Free Crochet Dachshund Dog Bag Charm Pattern & Tutorial
If you love dachshunds and you love crochet, this pattern is going to feel like it was made just for you. This little sausage dog bag charm is one of those projects that looks impressively detailed but is actually very approachable for anyone who has a basic understanding of crochet stitches. Whether you’re making it for yourself, as a gift for the dachshund lover in your life, or to sell at a craft fair, this tiny crocheted pup is absolutely irresistible. In this post, you’ll find everything you need: a complete free pattern, step-by-step instructions, tips for getting the shaping right, and plenty of guidance along the way.
Let’s dive in.
Why Crochet a Dachshund Bag Charm?
Bag charms have become one of the most popular accessories in the handmade community, and it’s easy to see why. They’re quick to make, they use very little yarn, they’re customizable, and they make thoughtful, personal gifts. A crochet dachshund charm takes things up a notch because it captures the personality of one of the most beloved dog breeds in the world.
Dachshunds have that unmistakable silhouette — the long body, the short little legs, the floppy ears, and the expressive snout. When you translate that shape into a miniature crochet charm, the result is something genuinely charming. People stop you to ask about it. Dachshund owners go absolutely wild for them. And once you’ve made one, you’ll find yourself making more in different colors, different coat types, and for every person on your gift list who has a soft spot for sausage dogs.
Aside from being adorable, this project is also a wonderful way to practice your amigurumi skills. If you’ve been wanting to learn how to make crocheted stuffed animals but feel intimidated by larger projects, a small bag charm is the perfect starting point. The techniques are the same, the learning curve is forgiving, and you get a finished project in just a couple of hours.
Skill Level and Time Estimate
This pattern is rated as beginner to intermediate. You should be comfortable with the magic ring, single crochet, increases, decreases, and basic assembly. If you’ve made a simple amigurumi ball or any basic stuffed shape before, you have all the skills you need. If you’re newer to crochet, there are a few notes throughout the pattern to help you along.
Most crafters will finish this charm in about two to three hours, not including drying time if you decide to stiffen it slightly.
Materials You Will Need
Before you start, gather your supplies. The great thing about this project is that it requires very little, and you may already have most of these items in your stash.
Yarn: You’ll need a small amount of worsted weight yarn in your chosen dachshund color. Classic dachshund colorways include tan or golden brown, chocolate brown, black and tan, or dapple (a mottled gray and brown). For the tan and brown markings typical of a classic dachshund, you’ll want two shades: a darker main color and a lighter tan for the chest, inner ears, and eyebrow dots.
Hook: A 2.5mm or 3mm crochet hook works well with worsted weight for this project because you want a tight gauge that keeps the stuffing from showing through and helps the charm hold its shape.
Stuffing: A small amount of polyfill stuffing. You won’t need much at all — just enough to give each body part a little firmness.
Safety eyes: Two 6mm or 8mm black safety eyes. These give the charm a professional, polished look.
Tapestry needle: For weaving in ends and sewing pieces together.
Scissors.
Keyring or lobster clasp: To turn the finished dachshund into a bag charm. You can find these at craft stores or online. A small jump ring can also be helpful.
Black embroidery floss or yarn: For the nose.
Optional: Stitch markers, small amounts of different colored yarn for a collar or bow detail.
Pattern Notes and Abbreviations
All stitches are worked in continuous rounds unless otherwise noted. Use a stitch marker to mark the beginning of each round. The pattern is written in US crochet terms.
MR — Magic ring
ch — Chain
sl st — Slip stitch
sc — Single crochet
inc — Increase (2 single crochets in the same stitch)
dec — Decrease (invisible decrease: insert hook through the front loops of two consecutive stitches and complete as one single crochet)
BLO — Back loop only
FO — Fasten off
[x] — Repeat the stitches inside the brackets the number of times indicated
st(s) — stitch(es)
The Pattern
Part 1: The Body
The dachshund body is worked from the nose end toward the tail. Start with your main color.
