Free Crochet Spider Pattern: How To Crochet A Spider Keychain & Plushie

If you’ve been searching for the perfect spooky-cute crochet project, look no further. This free crochet spider pattern walks you through everything you need to make both a spider keychain and a spider plushie — two versions of the same adorable amigurumi spider that you can customize for Halloween, gift-giving, or just because spiders are surprisingly charming when they’re made of yarn. Whether you’re a beginner looking for a confidence-building project or an experienced crocheter hunting for a quick and satisfying make, this pattern has you covered.

Both versions use the same basic construction, so once you’ve made one, you’ll be able to whip up the other in no time. The keychain version is small and compact, making it perfect for hanging off a bag, zipper pull, or set of keys. The plushie version is a little larger and chunkier, ideal for a desk companion, Halloween decoration, or a gift for anyone who appreciates the creepy-crawly things in life.

Let’s get into it.

Why You’ll Love This Crochet Spider Pattern

Spiders might not be everyone’s favorite creature in real life, but in yarn form, they become completely irresistible. This pattern has been designed to be beginner-friendly without being boring. The body is worked in the round using basic amigurumi techniques, the legs are simple crocheted chains or optional wire-stuffed segments for poseable fun, and the eyes give each spider its own quirky personality.

Here’s why this pattern is worth bookmarking:

It’s fast. Even the plushie version can be completed in a single afternoon. The keychain takes less than an hour once you get the hang of the construction.

It uses minimal materials. You probably already have most of what you need in your stash — a bit of black or dark yarn, some stuffing, safety eyes or embroidery thread, and a keychain ring if you’re making the smaller version.

It’s completely free. No sign-up required, no PDF to purchase. Everything you need is right here on this page.

It’s endlessly customizable. Use orange yarn and make a Halloween spider. Use lavender and you’ve got a sweet pastel version. Add a little bow on top and your spider becomes a fashion icon. The possibilities are genuinely fun to explore.

Materials Needed

Before you start crocheting, gather everything you’ll need. Here’s a full materials list for both the keychain and the plushie.

For the Spider Keychain:

Approximately 15–20 yards of worsted weight yarn in black, dark gray, or any color you like. A small amount of a contrasting color is optional for details. A size 3.5mm or 4mm crochet hook works well for this version. You’ll need a small amount of polyester fiberfill stuffing, two 6mm black safety eyes or small buttons, and a keychain ring or lobster clasp to attach to the finished piece. A yarn needle for sewing and weaving in ends is essential, and a pair of scissors rounds out your basic kit.

For the Spider Plushie:

You’ll need approximately 50–70 yards of worsted weight yarn in your main color, plus a small amount of a second color if you want to give your spider some personality. A 4mm or 4.5mm crochet hook is ideal here. The plushie requires more polyester fiberfill stuffing than the keychain — have a good handful ready. Use 9mm or 12mm safety eyes for the larger version, or embroider eyes with black and white yarn if you prefer a child-safe alternative. A yarn needle, scissors, and stitch markers will help you keep track of your rounds.

Optional Extras for Both Versions:

Pipe cleaners or chenille stems are wonderful for making poseable legs — this is one of my favorite little tricks for giving your spider some life. Wire cutters, craft glue, and small googly craft eyes can also add a fun handmade touch. If you want to give your spider a web to hang from, a length of white or silver crochet thread works perfectly.

Gauge and Size Notes

Gauge is not critical for this pattern since you’re making a stuffed toy and not a garment, but here’s a general reference point. Working in worsted weight yarn with a 4mm hook, you should get approximately 4 single crochet stitches per inch. If your tension is tighter than average, your finished spider will be slightly smaller; if you crochet loosely, it will be a little larger. Neither is a problem as long as the fabric is tight enough that stuffing doesn’t show through.

The finished keychain spider body is approximately 1.5 inches in diameter. With legs, the total width is roughly 3–4 inches, depending on how you style them.

The finished plushie spider body is approximately 3–3.5 inches in diameter. With legs extended, the plushie spans about 7–9 inches across, making it a satisfying size to hold or display.

Abbreviations Used In This Pattern

This pattern uses standard US crochet abbreviations throughout.

MR stands for magic ring. Ch means chain. Sl st means slip stitch. Sc means single crochet. Inc means increase — work two single crochets into the same stitch. Dec means decrease — work an invisible decrease over two stitches. St or sts means stitch or stitches. BLO means back loops only. FLO means front loops only. Rnd means round.

Crochet Spider Pattern: The Body (Both Versions Use This Base)

The spider body is worked in continuous rounds. Use a stitch marker to keep track of the beginning of each round.

Rnd 1: Start with a magic ring. Work 6 sc into the ring. Pull the ring tight. (6 sts)

Rnd 2: Inc in each stitch around. (12 sts)

Rnd 3: Sc 1, inc repeat around. (18 sts)

Rnd 4: Sc 2, inc repeat around. (24 sts)

Rnd 5: Sc 3, inc repeat around. (30 sts)

For the keychain version, you can stop increasing here. The body is at a good size. Work two more rounds even (sc in each stitch around) for Rnds 6 and 7 to give the body some dimension.

For the plushie version, continue:

Rnd 6: Sc 4, inc repeat around. (36 sts)

Rnd 7: Sc 5, inc repeat around. (42 sts)

Work Rnds 8 through 11 even, sc in each stitch around.

Now, for both versions, it’s time to decrease:

For the keychain (working from the 30-stitch round):

Dec Rnd 1: Sc 3, dec repeat around. (24 sts)

Dec Rnd 2: Sc 2, dec repeat around. (18 sts)

Insert your safety eyes between Rnds 3 and 4, spaced about 4–6 stitches apart. Stuff the body firmly but not so tightly that the shape distorts.

Dec Rnd 3: Sc 1, dec repeat around. (12 sts)

Dec Rnd 4: Dec around. (6 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a tail. Use your yarn needle to weave through the remaining 6 stitches and pull tight to close. Weave in the tail.

For the plushie (working from the 42-stitch round):

Dec Rnd 1: Sc 5, dec repeat around. (36 sts)

Dec Rnd 2: Sc 4, dec repeat around. (30 sts)

Dec Rnd 3: Sc 3, dec repeat around. (24 sts)

Insert safety eyes now, placing them between Rnds 5 and 6. The larger 12mm eyes work beautifully here. Stuff the body generously.

Dec Rnd 4: Sc 2, dec repeat around. (18 sts)

Dec Rnd 5: Sc 1, dec repeat around. (12 sts)

Dec Rnd 6: Dec around. (6 sts)

Fasten off and close the same way as the keychain version.

How To Make The Spider’s Legs

The legs are where this pattern really comes to life. Spiders have eight legs — four on each side — and you can make them in a few different ways depending on how you want your finished piece to look.

Option 1: Simple Chain Legs

This is the quickest and easiest approach, perfect for the keychain version or if you’re in a hurry.

Using your yarn and hook, make a slip knot and chain 15 stitches for a standard-length leg. Fasten off, leaving a tail at both ends for sewing. Repeat to make 8 legs total. Using your yarn needle, sew each leg directly to the side of the spider body, grouping four on each side. Tie off securely and weave in ends. You can gently bend and position the chain legs for different looks.

Option 2: Crocheted Tube Legs With Pipe Cleaner Cores

This is my personal favorite method. It takes a little more time but results in legs that hold their shape and can be bent into any pose you like.

Cut 8 pieces of pipe cleaner, each about 4 inches long for the keychain spider or 6 inches long for the plushie.

For each leg, make a magic ring and work 4 sc into it. Work in continuous rounds of sc in each stitch around until your tube measures the desired length — about 1.5 inches for keychain legs and 2.5–3 inches for plushie legs. Fasten off, leaving a long tail.

Slide a pipe cleaner into each tube. Fold the tip of the pipe cleaner over at the end of the tube so it doesn’t poke through (and so small fingers stay safe). Using your yarn needle, sew each leg firmly to the body, positioning all four on each side. Bend each leg into a gentle curve or an angular spider pose.

Option 3: Embroidered or Sewn Flat Legs

If you want a truly flat, decorative look — great for keychains that you want to be slim — you can embroider the legs directly onto the body using a strand of thick yarn or embroidery floss. Thread your needle with a long strand and stitch outward from the body in V-shaped lines to suggest legs. This is fast, requires no extra crocheting, and gives a graphic, stylized look.

Adding the Face and Details

The face is what gives your spider its personality, so take your time here and have fun.

Safety Eyes: If you’re using safety eyes (and the finished toy won’t be given to a child under 3 years old), insert them before you finish closing the body, as noted in the pattern. Push the post through the crochet fabric from the right side, then press the washer onto the back firmly. Safety eyes are secure when properly attached but should still be reserved for older children and adults.

