Hello, fellow yarn lovers! If you are looking for a quick, charming, and utterly adorable project to hook up this weekend, you are in the right place. Today, we are making an adorable little chef rat amigurumi keychain inspired by everyone’s favorite culinary rodent!
This beginner-friendly project is small enough to work up in just an hour or two, requires very little yarn, and makes a wonderful handmade gift or bag charm. Let’s grab our hooks and whip up a little magic!
Materials & Tools Needed
- Lightweight (Sport or DK weight) yarn in gray, pink, and a tiny scrap of black or pink for the nose
- Matching crochet hook (e.g., 2.0mm or 2.5mm—choose a hook slightly smaller than recommended for your yarn to keep stitches tight)
- Polyfill stuffing
- Stitch markers
- Yarn needle and scissors
- Metal keychain ring or clasp
Abbreviations & Pattern Notes
- US Terminology
- MR: Magic Ring
- sc: Single Crochet
- inc: Increase (2 sc in the same stitch)
- dec: Invisible 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 first stitch of each round.
Step-by-Step Pattern Instructions
- Head (Gray Yarn):
Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
Rnd 2: [inc] all around (12)
Rnd 3: [sc 1, inc] 6 times (18)
Rnd 4-6: sc in each st around (18)
Rnd 7: [sc 1, dec] 6 times (12). Stuff the head firmly.
Rnd 8: [dec] all around (6). Fasten off and weave the tail closed. - Body (Gray Yarn):
Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
Rnd 2: [inc] all around (12)
Rnd 3-5: sc in each st around (12). Stuff lightly.
Rnd 6: [dec] 6 times (6). Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. - Ears (Make 2 – Gray and Pink):
Using pink, work 4 sc in MR, sl st to join. Fasten off, leaving a small tail. Layer the pink center onto a slightly larger gray circle (or simply work a round of gray sc around a pink base) and sew to the top sides of the head. - Tail (Pink Yarn):
Chain 8. Starting in the 2nd chain from the hook, work 7 sl st back down the chain. Fasten off, leaving a tail to attach to the bottom back of the body. - Facial Features:
Using black embroidery floss or thin yarn, stitch two small French knots for the eyes and a tiny triangle nose at the front snout of the head.
Finishing & Helpful Tips
- Keep Stitches Tight: Because this is a keychain that will get tossed into bags and handled often, use a hook size smaller than normal to prevent stuffing from poking through.
- Secure Assembly: Whipstitch the head firmly to the body, reinforcing the neck area with a couple of extra passes so the head doesn’t wobble.
- Attach the Hardware: Securely sew a sturdy metal jump ring or keychain loop right through the top center of the head, passing under several secure stitches to ensure it won’t pull loose.
Watch the Step-by-Step Video Tutorial
Prefer visual guidance? Follow along with the complete video tutorial below: