Easy Crochet Baby Octopus Keychain Tutorial | Cute Amigurumi for Beginners
If you’ve been wanting to try amigurumi but feel intimidated by complex patterns, this baby octopus keychain is the perfect place to start. It’s small, it’s fast, it uses only a handful of basic stitches, and the result is so adorable that you’ll want to make one in every color. Whether you’re crocheting a gift, adding a personal touch to your bag, or just looking for a satisfying weekend project, this little octopus delivers all of that in a tidy, beginner-friendly package.
In this tutorial, you’ll find everything you need: a materials list, a full step-by-step pattern, tips for getting tight, clean stitches, and ideas for customizing your octopus to make it uniquely yours. Let’s dive in.
What Is Amigurumi?
Before we get to the pattern, a quick word for anyone who is brand new to the craft. Amigurumi is the Japanese art of crocheting or knitting small stuffed animals and creatures. The word itself combines the Japanese words for “knit” and “stuffed doll.” Most amigurumi pieces are worked in continuous rounds rather than rows, which gives them their smooth, spherical shape. They’re typically stuffed with polyester fiberfill and finished with safety eyes, embroidered details, and assembled pieces.
The baby octopus is one of the most beloved beginner amigurumi projects for good reason. Its body is simply a sphere, and its legs are worked as long single crochet chains or simple tubes. There are no complex shaping techniques, no color changes mid-round, and no tricky joins. If you can single crochet and work in a magic ring, you can make this.
Materials You’ll Need
Gathering your materials before you start makes the whole process smoother. Here’s what you’ll need for one baby octopus keychain.
Yarn: Worsted weight yarn in your choice of color. You won’t need much — one small skein or even leftovers from another project will be more than enough. Cotton yarn works beautifully here because it holds its shape well and comes in vivid colors, but acrylic yarn is equally lovely and often more widely available for beginners.
Crochet Hook: A 3.5mm or 4mm hook pairs well with worsted weight yarn. If you find your work is coming out loose and you can see the stuffing through the stitches, go down a hook size. Tighter tension is ideal for amigurumi because it keeps the stuffing hidden and gives the piece a clean, professional look.
Safety Eyes: Two 6mm or 8mm black safety eyes. These are small plastic eyes with a washer backing that locks them securely in place. You can find them at most craft stores or order them online. If you’re making this for a child under three years old, skip the safety eyes and embroider the eyes instead with black yarn or embroidery floss for safety.
Polyester Fiberfill: A small amount for stuffing the body. You really don’t need much — a pinch or two is all it takes for a keychain-sized octopus.
Keychain Ring: A small metal keychain ring or lobster clasp. You’ll attach this at the top of the octopus once it’s finished.
Yarn Needle: A blunt tapestry needle for weaving in ends and assembling pieces.
Scissors: Any small scissors will work perfectly.
Stitch Marker: Optional but genuinely helpful. Place it at the beginning of each round so you don’t lose your place. A piece of contrasting yarn tied into a loop works just as well as a commercial stitch marker.
Abbreviations Used in This Pattern
If you’re new to reading crochet patterns, these abbreviations are standard across most English-language patterns.
MR — Magic Ring (also called magic circle)
ch — chain
sc — single crochet
inc — increase (two single crochets worked into the same stitch)
dec — decrease (invisible decrease: insert hook into front loop of next stitch, then front loop of stitch after that, yarn over, pull through both loops, yarn over, pull through remaining two loops)
sl st — slip stitch
FO — fasten off
BLO — back loop only
st(s) — stitch(es)
All rounds are worked in continuous rounds unless otherwise noted. Do not join or turn at the end of each round.
Pattern: Baby Octopus Body
The body is worked from the top down. You’ll create the keychain attachment point first, then build the sphere, and finally work the legs from the bottom opening.
Round 1: Start with a magic ring. Work 6 sc into the ring. Pull the ring closed. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each stitch around. (12 sts)
Round 3: Sc 1, inc — repeat around. (18 sts)
Round 4: Sc 2, inc — repeat around. (24 sts)
Round 5: Sc 3, inc — repeat around. (30 sts)
Rounds 6–9: Sc in each stitch around. (30 sts each round)
This is the point where you’ll attach your safety eyes. Place them between rounds 6 and 7, with about 6 to 8 stitches of space between them. Once the eyes are positioned and locked in, you can add the embroidered smile if you like. Use a length of black embroidery floss or black yarn and a tapestry needle to stitch a small curved line just below and between the eyes.
Round 10: Sc 3, dec — repeat around. (24 sts)
Round 11: Sc 2, dec — repeat around. (18 sts)
Now stuff the body firmly but not tightly. You want it to hold a nice round shape without stretching the stitches so much that you can see the stuffing peeking through. This is also a good time to make sure your safety eyes are fully locked in from the inside.
Round 12: Sc 1, dec — repeat around. (12 sts)
Do not fasten off yet. You’re going to work the legs directly from this last round, so leave the yarn attached and set aside your stitch marker.
Pattern: The Legs
This is where the magic happens and where beginners often breathe a sigh of relief, because the legs are genuinely simple. You have 12 stitches remaining from the body, and you’re going to work 8 legs from those stitches. You won’t use all 12 stitches; you’ll simply pick 8 of them evenly spaced around the opening and work a leg from each one.
For each leg, join your yarn (or continue if the body yarn is still attached for the first leg) to a stitch at the bottom of the body and work the following:
Each Leg:
Ch 12 (or more if you want longer, wavier legs — you can go up to 16 chains for extra drama).
Starting in the second chain from the hook, sc in each chain back to the body. This creates a simple, slightly curling leg. Slip stitch into the next stitch on the body to anchor the leg, then move to the next stitch you want to use and repeat.
Work 8 legs total, evenly spaced around the bottom opening of the body. Once all 8 legs are complete, fasten off and weave in all ends securely using your yarn needle.
If you want the legs to curl more dramatically — which gives the octopus an especially charming look — use a slightly smaller hook for the legs than you used for the body, or work 2 sc into every third chain on the way back. The extra stitches cause the leg to curve and spiral on its own.
Attaching the Keychain
Once your octopus is fully assembled and all ends are woven in, it’s time to add the keychain hardware. Cut a small length of yarn, about 4 to 5 inches, and fold it in half. Using your crochet hook, pull the folded loop through the center of the magic ring at the very top of the octopus. Pass the two tail ends through the loop and pull snug to create a lark’s head knot. Thread both tail ends through your keychain ring, tie a firm double knot, and then weave the ends back into the top of the octopus to hide them. Trim any excess yarn close to the work.
If you want a sturdier attachment, you can use a small piece of wire-reinforced cord or a jump ring in addition to the yarn loop. This is a nice extra step if the keychain will see heavy daily use.
Tips for Beginners
Making your first amigurumi comes with a small learning curve, but these tips will help you avoid the most common pitfalls.
Work tightly. The single most common beginner mistake in amigurumi is working with too loose a tension. Loose stitches create gaps, and gaps show your stuffing. Most amigurumi crocheters go down one or even two hook sizes from what the yarn label recommends in order to get a tight, dense fabric. Don’t be afraid to do the same.
Use a stitch marker consistently. When you’re working in continuous rounds, it’s very easy to lose track of where one round ends and the next begins. A stitch marker placed at the first stitch of each round will save you from miscounting and ending up with lopsided shaping.
Count your stitches at the end of every round. This habit takes only a few seconds and saves enormous amounts of frustration. Run your finger along each stitch and count as you go. If your count is off, it’s much easier to fix one round back than five rounds back.
Don’t overstuff. It’s tempting to stuff your amigurumi pieces as firmly as possible, but overstuffing distorts the shape and can make the stitches pull apart. Stuff until the piece holds its shape comfortably, then stop.
Use cotton yarn for your first project if you can. Cotton yarn has a slightly stiffer structure than acrylic, which means it shows your stitch definition more clearly. It’s easier to count stitches and identify mistakes, which is genuinely helpful when you’re learning.
Practice your magic ring on a scrap piece of yarn first. The magic ring is the foundation of nearly every amigurumi project, and it can feel awkward the first few times. Spend five minutes practicing just the ring and the first round before starting your octopus, and you’ll feel much more confident going in.
Customization Ideas
One of the most delightful things about this pattern is how easily it adapts to different styles, colors, and occasions. Here are some ideas to get your imagination going.
Color combinations: Try a pastel gradient by switching colors between the body and the legs. A lavender body with mint green legs looks absolutely stunning. Or go bold with a bright coral body and sunny yellow legs. You can even use variegated yarn for a multicolored effect without any color changing at all.
Mini bow: Cut a small rectangle of felt or use a tiny piece of contrasting yarn to crochet a simple chain bow and stitch it between two of the top-side legs. Instant charm.
Glitter yarn: For a mermaid or ocean theme, swap your regular yarn for a sparkle or metallic yarn. The finished octopus will have an iridescent shimmer that’s genuinely magical.
Embroidered details: Beyond the basic smile, you can add blush marks under the eyes with a few stitches of pink embroidery floss, tiny eyebrows with a few stitches of dark yarn, or even a little “O” shaped mouth for a surprised expression.
Different sizes: Use fingering weight yarn and a 2mm hook for a teeny tiny keychain octopus, or scale up to bulky yarn and a 6mm hook for a soft, squishy plush version. The pattern scales beautifully in either direction.
Seasonal versions: Orange and black for Halloween, red and green for Christmas, pastel pinks and yellows for Easter. This little octopus suits every season with just a yarn swap.
How to Use Your Finished Octopus
The obvious use is as a bag charm or keychain, and it’s a wonderful one. But don’t stop there. A cluster of three or four tiny octopuses in coordinating colors makes a stunning phone charm. You can sew a pin back onto one and wear it as a brooch. A single octopus tied with a ribbon makes a precious gift tag that the recipient will keep long after the box is recycled. They also make sweet additions to a baby mobile — though for that purpose, make sure to use embroidered eyes rather than safety eyes, and secure every element firmly.
Many crafters also make batches of these to sell at craft fairs or on Etsy, and they are consistently popular. They’re quick to make once you get the hang of the pattern — an experienced crocheter can finish one in under an hour — and they have broad appeal across all ages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different weight of yarn? Absolutely. Just adjust your hook size to match the yarn and expect the finished size to change accordingly. Thicker yarn means a bigger octopus; thinner yarn means a smaller one.
My legs aren’t curling. What am I doing wrong? Legs that don’t curl are usually worked too loosely, or the chain itself is very long. Try going down a hook size for the legs, or add a few extra sc into the chain on the return pass to encourage curling.
The magic ring keeps coming loose. Help! Make sure to pull the tail end firmly after completing the first round, and weave the tail in thoroughly rather than just trimming it short. Some crafters also like to tie the tail and working yarn together with an overhand knot before weaving in, just for extra security.
Can I make this without a magic ring? Yes. You can use the “ch 2, work 6 sc into the second chain from hook” method as an alternative. It leaves a slightly larger hole at the top, but it works perfectly well and many beginners find it easier to start with.
How do I attach multiple octopuses to make a garland? Work a long chain between each octopus, or thread them onto a length of twisted cord or ribbon at even intervals. It makes a beautiful and whimsical party decoration.
Final Thoughts
This baby octopus keychain is one of those projects that genuinely earns its reputation as a beginner favorite. It teaches you the core skills of amigurumi — working in the round, shaping a sphere, and assembling pieces — without throwing you into the deep end. The finished piece is cute enough to make even experienced crocheters smile, and the whole project can be completed in a single sitting.
Once you’ve made your first octopus, you’ll likely find yourself reaching for more yarn almost immediately. The pattern is satisfying in that particular way that only small, well-designed crochet projects can be — quick enough to finish before you lose momentum, detailed enough to keep your hands and mind engaged, and versatile enough to make a hundred times without getting bored.
Grab your hook, pick out your favorite color, and let’s get crocheting. Your little octopus is waiting.
