Welcome to your new favorite autumn project! This adorable crocheted pumpkin keychain is a quick, charming way to turn a small scrap of yarn into a useful handmade accessory. Unlike flat appliqués, this design is worked in the round as a puffy, 3-dimensional miniature pumpkin complete with a cute stem.
Whether you want to jazz up your keys, decorate a bag, or gift a handmade treat to a friend, this beginner-friendly pattern works up in no time. Grab your hooks and let’s get making!
Materials & Tools Needed
- Yarn: Lightweight cotton or smooth acrylic yarn (10–20 yards of orange for the pumpkin, small amount of green or brown for the stem).
- Crochet Hook: 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm (use a hook slightly smaller than normally recommended for your yarn to create a dense fabric).
- Notions: Fiberfill stuffing, stitch marker, yarn needle, and scissors.
- Hardware: Split ring, swivel clasp, or lobster clasp keychain attachment.
Abbreviations & Pattern Notes
- MR: Magic ring
- ch: Chain
- sc: Single crochet
- inc: Increase (work 2 sc in the same st)
- dec: Decrease (work an invisible decrease over 2 sts)
- sl st: Slip stitch
- st/sts: Stitch/stitches
- [ ] x6: Repeat instructions inside brackets 6 times
- Note: The pumpkin body is worked continuously in a spiral without joining rounds. Use a stitch marker to keep track of the first stitch of each round.
Step-by-Step Pattern Instructions
- Round 1: With orange yarn, make a MR, work 6 sc into the ring [6]. Pull firmly to close.
- Round 2: [inc] x6 [12]
- Round 3: [sc 1, inc] x6 [18]
- Round 4: [sc 2, inc] x6 [24]
- Round 5: [sc 3, inc] x6 [30]
- Rounds 6–10: sc in each st around [30] (5 even rounds for body height).
- Round 11: [sc 3, dec] x6 [24]
- Round 12: [sc 2, dec] x6 [18]. Stuff the pumpkin firmly with fiberfill at this stage before the opening gets too small.
- Round 13: [sc 1, dec] x6 [12]. Add a little more stuffing if needed.
- Round 14: [dec] x6 [6]. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for shaping and closing.
- Stem: With green or brown yarn, ch 4, starting in the 2nd ch from hook, work 3 sl st back down the chain. Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.
Finishing & Helpful Tips
- Tension Matters: Maintain a firm, even tension and use a smaller hook than recommended for your yarn weight. This prevents fiberfill from peeking through your stitches.
- Shaping the Pumpkin: Thread your long orange yarn tail onto your yarn needle. Pass the needle vertically through the center of the pumpkin from top to bottom, pulling gently to create the classic segmented pumpkin indents. Repeat 4 to 6 times around the body, then secure and weave in the end.
- Attaching the Stem and Hardware: Sew the stem securely to the top center of the pumpkin. Attach your keychain hardware securely through the top loops or base of the stem before weaving in all final yarn tails.
Watch the Step-by-Step Video Tutorial
Prefer visual guidance? Follow along with the complete video tutorial below: