tail from your green/brown stem onto your yarn needle.
Position the stem on the top center of your orange pumpkin.
Sew the stem securely onto the pumpkin by passing your needle through the base of the stem and into the pumpkin body, going back and forth several times. Hide the tail by weaving it into the pumpkin.
Create Pumpkin Ridges (Using the Long Orange Tail):
This step gives your pumpkin its characteristic segmented look.
Keep the long orange yarn tail (from where you cinched the top closed) threaded on your yarn needle.
Insert your needle through the top center of the pumpkin (where the stem is) and pull it out through the bottom center of the pumpkin.
Wrap the yarn up and over the outside of the pumpkin, back to the top center. Push your needle back through the top center and out the bottom center, right next to where you just came out.
Gently pull the yarn tight to create a slight indentation or "ridge." Don't pull too hard or you'll distort the pumpkin's shape.
Repeat this process 4-5 more times, spacing the "wraps" evenly around the pumpkin to create distinct ridges. Each time, go through the top center and out the bottom center, tightening slightly.
Once you have your desired number of ridges, make a final stitch or two at the top or bottom center to secure the tail, then weave the remaining tail into the pumpkin to hide it.
Attach Keychain Hardware:
Open your keychain split ring.
Carefully push the split ring onto one of the top loops or stitches near the stem of your pumpkin. Alternatively, if you have a lobster clasp, you can simply attach it to a loop near the stem. Ensure it's securely attached.
Final Touches:
Weave in ALL Remaining Ends:
Double-check for any loose tails. Use your yarn needle to meticulously weave them into the corresponding color sections of your pumpkin or stem. This makes them practically invisible and prevents unraveling.
Gently Shape:
Give your pumpkin a gentle squeeze and reshape it with your fingers to ensure it's plump and has nice, even ridges.
Congratulations! You've successfully crocheted an adorable 3D pumpkin keychain! This little guy is perfect for adding a touch of autumn festivity to your everyday items or as a thoughtful handmade gift. Enjoy your new creation!
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