Hello, fellow yarn lovers! Are you looking for a quick, adorable, and satisfying project to use up your scrap yarn? Welcome to our step-by-step guide for making a charming crocheted fish keychain! This little swimmer is fast to whip up, beginner-friendly, and makes a wonderful handmade gift or bag charm.
Whether you are brand new to amigurumi or a seasoned crocheter looking for a relaxing afternoon make, this project is sure to bring a smile to your face. Let’s grab our hooks and dive right in!
Materials & Tools Needed
- Yarn: Small amounts of sport-weight or worsted-weight cotton/acrylic yarn in your favorite fish colors.
- Crochet Hook: Size 3.0mm or 3.5mm (to ensure tight stitches so the stuffing doesn’t show).
- Stuffing: A pinch of polyester fiberfill.
- Hardware: 1 keychain ring with a jump ring or chain.
- Notions: Yarn needle, scissors, and embroidery floss (or safety eyes) for details.
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)
- Note: Work in continuous rounds without joining unless otherwise stated. Use a stitch marker to keep track of the start of each round.
Step-by-Step Pattern Instructions
- Body Base: Start with a magic ring. Work 6 sc into the ring. (6 sts)
- Round 1: [Inc] around. (12 sts)
- Round 2: [Sc in next st, inc in next st] around. (18 sts)
- Rounds 3–6: Sc in each st around. (18 sts)
- Round 3 (Shape & Stuff): Begin stuffing the body firmly with fiberfill. Start decreasing: [Sc in next st, dec] around. (12 sts)
- Round 4: [Dec] around to close the body almost completely. Fasten off, leaving a short tail to weave in. (6 sts)
- Tail Fin: Attach yarn to the back end of the fish body. Chain 4, work 1 dc and 1 htr in the 2nd ch from hook, ch 3, and sl st back into the base. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Finishing & Helpful Tips
- Control Your Tension: Keep your stitches nice and tight so the polyester stuffing doesn’t peek through the gaps. If you tend to crochet loosely, drop down a hook size.
- Add Personality: Use scrap embroidery floss to stitch a cute little smile, or glue on tiny safety eyes to give your fish character.
- Secure the Hardware: Attach your keychain securely to the top of the fish body, weaving the yarn tail through the keyring loop a few times for extra durability.
- Scrap Buster: Feel free to experiment with striped yarn or leftover yarn scraps to create a whole school of colorful, unique fish keychains!
Watch the Step-by-Step Video Tutorial
Prefer visual guidance? Follow along with the complete video tutorial below: