Crochet Green Alien Cat Keychain | Free Beginner Amigurumi Pattern

Have you ever wanted to make the most adorable, out-of-this-world accessory for your keys, bag, or backpack? This free crochet pattern for a green alien cat keychain is exactly what you need. It combines two beloved aesthetics — the mysterious charm of aliens and the undeniable cuteness of cats — into one tiny amigurumi project that beginners can finish in just a couple of hours. Whether you’re new to crochet and looking for your first amigurumi, or you’re an experienced crocheter searching for a quick and satisfying project, this pattern is going to become one of your favorites.

Amigurumi is the Japanese art of crocheting or knitting small stuffed toys, and it has taken the craft world by storm. The word itself combines “ami,” meaning crocheted or knitted, with “nuigurumi,” meaning stuffed doll. These little creatures are worked mostly in continuous rounds using a magic ring start and single crochets, which makes them surprisingly accessible for beginners. And the best part? You only need a small amount of yarn and a few basic supplies to get started.

So grab your hook, pick your favorite shade of alien green, and let’s make this little cosmic kitty together.

Materials You Will Need

Before we dive into the pattern, let’s go over everything you’ll need to complete this project. One of the reasons this keychain is so perfect for beginners is that the materials list is minimal and inexpensive.

You’ll need a small amount of worsted weight yarn in green (this is your main color for the alien cat body), a small amount of black or dark gray yarn for embroidering the face details, and optionally a tiny bit of white or light pink yarn for inner ear accents or antenna tips. A 3.5mm or 4mm crochet hook works well with worsted weight yarn for amigurumi, since you want a tight tension so the stuffing doesn’t show through. You’ll also need polyester fiberfill stuffing, two small black safety eyes (6mm to 8mm work great for this size), a yarn needle for sewing and weaving in ends, a keychain ring or lobster clasp, and a short length of chain or ribbon to attach your finished amigurumi to the ring. Scissors, of course, round out the list.

If you’re using a lighter weight yarn such as a DK or sport weight, simply drop down to a 2.5mm or 3mm hook. The finished size will be slightly smaller, which is actually adorable for a keychain.

Skill Level and Abbreviations

This pattern is rated as beginner-friendly. If you know how to make a magic ring, single crochet, increase, and decrease, you have everything you need. Here are the abbreviations used throughout:

MR stands for magic ring. SC means single crochet. INC means increase, which is two single crochets worked into the same stitch. DEC means invisible decrease, which is working a single crochet through the front loops of two stitches. SL ST means slip stitch. CH means chain. ST means stitch. BLO means back loop only. FLO means front loop only. The number at the end of a round in parentheses tells you how many stitches you should have when the round is complete.

A note on gauge: exact gauge is not critical for amigurumi. What matters most is that your tension is tight enough that the stuffing won’t peek through the stitches. If you can see gaps, try going down a hook size.

Understanding the Alien Cat Design

Before we begin, let me describe what this little creature looks like so you can visualize where everything goes. The alien cat has a rounded head that forms the main body of the keychain, since this is a flat-style or slightly stuffed head design rather than a full 3D body figure. It has two tall, pointed ears on top, which give it that classic cat silhouette. Instead of normal round cat ears, though, these ears are slightly elongated and come to a sharp tip — very alien. On top of each ear sits a tiny antenna with a small ball at the end, which is the alien detail that makes this design so unique and fun.

The face features large round safety eyes that take up a lot of the facial real estate, giving it that big-eyed extraterrestrial look. The nose is embroidered as a tiny upside-down triangle, and the mouth is a simple curved stitch in black. Some crafters like to add small rosy cheeks using pink yarn or a bit of blush makeup rubbed lightly onto the finished piece. The whole thing measures roughly 6 to 7 centimeters tall from the base of the head to the tops of the antennas when made in worsted weight yarn, which is a perfect keychain size.

The Pattern

Head

Start with your green yarn.

Round 1: Make a magic ring. SC 6 into the ring. Pull the ring closed. (6)

Round 2: INC in each stitch around. (12)

Round 3: [SC 1, INC] repeat 6 times. (18)

Round 4: [SC 2, INC] repeat 6 times. (24)

Round 5: [SC 3, INC] repeat 6 times. (30)

Rounds 6 through 10: SC in each stitch around for 5 rounds. (30)

At the end of Round 10, this is a great time to attach your safety eyes. Position them between Rounds 7 and 8, with about 6 stitches between them. This gives that wide-eyed alien look. Push the posts through the fabric and secure the washers on the inside before you start decreasing, since once the opening gets smaller, it becomes much harder to add the eyes.

Round 11: [SC 3, DEC] repeat 6 times. (24)

Round 12: [SC 2, DEC] repeat 6 times. (18)

Now stuff the head firmly with polyester fiberfill. Don’t be shy with the stuffing — a well-stuffed amigurumi keeps its round shape much better and looks more polished.

Round 13: [SC 1, DEC] repeat 6 times. (12)

Round 14: DEC 6 times. (6)

Cut the yarn, leaving a tail of about 15 centimeters. Thread the tail onto your yarn needle and draw it through the front loops of the remaining 6 stitches. Pull tight to close the hole, then weave in the end securely on the inside.

Ears (Make Two)

The ears are worked flat (back and forth in rows) and then folded and sewn onto the head.

With green yarn, CH 6.

Row 1: SC in the second CH from hook and in each chain across. Turn. (5)

Row 2: CH 1, SC 1, DEC, DEC, SC 1. Turn. Wait — let me rewrite this more clearly. CH 1, SC across, decreasing 1 stitch total by working an invisible decrease once in the middle. Turn. (4)

Row 3: CH 1, DEC, DEC. Turn. (2)

Row 4: CH 1, DEC. (1)

Cut yarn and leave a long tail for sewing. The ear should now have a slight triangular shape. Pinch the base of the ear slightly to give it a three-dimensional look before sewing it onto the head.

Alternatively, if you prefer a cleaner ear shape, you can work the ear in the round as a small triangle. Start with a magic ring, SC 3, then work in very short increasing rounds, adding one stitch per round for 4 to 5 rounds. This gives a rounder, slightly puffier ear. Either method works — it comes down to personal preference.

Antennas (Make Two)

With green yarn, leave a long tail for attaching, then CH 6.

Starting in the second chain from the hook, SC 4. Now, to make the small ball at the tip of the antenna, work 4 SC into the last chain stitch to create a small cluster. Then SL ST back through the chain to the base. Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing.

If you want a more prominent ball tip, you can make a tiny separate bobble: start with a magic ring, SC 6, close, and fasten off. Attach this bobble to the top of a simple chain antenna instead.

Assembly

This is where your alien cat keychain comes to life. Assembly takes a little patience, but it’s very satisfying.

Start by positioning the ears on top of the head. They should sit symmetrically on either side of the top center, angled very slightly outward. Use pins to hold them in place before sewing. Thread your yarn needle with the long tail from one ear and sew it to the head using a whip stitch around the base of the ear. Make sure the stitching is secure, since keychains get a lot of movement and you want everything firmly attached. Repeat with the second ear.

Next, sew the antennas to the tips of each ear. Thread the antenna tail onto your needle and sew it down through the tip of the ear and into the head, taking a few small stitches to anchor it. The antenna should stand upright, or at the very least stay in place when you move the keychain.

Now embroider the face. Using black yarn or embroidery thread, make a small upside-down triangle for the nose, centered just below the safety eyes. For the mouth, bring your needle up just below the nose, make a short straight stitch going down, then two small diagonal stitches going out to each side to form a simple “w” shape or curved smile. You can also make the mouth a simple curved line — whatever feels most expressive for your little alien cat.

If you want to add rosy cheeks, use pink yarn and make small circular satin stitches just below and to the outside of each eye.

