Crochet Rainbow Keychain Pattern: A Free Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners and Beyond
There is something undeniably joyful about a rainbow. It does not matter how old you are or how long you have been crocheting — the sight of those cheerful arching colors strung together never gets old. A crochet rainbow keychain takes that joy and puts it right in your pocket, on your bag, or hanging from your car keys. It is small, it is quick to make, and once you finish one, you will want to make a dozen more to give away as gifts.
This pattern is written for beginners but will feel satisfying for experienced crocheters too. You will learn how to create smooth, even loops of color, how to join and finish your work neatly, and how to assemble a finished keychain that looks polished and professional. By the end of this guide, you will have everything you need to make a crochet rainbow keychain from start to finish — including tips for customizing colors, yarn weights, and sizing.
Let us get into it.
What You Will Need
Before you sit down to crochet, gather your supplies. One of the best things about this project is that it uses very small amounts of yarn, which makes it an ideal stash buster. If you have been crocheting for a while, there is a good chance you already have everything you need in your craft room.
Yarn: You will need small amounts of yarn in six colors — red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. Worsted weight yarn works beautifully for this project and gives you a chunky, satisfying result. However, fingering weight or sport weight yarn will produce a more delicate, miniature rainbow if that is the aesthetic you prefer. Because you are working with such small quantities, this is also the perfect project for using up those little bits of yarn left over from larger projects. Even scraps from a skein are enough.
Hook: A 4mm (G) crochet hook pairs well with worsted weight yarn for this pattern. If you are working with lighter yarn, size down accordingly. If your tension tends to run tight, consider going up half a size for more fluid, even stitches.
Additional supplies: You will also need a keychain ring or split ring, scissors, a yarn needle for weaving in ends, and optionally a small amount of stuffing if you want to give the rainbow a subtle, puffy three-dimensional look rather than a flat profile.
Understanding the Stitch
This rainbow keychain pattern is built primarily using single crochet (sc) stitches worked in rows. If you are brand new to crochet and this is one of your first projects, take a few minutes to practice your chain stitch and your single crochet before diving in. Once those two stitches feel comfortable in your hands, this pattern will come together easily and naturally.
The rainbow is worked in two identical pieces that are then crocheted together around the edges. This construction gives the keychain a neat, finished look on both sides and allows you to tuck in any stuffing before you close it up completely. If you prefer a flat, one-sided version, you can absolutely skip the second piece and simply work the pattern as a flat panel.
Gauge and Sizing
Gauge matters less in a project like this than it would in, say, a fitted garment, but it is still worth checking if you want consistent results across multiple keychains. With worsted weight yarn and a 4mm hook, you should get approximately 16 single crochets and 18 rows to a 4-inch square. The finished rainbow keychain, when worked to these specifications, measures about 3 inches wide and 1.5 inches tall — a perfect, palm-sized little charm.
If you want a larger keychain, simply increase the number of chains in your foundation row and scale the arc accordingly. A smaller version can be achieved with fingering weight yarn and a 2.5mm or 3mm hook.
The Pattern: Step by Step
Preparing Your Colors
Cut lengths of each of your six colors before you start. You do not need much — about 36 to 48 inches per color stripe is more than enough for a worsted weight keychain of the standard size. Having them pre-cut and ready to go keeps the project tidy and helps you avoid tangling as you switch colors.
The color order for a traditional rainbow, from the outermost arc to the innermost, is red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. The outermost arc will be the largest, and each successive arc will be slightly smaller as the curve tightens toward the center.
Making the First Piece
Foundation row (Red): With red yarn, chain 17. Single crochet in the second chain from the hook and in each chain across. You will have 16 single crochets. Chain 1, turn.
Row 2 (Red): Single crochet in the first 14 stitches. Leave the last 2 stitches unworked. Chain 1, turn.
Row 3 (Red): Single crochet across all stitches to end. Chain 1, turn.
Fasten off red and join orange.
Row 4 (Orange): Single crochet in the first 12 stitches. Leave the last 2 stitches unworked. Chain 1, turn.
Row 5 (Orange): Single crochet across all stitches to end. Chain 1, turn.
Fasten off orange and join yellow.
Row 6 (Yellow): Single crochet in the first 10 stitches. Leave the last 2 stitches unworked. Chain 1, turn.
Row 7 (Yellow): Single crochet across all stitches to end. Chain 1, turn.
Fasten off yellow and join green.
Row 8 (Green): Single crochet in the first 8 stitches. Leave the last 2 stitches unworked. Chain 1, turn.
Row 9 (Green): Single crochet across all stitches to end. Chain 1, turn.
Fasten off green and join blue.
Row 10 (Blue): Single crochet in the first 6 stitches. Leave the last 2 stitches unworked. Chain 1, turn.
Row 11 (Blue): Single crochet across all stitches to end. Chain 1, turn.
Fasten off blue and join violet.
Row 12 (Violet): Single crochet in the first 4 stitches. Chain 1, turn.
Row 13 (Violet): Single crochet across all stitches to end.
Fasten off, leaving a tail for seaming.
Your first piece is complete. It should have a lovely stepped arc shape, with each color band creating a natural curve as the rows decrease in length.
Making the Second Piece
Repeat the exact same steps to create a second identical piece. This will become the back of your keychain. Set it aside once complete.
Joining the Two Pieces
Place both pieces together with wrong sides facing each other so that the right sides are facing outward. This is the moment when your keychain starts to look like a real finished object, and it is very satisfying.
Using your yarn needle and a length of one of your yarn colors — violet works well since it is at the center of the arch — begin whip stitching or single crocheting through both layers around the outer edge of the rainbow. Work slowly and keep your tension even so that the seam looks neat and uniform.
Before you close up the seam entirely, pause and decide whether you want to add stuffing. A small pinch of polyfill stuffing tucked into the middle of the rainbow will give your keychain a subtle puffiness that makes it feel substantial and plush in the hand. It also helps the rainbow hold its arc shape over time. If you prefer it flat, simply skip the stuffing and continue seaming until the two pieces are fully joined.
Once the seam is complete, fasten off and weave in all your ends carefully using your yarn needle. Take your time with this step — a well-finished keychain will look far more professional than one with loose ends poking out, and since this is a small project, weaving in the ends only takes a few minutes.
Attaching the Keychain Ring
Thread a short length of one of your yarn colors — or use a small piece of jewelry wire or a lobster claw connector if you have one — through the keychain ring. Fold the yarn so that both ends are even, then use your crochet hook to pull both ends through a stitch at the top center arch of your rainbow. Tie a secure knot and weave in the ends.
Alternatively, you can crochet a small loop directly into your seam before closing it up. Simply chain 5 or 6 at the top center point of the arch, slip stitch into the same stitch to form a loop, and then thread your keychain ring through that loop once the piece is finished. This gives a very clean, built-in attachment point that does not require any additional knotting.
Customization Ideas
One of the best things about a pattern this simple is how endlessly customizable it is. Once you have made one rainbow keychain, the template is in your hands and you can take it in any direction you like.
Non-traditional color palettes: There is no rule that says a rainbow has to follow the traditional red-to-violet spectrum. A pastel rainbow in blush, lavender, mint, and baby blue is incredibly popular right now and makes a beautiful, soft gift. A dark jewel-tone version with burgundy, rust, mustard, forest green, navy, and plum has a rich, moody quality that suits autumn perfectly. You can also do a monochromatic gradient rainbow using multiple shades of the same color family, which looks stunning and surprisingly sophisticated.
Adding clouds: A pair of small white pom-poms stitched to either end of the rainbow arch creates an adorable cloud effect and is practically irresistible. To make quick mini pom-poms, wrap white yarn around two fingers about 30 times, slip the bundle off, tie it tightly in the center with a separate length of yarn, and then cut through all the loops. Fluff and trim to shape, and stitch the tie ends directly into the seam at each base of the rainbow arch.
Embellishments: A few French knots or tiny seed beads stitched along the color bands add texture and sparkle. You can also use embroidery thread to add very fine detail stitching on top of the crochet surface if you want to create a more decorative, folk art-inspired look.
Sizing up for a bag charm or ornament: If you use bulkier yarn — a chunky weight worked with a 6mm or 6.5mm hook — the same pattern will produce a larger version suitable as a bag charm, a gift tag, a Christmas tree ornament, or even a wall hanging. Scale up further still and you could turn this into a small framed piece or a nursery decoration.
Tips for Getting Clean Color Changes
The stepped arc technique used in this pattern naturally creates clean color transitions because you are fastening off and joining new yarn rather than carrying the old yarn along. That said, a few practices will make your color changes look especially tidy.
Always leave a tail of at least 6 inches when you fasten off. This gives you plenty of length to weave in the end securely without it coming loose with use. Weave the tail through several stitches in different directions so that it is truly locked in.
When joining a new color, insert your hook into the stitch as normal, but instead of pulling through with your old color, use the new color for the pull-through. This creates a clean join right from the first stitch.
If you notice any small gaps or puckering at the color change points, do not worry — these will largely disappear once you seam the two pieces together, and any remaining irregularities will be on the inside of the keychain where they cannot be seen.
Caring for Your Crochet Rainbow Keychain
Because it lives on a keychain, your little rainbow will experience a fair amount of handling, friction, and the occasional bump around in a bag. Choosing a yarn with good durability — a cotton or cotton-acrylic blend rather than a delicate merino wool — will help it hold up to everyday wear.
If your keychain gets dirty, hand wash it gently in cool water with a drop of mild dish soap, rinse thoroughly, and press out the excess water with a clean towel. Lay it flat or hang it to dry rather than placing it in a dryer, where the heat could cause it to shrink or lose its shape.
Making Them as Gifts
Crochet rainbow keychains are one of the most beloved small gifts you can make, and because each one only takes about 30 to 45 minutes for an experienced crocheter, you can make a whole batch in a single afternoon. They are wonderful party favors for children’s birthday parties, teacher appreciation gifts, stocking stuffers, best-friend gifts, and market booth additions if you sell your work.
To package them prettily for gifting, thread the keychain ring onto a small piece of cardstock with a handwritten tag, or tuck it into a clear cellophane bag tied with a ribbon in one of the rainbow’s colors. A simple homemade tag that reads “Made with love” or includes the recipient’s name makes the gift feel personal and thoughtful.
If you are selling your keychains, pricing them around $8 to $12 each is standard for handmade crochet charms at this size, depending on your market. Always factor in the cost of materials, the time it takes you to make them, and a fair wage for your skill and labor.
Final Thoughts
A crochet rainbow keychain is one of those small, cheerful projects that reminds you why you fell in love with crocheting in the first place. It is fast, it is colorful, it makes people smile, and it uses up your yarn scraps in the most satisfying possible way. Whether you are making one for yourself, gifting a pile of them, or using this pattern as a beginner’s introduction to colorwork, you will find that this little rainbow brings a lot of joy for very little time and effort.
Save this pattern, share it with your crochet friends, and do not be surprised when you look up one day and realize you have made fifteen of them. That is just what rainbow keychains do — they multiply happily and end up in the hands of everyone you love.
Happy crocheting.
