Crochet Cat Keychain Pattern: Amigurumi Kitten Mini Bag Charm Tutorial (PDF)

If you’ve ever wanted to carry a tiny handmade companion wherever you go, this crochet cat keychain pattern is exactly what you need. This amigurumi kitten is small, sweet, and surprisingly quick to make — the kind of project that gives you that satisfying “I made this!” feeling in just a few hours. Whether you’re attaching it to your keys, your backpack zipper, or using it as a mini bag charm, this little cat is guaranteed to turn heads and spark conversations.

In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to crochet your own miniature amigurumi cat from start to finish. I’ll cover the materials, the stitches, the step-by-step pattern, and plenty of tips along the way. A downloadable PDF version of this pattern is also available so you can take it with you to your favorite crafting spot without needing to keep a browser tab open.

Let’s get into it.

Why You’ll Love This Pattern

This pattern is designed with both beginners and experienced crocheters in mind. If you’ve done a little amigurumi before and you’re comfortable with basic stitches like single crochet, slip stitch, and magic rings, you’ll sail through this. If you’re newer to amigurumi, don’t worry — I’ve written the instructions in a way that explains every step clearly, and the small size of this project actually makes it a fantastic learning piece. There’s very little frogging needed if something goes wrong because the pieces are small and quick to redo.

Here are a few reasons why this mini crochet cat keychain is one of my favorite patterns to share:

It works up quickly. The entire cat, from body to ears, can be finished in two to three hours depending on your pace. It uses very little yarn, which makes it a wonderful stash-buster project. You can make one for virtually no cost if you already have supplies on hand. It’s endlessly customizable — change the colors to create a tabby, a tuxedo cat, a calico, or any color combination your heart desires. It makes an incredibly thoughtful handmade gift. And because it’s a keychain or bag charm, it’s actually used and seen every day rather than sitting on a shelf.

Materials You’ll Need

Before you cast on, gather your supplies. Here’s what you’ll need to make one amigurumi cat keychain:

Yarn: You’ll need a small amount of worsted weight yarn (approximately 20–30 yards) in your main color for the cat’s body. You can also use a small amount of a contrasting color if you want to add belly markings, ear details, or facial features in yarn rather than embroidery floss. I love using cotton yarn for small amigurumi because it holds its shape beautifully and the stitches look crisp and defined. Acrylic yarn works wonderfully too, especially if you want a softer finish.

Hook: A 3.0mm or 3.5mm crochet hook works well for worsted weight yarn on this pattern. The tighter the stitch tension, the better — you don’t want gaps in your fabric that would let the stuffing show through. If you find your stitches are too loose with a 3.5mm hook, drop down to a 3.0mm.

Safety eyes: Two 6mm black safety eyes. If you’re making this for a young child, substitute safety eyes with embroidered eyes using black embroidery floss. Safety eyes contain small parts and are not appropriate for children under three years old.

Polyester fiberfill stuffing: Just a small pinch is all you need for this mini keychain. Don’t overstuff — you want the cat to have a soft, slightly firm feel without looking bloated.

Embroidery floss: Black or dark brown for embroidering the nose, mouth, and whiskers. A small amount of pink for the inner ear detail if desired.

Yarn needle: For sewing pieces together and weaving in ends.

Scissors.

Keychain ring or swivel clip: A standard split ring keychain, a lobster clasp, or a swivel clip works perfectly. You’ll attach it to the loop at the top of the cat’s head.

Stitch marker: Helpful for marking the beginning of each round in amigurumi.

Gauge and Size

With worsted weight yarn and a 3.0–3.5mm hook, the finished amigurumi cat measures approximately 2.5 to 3 inches tall (not counting the keychain loop). This makes it a perfect size for a bag charm or keychain — substantial enough to see and feel but small enough to not be bulky.

Gauge isn’t critical for amigurumi the way it is for garments, but if your finished piece is much larger or smaller than expected, adjust your hook size accordingly.