Embroidered Eyes: For a child-safe alternative, use black and white yarn to embroider eyes onto the closed body. A few small stitches in white create a highlight that makes your spider look expressive and lively.

Fangs: Use a small length of white yarn to embroider two small curved fangs beneath the eyes. A few straight stitches worked in a slight V shape gives a satisfying cartoon-spider look.

Smile or Frown: A simple curved line of small stitches in a contrasting yarn gives your spider an expression. A subtle smile reads as friendly and cute. A straight line reads as serious and brooding. Even a tiny downward curve gives your spider a grumpy look that is, frankly, adorable.

Blush Marks: A touch of pink embroidery thread or even a dab of chalk-based blush (the craft kind, not your makeup) on each side of the face gives your spider an endearing quality.

Assembling the Keychain Version

Once your spider body is complete and the legs are attached, it’s time to add the keychain hardware.

Take a small length of yarn — about 3 inches — and fold it in half. Using your crochet hook, pull the folded loop up through the top center of the spider body from the inside (you can do this before closing the body entirely or by pushing your hook through the finished fabric at the top). Thread the two yarn tails through the loop and pull tight to create a lark’s head knot attachment point. Thread a keychain ring or lobster clasp through the yarn loop. Tie a secure knot and trim any excess, or use a small jump ring for a cleaner look.

Alternatively, you can crochet a small chain of 4–5 stitches at the beginning of your work (before the magic ring) and use this as a built-in loop. When finished, this chain tail sits at the top of the spider’s head and provides a natural attachment point for a keychain ring.

Tips For Making Multiple Spiders Quickly

Once you’ve made your first spider, you’ll want to make more. Here are some tips for batch-making these little creatures.

Working assembly-line style is the most efficient approach. Make all the bodies first, then do all the eyes at once, then stuff and close, then make legs in batches. This keeps your workflow smooth and means you’re not constantly switching between tasks.

Vary the colors to make a whole family of spiders. Dark purple, deep teal, burgundy, and forest green all make wonderfully atmospheric spider colorways. Pastel versions in lavender or baby pink feel surprisingly sweet.

If you’re making these for Halloween, a bowl of little spider keychains on the entry table is an incredibly charming decoration and doubles as a party favor for guests.

Caring For Your Crocheted Spider

Handmade amigurumi pieces are best cared for gently. For regular dust, a soft brush or a blast of cool air from a hair dryer works well. If your spider needs a proper wash, hand-washing in cool water with a gentle detergent is the safest option. Squeeze out excess water gently — don’t wring — and reshape while damp, then leave flat to dry. Avoid machine washing if the safety eyes are attached, as the heat and agitation can loosen the washers over time.

For the keychain version, keep in mind that it will be handled frequently. Use a durable yarn that holds up well to wear, and check the keychain attachment periodically to make sure it’s still secure.

Pattern Variations To Try Next

Once you’ve mastered this spider, there’s a whole world of Halloween and nature-themed amigurumi waiting for you.

A spider sitting on a crocheted web makes a spectacular wall hanging. Work a flat circle of white thread crochet in a web pattern and position your spider at the center for a piece that works as décor year-round if you lean into the gothic-aesthetic trend.

A mama spider with a cluster of tiny baby spiders is a project that practically makes itself, since the babies are just the same body worked to only three or four rounds with no legs attached. Cluster six or eight of them around the larger spider for a display that is either delightfully cozy or mildly horrifying, depending on your audience.

A glow-in-the-dark spider uses yarn that contains phosphorescent fibers — several yarn companies make this in worsted weight — and is absolutely perfect for Halloween.

Final Thoughts

This free crochet spider pattern is proof that the creepiest creatures make the cutest yarn projects. Whether you’re making the compact keychain spider to clip onto your bag or the fuller plushie version to live on your shelf, the process is satisfying from the first magic ring to the last woven-in end.

The pattern is flexible enough to adapt, forgiving enough for beginners, and fast enough that you won’t lose momentum before you get to the fun part — the personality-giving face details and the leg positioning that makes each spider uniquely yours.

Save this page, share it with your crafty friends, and tag your finished spiders if you post them online. There’s nothing quite like seeing a spider that started as a ball of yarn find its forever home on a keychain, a shelf, or the bottom of a trick-or-treat bowl. Happy crocheting.