Welcome to your new favorite crochet project! If you love accessories that combine cuteness with deep, positive meaning, you are going to adore this DIY Evil Eye Turtle Keychain. The turtle symbolizes wisdom, patience, and stability, while the traditional evil eye motif wards off negative energy and brings good luck.
This beginner-friendly project works up quickly and makes a thoughtful, handmade gift for friends, family, or even yourself. Let’s grab your yarn and hooks to stitch up a little extra positivity!
Materials & Tools Needed
- Lightweight (DK or Sport weight) cotton yarn in blue, white, black (for the evil eye shell), green or brown (for the turtle’s body), and a contrasting color for the shell base.
- Matching crochet hook (typically 2.5mm or 3.0mm to keep stitches tight).
- Small amount of polyester fiberfill stuffing.
- Keychain hardware (jump ring and key ring).
- Tapestry needle and scissors.
- Stitch marker.
Abbreviations & Pattern Notes
- US Terminology
- ch: chain
- sc: single crochet
- inc: increase (work 2 sc in the same stitch)
- dec: decrease (sc 2 stitches together)
- sl st: slip stitch
- st(s): stitch(es)
- Rnd: round
- Note: The turtle body and shell are worked in continuous rounds without joining. Use a stitch marker to track the beginning of each round.
Step-by-Step Pattern Instructions
- The Evil Eye Shell Center: Using black yarn, start with a magic ring, ch 1, and work 6 sc into the ring. Sl st to join, fasten off black. Join white yarn, ch 1, and work an inc in each st around (12 sts). Fasten off white. Join light blue yarn, ch 1, work [1 sc, inc] 6 times around (18 sts). Fasten off light blue. Join dark blue yarn, ch 1, work [2 sc, inc] 6 times around (24 sts). Fasten off.
- Shell Back & Assembly: Using your main shell color (e.g., green or brown), crochet a matching flat circle to the same size (24 sts). Place the evil eye piece and plain back piece together, wrong sides facing. Sc them together around the edge, stuffing lightly with fiberfill just before closing the final stitches. Fasten off and weave in ends.
- Turtle Head: Using body yarn (green/brown), start with a magic ring, work 6 sc. (6 sts). Rnd 2: Work [1 sc, inc] 3 times (9 sts). Rnds 3-4: Sc in each st around (9 sts). Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Lightly stuff the head.
- Flippers (Make 4): Start with a magic ring and work 5 sc. Sl st to join. Fasten off, leaving a long tail to sew onto the underside of the shell.
- Assembly: Sew the head and four flippers securely to the underside of the completed evil eye shell. Attach the jump ring and keychain hardware firmly to the top edge of the shell.
Finishing & Helpful Tips
- Maintain Tight Tension: Use a smaller hook size than recommended for your yarn weight. This prevents the fiberfill stuffing from poking through the gaps.
- Clean Color Changes: When transitioning colors on the evil eye motif, finish the last step of the previous stitch with the new color for seamless transitions.
- Secure Hardware: Ensure your keychain jump ring is tightly closed or sewn through multiple stitches so the charm won’t pull loose with daily use.
- Bag Charm Versatility: Skip the keychain ring entirely if you prefer to attach your cute turtle as a zipper pull or backpack charm!