Stitch Abbreviations

Throughout this pattern, the following abbreviations are used:

MR — magic ring
ch — chain
sl st — slip stitch
sc — single crochet
inc — increase (2 sc in the same stitch)
dec — decrease (invisible decrease: insert hook into front loop of first stitch, then front loop of second stitch, yarn over and pull through both loops, yarn over and pull through remaining two loops)
st — stitch
rnd — round
FO — fasten off
BLO — back loop only

Pattern Notes

This pattern is worked in continuous rounds (also called a spiral) unless otherwise noted. Do not join rounds with a slip stitch unless the instructions specifically say to join. Use a stitch marker to keep track of where each round begins.

When decreasing in amigurumi, always use the invisible decrease method. It creates a much neater finish than a standard decrease and prevents holes from forming in your fabric.

Leave a long yarn tail when fastening off each piece. You’ll use these tails to sew the pieces to the body.

The Pattern

Body

The body is worked from the bottom up.

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

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

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

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

Rnd 5–9: Sc in each st around. (24 sts) — This is 5 rounds of plain single crochet.

Rnd 10: *Sc 2, dec* repeat around. (18 sts)

At this point, insert your safety eyes between rounds 6 and 7, approximately 5–6 stitches apart. Attach them securely before continuing, since once you stuff and close the body, you won’t be able to go back.

Add a small amount of fiberfill stuffing. Don’t add too much yet — you’ll want to adjust it as you close the piece.

Rnd 11: *Sc 1, dec* repeat around. (12 sts)

Rnd 12: Dec around. (6 sts)

Add a little more stuffing if needed. The body should feel firm but not tight.

Rnd 13: Dec around. (3 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a tail. Thread your needle and weave through the remaining 3 stitches to close the top of the body. Leave a small loop at the very top before pulling fully closed — you’ll thread your keychain ring through this loop, or you can add a chain a few stitches long before fastening off to create a more defined loop.

Head

The head is worked separately and sewn onto the body.

Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc. (6 sts)

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

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

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

Rnd 5–8: Sc in each st around. (24 sts)

Rnd 9: *Sc 2, dec* repeat around. (18 sts)

Rnd 10: *Sc 1, dec* repeat around. (12 sts)

Stuff the head firmly. Then:

Rnd 11: Dec around. (6 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long sewing tail. Close the remaining 6 stitches with your needle and leave the tail for attaching the head to the body.

Flatten the bottom of the head slightly by pressing it gently before sewing it on — this helps it sit naturally on top of the body.

Ears (make 2)

The ears are flat pieces. Leave a long tail for sewing.

Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc, sl st to join round. (6 sts)

Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc 1, inc, sc 1, inc, sc 1, inc, sl st to join. (9 sts)

Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc across all 9 sts. Sl st to join.

Fasten off, leaving a long tail.

If you want to add a pink inner ear detail, use a single strand of pink embroidery floss to make 2–3 small straight stitches in the center of the ear after assembly.

Tail

The tail is a small, slightly curved tube.

Rnd 1: MR, 4 sc. (4 sts)

Rnd 2–8: Sc in each st around. (4 sts) — This is 7 rounds for a moderately long tail.

Fasten off, leaving a sewing tail. Do not stuff the tail. You can gently curve it before sewing it on for a natural look.

Front Legs (make 2)

Rnd 1: MR, 4 sc. (4 sts)

Rnd 2–5: Sc in each st around. (4 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a sewing tail. Do not stuff.

Assembly

Once all your pieces are finished, it’s time to put your little cat together. This is my favorite part of amigurumi — watching the pieces click into place.

Start by sewing the head to the top of the body. Center it and use your yarn needle and the long tail to whipstitch around the base of the head, securing it all the way around. Pull snugly but not so tight that it puckers. If you need to add a little more stuffing to the head or body as you sew, do it before you close the seam completely.

Next, position the ears on top of the head. Place them approximately 4 stitches from the center top, angling them slightly outward for that classic cat silhouette. Pin them in place with a stitch marker or a straight pin before sewing if it helps you visualize the placement. Sew each ear down firmly, going through several stitches on the ear base and the head.

Sew the front legs to the lower front of the body, angling them slightly downward and forward. Position them symmetrically, about 3–4 stitches from center front.

Attach the tail to the back lower base of the body. You can angle it upward or let it curl to one side — follow your instincts and the natural curve of the tail piece.

Embroidering the Face

The face is what gives your amigurumi kitten its personality. Take your time here.

Using black embroidery floss and a needle, embroider a small inverted triangle for the nose. Place it centered, two to three rows below the safety eyes. Then add a small “Y” shape beneath the nose for the mouth — two short diagonal lines going down and outward from the center of the nose, with a short horizontal line connecting them at the bottom.

For whiskers, use a single strand of black or white embroidery floss (or thin thread). Insert the needle through one side of the face, pull through to the other side, and repeat two to three times per side to create long, horizontal whisker lines. Secure your knots inside the head where they’ll be hidden by the fabric.

Adding the Keychain Hardware

Thread your keychain ring or swivel clip through the loop at the top of the cat’s head. If you didn’t leave a loop when fastening off, you can add a small chain of 3–4 stitches with a new piece of yarn, attach it to the top of the head with a few secure stitches, and thread your hardware through that.

If you want your keychain to be extra secure, add a drop of clear-drying fabric glue to the knot where the yarn attaches to the ring. This prevents it from working loose over time with regular use.

Tips for Customizing Your Amigurumi Cat

One of the best things about making your own crochet cat keychain is that you can tailor it to look like any cat you love. Here are some ideas to make your mini kitten uniquely yours:

Color variations: Use orange for a classic tabby, black and white for a tuxedo cat, a mix of orange, black, and cream for a calico, or solid grey for a Russian Blue-inspired design. You can add simple stripes by carrying a second color and switching between them every few rows on the body.

Striped tabby markings: Use a yarn needle and a slightly darker color to embroider thin horizontal lines across the forehead and body. Even 2–3 simple lines make the design look strikingly realistic.

Bows and accessories: Add a tiny crocheted or ribbon bow between the ears for an adorably whimsical touch. A tiny 4-petal flower works beautifully too.

Different expressions: Change the position of your embroidered mouth — a wide “U” shape gives a happy, smiling cat, while a small dot or flat line creates a grumpy or stoic cat face that has become iconic in pop culture.

Size adjustments: If you want a slightly bigger keychain, use chunky yarn and a larger hook. For an even tinier version, try fingering weight yarn with a 1.5–2.0mm hook.

Caring for Your Crochet Cat Keychain

Since this little charm lives on your keys or bag, it’s going to see a lot of the world. Here’s how to keep it looking its best. Hand wash it gently in cool water with a mild soap if it gets dirty, then reshape it and let it air dry. Avoid putting it in the washing machine, since the agitation can distort the shape and the fiberfill inside can clump. If the stuffing flattens over time, you can carefully open a seam, re-stuff, and re-sew.

Get the PDF Version

A clean, printable PDF version of this crochet cat keychain pattern is available for download. The PDF includes all pattern instructions, stitch abbreviations, assembly notes, a materials list, and tips for customization — formatted clearly for easy reading whether you’re working from a printed page or a tablet. Having it in PDF format means you can save it to your device, print it out, and keep it in your crafting binder alongside your other patterns.

A Note on Sharing and Selling

You’re welcome to sell finished items made from this pattern. If you sell them online or at craft fairs, I’d love to see them — feel free to tag me or share your makes. Please do not reproduce or redistribute the written pattern itself (including the PDF) without permission.

Final Thoughts

There’s something genuinely magical about amigurumi — the way a few rounds of single crochet transform a ball of yarn into a tiny creature with personality. This crochet cat keychain is one of those projects that feels equal parts meditative and exciting. The rounds go by quickly, the assembly comes together with a satisfying snap, and the moment you attach it to your bag or keys, you have something handmade and completely one-of-a-kind that you can take with you everywhere.

Whether you’re making this for yourself, as a gift, as a market item, or just for the joy of making it, I hope this tutorial serves you well. Once you’ve made one, you’ll want to make a dozen — in every color, for every person you love.

Happy crocheting!