Free Crochet Dachshund Dog Bag Charm Pattern (Easy Amigurumi Keychain)
If you have ever spotted a tiny crocheted animal dangling from someone’s handbag and thought, “I need to make one of those,” then you are in exactly the right place. Today I am sharing a completely free crochet dachshund dog bag charm pattern that is perfect for beginners who want to dip their toes into the world of amigurumi. These little sausage dogs are so full of personality, and the finished keychain is one of those projects that people notice immediately. Whether you are making it for yourself, gifting it to a dachshund lover, or selling at craft fairs, this tiny pup is guaranteed to earn compliments.
Let me walk you through everything you need to know, from the materials to the finished hook, so you can have your very own miniature dachshund hanging from your bag by the end of the day.
Why Dachshunds Make the Perfect Amigurumi Project
There is something about the dachshund’s long, low silhouette that translates beautifully into crochet. The exaggerated proportions — that stretched body, the short stubby legs, the floppy ears — are practically designed for amigurumi. The style naturally leans toward simplified, rounded shapes, and the dachshund just happens to fit that aesthetic like a glove.
Beyond the aesthetic appeal, dachshunds are one of the most beloved dog breeds in the world. They consistently rank among the most popular dog breeds in the United States and Europe, which means this little keychain resonates with a huge audience. Gift shops, craft markets, and Etsy stores regularly feature dachshund-themed products, and a handmade crocheted version stands out because it carries that handcrafted warmth that mass-produced items simply cannot replicate.
This particular pattern is also wonderfully forgiving. Unlike larger amigurumi projects where proportional inconsistencies are easy to spot, a tiny bag charm is compact enough that minor tension variations disappear into the overall cuteness. That makes it ideal for newer crocheters who are still building confidence with their tension and stitch counts.
Materials You Will Need
Before you cast on your first magic ring, gather your supplies. One of the best things about bag charms is that they use very little yarn, so this is a perfect stash-buster project.
Yarn: You will need a small amount of brown, tan, or rust-colored yarn in a DK or sport weight. Classic dachshund colorings include rich chocolate brown, a warm reddish tan, or the classic black and tan combination. I used approximately 15 grams of main color yarn for the body and only a few yards of a contrasting color for the underbelly and eyebrow markings if you want to add those details. Any smooth, tightly plied yarn works best for amigurumi because it shows stitch definition clearly and prevents stuffing from poking through.
Hook: A 2.5mm or 3mm crochet hook works perfectly for this scale. The smaller hook creates a tighter fabric that holds stuffing in nicely and gives the finished piece a neat, professional look.
Eyes: Two black safety eyes, 4mm or 6mm depending on your preference. If you are making this for a child under three years old, please skip the safety eyes entirely and embroider the eyes with black thread instead for safety reasons.
Stuffing: A small amount of polyester fiberfill. You will need very little — just enough to give the body a firm, rounded shape.
Accessories: A keyring or lobster clasp, a short length of jump rings or a small swivel clip, and a yarn needle for sewing pieces together and weaving in ends.
Optional: A small piece of black embroidery floss for the nose and any facial detailing.
Abbreviations Used in This Pattern
This pattern is written using US crochet terminology.
MR — Magic ring
ch — Chain
sl st — Slip stitch
sc — Single crochet
inc — Increase (2 single crochets in the same stitch)
dec — Invisible decrease (insert hook through front loops only of next two stitches, yarn over and pull through both loops, yarn over and pull through remaining two loops)
BLO — Back loop only
FLO — Front loop only
st — Stitch
rnd — Round
rep — Repeat
Pattern Notes
This project is worked in continuous rounds. Place a stitch marker at the beginning of each round so you can track your progress. I recommend using a contrasting piece of scrap yarn as your marker rather than a plastic clip, simply because at this scale a plastic marker can distort the stitches.
The finished dachshund measures approximately 8 to 10 centimeters in length from nose to tail, depending on your tension and the weight of yarn you use. If you want a larger charm, simply go up one hook size and use a slightly heavier yarn.
Do not stuff as you go. Instead, complete each piece entirely before stuffing, so you can make sure you are happy with the shape before committing. Stuff firmly but not so tightly that the stitches stretch and the stuffing shows through.
The Pattern
Body
The body is the main piece and the first thing you will crochet. Work in a continuous spiral.
Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc into ring. (6)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12)
Rnd 3: (Sc 1, inc) rep 6 times. (18)
Rnd 4: (Sc 2, inc) rep 6 times. (24)
Rnd 5: Sc in each st around. (24)
Rnd 6: Sc in each st around. (24)
Rnd 7: (Sc 2, dec) rep 6 times. (18)
Rnd 8: Sc in each st around. (18)
Rnd 9: Sc in each st around. (18)
Rnd 10: Sc in each st around. (18)
Rnd 11: Sc in each st around. (18)
Rnd 12: (Sc 4, inc) rep 3 times, sc to end of round. (21)
Rnd 13: Sc in each st around. (21)
Rnd 14: Sc in each st around. (21)
Rnd 15: (Sc 5, dec) rep 3 times. (18)
Rnd 16: (Sc 4, dec) rep 3 times. (15)
Insert safety eyes between rounds 4 and 5, placing them approximately 5 to 6 stitches apart. This is the narrower end of the body, which will be the head of your dachshund.
Rnd 17: (Sc 3, dec) rep 3 times. (12)
Begin stuffing firmly now.
Rnd 18: (Sc 2, dec) rep 3 times. (9)
Rnd 19: (Sc 1, dec) rep 3 times. (6)
Stuff any remaining space and close the opening with a sl st. Fasten off and leave a long tail for any additional shaping if needed, then weave in the end.
Legs (Make 4)
The four legs are identical, which makes this section very satisfying to work through once you have the rhythm.
Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc into ring. (6)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12)
Rnd 3: Sc in each st around. (12)
Rnd 4: (Sc 1, dec) rep 4 times. (8)
Rnd 5: Sc in each st around. (8)
Rnd 6: Sc in each st around. (8)
Rnd 7: Sc in each st around. (8)
Do not stuff the legs. Simply fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. The hollow legs actually look neater and hold their shape better at this small scale.
Ears (Make 2)
The floppy, velvety ears are one of the most iconic features of a dachshund, and these crocheted ears capture that drooping sweetness perfectly.
Rnd 1: MR, 4 sc into ring. (4)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (8)
Rnd 3: (Sc 1, inc) rep 4 times. (12)
Rnd 4: Sc in each st around. (12)
Rnd 5: Sc in each st around. (12)
Rnd 6: (Sc 1, dec) rep 4 times. (8)
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Flatten the ear slightly before attaching. The wider end is the bottom of the ear that will hang down, and the narrower end attaches to the head.
Tail
Rnd 1: MR, 4 sc into ring. (4)
Rnd 2: Sc in each st around. (4)
Rnd 3: Sc in each st around. (4)
Rnd 4: Inc, sc 3. (5)
Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing. The tail curves slightly naturally due to the increase — attach it to the body taking advantage of this natural curve to give your dachshund a jaunty little upright tail.
Assembly
Assembly is where your little dachshund truly comes to life, and it is worth taking your time here to get the positioning right before you sew anything in permanently.
Start by laying all your pieces out next to the body and eyeballing the placement. For the legs, the two front legs should be positioned roughly below rounds 7 and 8 of the body (the area just behind the head), and the back legs should sit near rounds 14 and 15. Pin them in place with a locking stitch marker or a straight pin so you can step back and check the symmetry before committing.
Sew each leg to the body using your yarn needle and the long tail you left. Use a mattress stitch or simply weave the tail back and forth between the leg and body several times, pulling gently to close the seam. Weave the tail into the inside of the body before trimming.
For the ears, position them on either side of the head just above and slightly behind the safety eyes. Sew through the narrow end of each ear and down into the head at a slight outward angle so they hang away from the face rather than flat against it. This small detail makes a big difference to the overall expression.
Attach the nose by embroidering a small oval or triangle with black embroidery floss between and slightly below the eyes. Three or four straight stitches worked closely together create a simple, clean nose shape.
If you want to add tan eyebrow dots above each eye (a detail that gives the dog an irresistibly expressive face), just use a tapestry needle threaded with tan yarn and make a tiny French knot or a couple of straight stitches above each eye.
Finally, sew the tail to the back of the body at roughly the center point of the rear, angling it upward slightly.
Attaching the Keyring
To turn your finished dachshund into a bag charm or keychain, you have a couple of options. The simplest method is to cut a short length of chain — about 3 to 4 centimeters — and use a jump ring to attach one end to a small loop of yarn on your dachshund’s back and the other end to your keyring or lobster clasp.
Alternatively, you can crochet a small loop directly onto the back of the body during the finishing stage. To do this, simply use your hook to pull a loop of yarn through one of the stitches at the top of the body, chain 6 or 8, and slip stitch back into the first chain to form a loop. Fasten off and weave in the end. Then simply thread your keyring through this loop.
If you want a slightly more polished look, thread a ribbon or a piece of faux leather cord through the crocheted loop and tie it to the keyring with a secure knot before trimming the ends.
Tips for the Best Results
Tension is everything in amigurumi, especially at this small scale. Crochet slightly tighter than feels natural, since a dense fabric prevents the stuffing from peeking through and gives the finished piece a firmer, more durable feel. If you find your hands cramping from working with a small hook, take regular breaks and stretch your fingers.
Color choice has a big impact on the personality of your finished dachshund. A rich chocolate brown reads as a classic smooth-coated dachshund, while a warm golden tan suggests the longer-haired variety. For the black and tan coloring, use black yarn for the main body and switch to tan for the underbelly, legs, and eyebrow markings. You can achieve this by simply sewing a small tan oval onto the underside of the body after assembly rather than changing colors mid-row, which is much simpler at this scale.
For the eyes, 4mm safety eyes give a more subtle, realistic look, while 6mm eyes read as slightly more cartoonish and expressive — both are charming in different ways, so choose based on the look you prefer.
If you are making several of these as gifts or to sell, working all the same piece across multiple dachshunds at once (all the bodies, then all the legs, and so on) is much more efficient than completing one whole dog before starting the next.
Customization Ideas
One of the most enjoyable aspects of this pattern is how easy it is to customize. A few small tweaks completely transform the character of the finished piece.
Try adding a tiny crocheted collar in a contrasting color by making a short chain and slip stitching it together to form a ring, then sewing it around the neck area. Add a tiny bow or a charm to the collar for extra personality.
Use variegated or heathered yarn for a more unusual coloring — a grey-and-white speckled yarn can suggest a dapple dachshund, which is a striking and unusual variation.
If you want a larger keychain, simply scale the whole pattern up by using a 4mm hook and a light DK weight yarn. The proportions remain the same, and the finished dog ends up roughly 15 centimeters long, which makes a very satisfying bag charm.
You can also adapt this basic pattern into a refrigerator magnet by sewing a small neodymium magnet into the stuffing before closing the body, or into a brooch by sewing a pin back onto the rear of the body.
Skill Level and Time Commitment
This pattern is rated as beginner-friendly, though it requires a small amount of comfort with working in the round and basic amigurumi assembly. If you have made at least one simple amigurumi project before, you will find this very manageable. If this is your very first amigurumi attempt, I recommend practicing a simple ball shape first just to get comfortable with the magic ring and working in continuous rounds.
In terms of time, most crocheters complete this project in two to three hours, making it a perfect one-evening craft. The assembly stage takes the most time and patience, particularly if you are new to sewing amigurumi pieces together.
A Note on Yarn Substitutions
Because this project uses such a small amount of yarn, it is a wonderful way to use up leftover scraps from other projects. Almost any smooth yarn in the DK or sport weight range works well, and even a chunky 4-ply works in a pinch if you adjust your hook size accordingly. Avoid very fuzzy or bouclé yarns, as these make it very difficult to see your stitches clearly, which becomes frustrating at such a small scale.
Acrylic yarn is the most practical choice for a keychain because it is durable, easy to wipe clean, and widely available. Cotton yarn also works beautifully and gives a slightly crisper stitch definition, though it has less stretch than acrylic, so your tension needs to be a little more consistent.
Sharing Your Finished Dachshund
Once you have finished your little sausage dog, I would love to see how it turned out. Share your photos on Instagram or Pinterest using the hashtag #crochetdachshund and tag me so I can admire your work. Seeing how different colorways and customizations change the character of the finished piece never gets old.
If you found this pattern helpful, consider pinning it for later or sharing it with a friend who loves dogs, crafts, or both. And if