Adding the Keychain Hardware

To attach your amigurumi to a keychain ring, cut a piece of yarn, thread, or ribbon about 8 to 10 centimeters long. Fold it in half. Using a crochet hook or your fingers, pull the folded loop through the top of the head between two stitches at the very crown, then pass the two loose ends through the loop and pull tight to form a lark’s head knot. Thread both ends through a jump ring or keychain ring and tie a secure knot. Trim the ends and optionally add a drop of clear fabric glue to the knot to keep it from loosening over time.

Alternatively, you can sew a small ribbon loop directly onto the top of the head before closing the final round, which gives a very clean and seamless attachment point.

Tips for Beginners

Working in continuous rounds can feel strange at first because you don’t join at the end of each round the way you might with some other crochet projects. Use a stitch marker — even just a small piece of contrasting yarn looped through your working stitch — to mark the beginning of each round so you don’t lose your place.

The invisible decrease is worth learning properly for amigurumi. When you work a standard SC decrease, it tends to leave a visible line on the surface of the fabric. The invisible decrease, which involves inserting your hook through only the front loops of two consecutive stitches before completing the stitch, lies much flatter and looks cleaner. It makes a real difference in the finished look of your project.

Don’t skip the stuffing step. Even a small amount of fiberfill makes the piece look much more intentional and finished. For a keychain, you want it stuffed firmly enough to hold its shape, but since it’s small, it won’t take much.

If you’re new to magic rings and find them frustrating, you can substitute by chaining 2 and working your starting stitches into the second chain from the hook. The hole will be slightly larger, but for a small project like this, it’s barely noticeable.

Customization Ideas

One of the best things about making your own amigurumi is that you can personalize them endlessly. Here are some ideas to make this alien cat keychain your own.

Try different colors — a deep purple alien cat feels mystical, a bright teal one has a retro sci-fi vibe, and a pastel lavender version looks soft and dreamy. You could even use glow-in-the-dark yarn for an especially cosmic effect.

Add small accessories. Tiny crocheted glasses, a little scarf wrapped around the base of the head, or a miniature bow between the ears all add personality.

Make a whole set in different colors and give them as gifts. This pattern works up so quickly that you can make several in an afternoon, which makes them wonderful party favors, stocking stuffers, or bag charm gifts.

You can also scale the pattern up by using bulkier yarn and a larger hook to make a stuffed plush toy version instead of a keychain. The same basic structure works — you’d just want to add a body, legs, and a tail if you go that route.

Why Amigurumi Makes Such Great Keychain Projects

Keychains are one of the most practical and giftable things you can crochet. They’re small enough to finish quickly, which makes them perfect for practicing new techniques without committing hours to a large project. They’re also endlessly useful — nearly everyone carries keys or a bag, and a handmade amigurumi charm instantly makes everyday objects more joyful.

The alien cat concept specifically taps into several trends at once. Cat-themed accessories have been consistently popular for years, while alien and space aesthetics have had a strong cultural resurgence, driven in part by internet culture, retro sci-fi nostalgia, and the ever-growing popularity of quirky, maximalist accessories. Combining the two creates something that feels both timely and timeless.

Sharing Your Finished Project

If you make this alien cat keychain, I’d love to see it! Share your finished project on Instagram, Pinterest, or TikTok and tag it with relevant crochet and amigurumi hashtags so other crafters can find your work and get inspired. The crochet community online is incredibly warm and encouraging, especially toward beginners sharing their first amigurumi projects.

Feel free to sell finished items made from this pattern at craft fairs, on Etsy, or at local markets. You worked hard on your craft, and handmade amigurumi keychains are genuinely popular with buyers of all ages. Just please don’t sell or redistribute the pattern itself as your own.

Final Thoughts

This crochet green alien cat keychain pattern is proof that amigurumi doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming to be absolutely charming. With just a small ball of green yarn, a hook, some stuffing, and a little patience with the assembly, you can create something that looks intricate, fun, and completely unique. It’s the kind of project that reminds you why you started crocheting in the first place — because making things with your hands is genuinely one of the most satisfying feelings in the world.

Whether you’re making this for yourself, as a gift, or as a project to practice your beginner amigurumi skills, I hope you enjoy every stitch. Happy crocheting, and may your tension be tight and your ends always weave in neatly!