Round 1: MR, 6 sc (6 sts)
Round 2: [inc] 6 times (12 sts)
Round 3: [sc 1, inc] 6 times (18 sts)
Round 4: [sc 2, inc] 6 times (24 sts)
Rounds 5–7: sc in each st around (24 sts) — 3 rounds even
Round 8: [sc 2, dec] 6 times (18 sts)
Round 9: sc in each st around (18 sts)
Round 10: [sc 1, dec] 6 times (12 sts)
Round 11: sc in each st around (12 sts)
Before continuing, insert your safety eyes between rounds 3 and 4, spaced approximately 4 stitches apart. Begin stuffing the head section firmly.
Round 12: [sc 3, inc] 3 times (15 sts) — this begins the body widening
Round 13: sc in each st around (15 sts)
Round 14: [sc 4, inc] 3 times (18 sts)
Round 15: sc in each st around (18 sts)
Round 16: [sc 5, inc] 3 times (21 sts)
Rounds 17–22: sc in each st around (21 sts) — 6 rounds even
Round 23: [sc 5, dec] 3 times (18 sts)
Round 24: [sc 4, dec] 3 times (15 sts)
Add more stuffing now, filling the body section firmly but not so tightly that the seam pulls.
Round 25: [sc 3, dec] 3 times (12 sts)
Round 26: [sc 1, dec] 4 times (8 sts)
FO, leaving a long tail. Close the opening by weaving the tail through the front loops of the remaining 8 stitches and pulling tight. Weave in the end.
Part 2: The Ears (Make 2)
The ears are flat and slightly elongated with a soft teardrop shape, which captures that classic floppy dachshund ear look perfectly. Use your darker main color or a slightly different shade if you want a contrasting ear.
Round 1: MR, 6 sc (6 sts)
Round 2: [inc] 6 times (12 sts)
Round 3: [sc 1, inc] 6 times (18 sts)
Round 4: sc in each st around (18 sts)
Round 5: [sc 4, dec] 3 times (15 sts)
Round 6: [sc 3, dec] 3 times (12 sts)
Round 7: sc in each st around (12 sts)
Round 8: [sc 2, dec] 3 times (9 sts)
FO, leaving a long tail for sewing. Flatten the ear before attaching — you want it to lay flat rather than being stuffed or three-dimensional. The rounded end will be the bottom of the ear and the narrower end gets attached to the head.
Part 3: The Legs (Make 4)
The legs are short and stubby, true to the dachshund breed. Work in your main color.
Round 1: MR, 6 sc (6 sts)
Round 2: [inc] 6 times (12 sts)
Rounds 3–4: sc in each st around (12 sts)
Round 5: [sc 2, dec] 3 times (9 sts)
Rounds 6–8: sc in each st around (9 sts)
FO, leaving a long tail. Stuff lightly — the legs should be firm but not stiff. They’re small, so a tiny pinch of stuffing goes a long way.
Part 4: The Tail
The tail is a simple tapered tube. Work in your main color.
Round 1: MR, 4 sc (4 sts)
Rounds 2–6: sc in each st around (4 sts)
Round 7: [inc, sc 1] twice (6 sts)
Round 8: sc in each st around (6 sts)
FO, leaving a tail for sewing. You can leave this unstuffed or add just a tiny wisp of stuffing.
Part 5: The Nose and Face Details
Using black embroidery floss or a small length of black yarn and your tapestry needle, embroider a small oval or triangular nose at the very tip of the snout (around round 1–2 of the body). Add a short vertical stitch below the center of the nose to create that classic dog expression.
If you want to add the tan eyebrow dots typical of a black and tan or chocolate and tan dachshund, use a tiny amount of tan yarn to embroider small circular dots above each eye. These small details make the charm look remarkably true to life.
Assembly: Putting Your Dachshund Together
Assembly is where the magic happens and your little dachshund starts to come to life. Take your time with this step — good assembly makes the difference between a charm that looks professional and one that looks lopsided.
Ears: Pin the ears to the sides of the head, positioned roughly over rounds 4 through 6. The narrow end attaches to the head and the wider rounded part hangs down. Check that they’re symmetrical before sewing. Use your tapestry needle and the long tail to sew each ear securely, going through the head a few times to make sure it won’t pull loose.
Legs: The front legs attach just behind the head, around the area where the body begins to widen (rounds 12–14 of the body). The back legs attach closer to the tail end, around rounds 22–23. Pin all four legs and check that the dachshund can “sit” in a balanced way before sewing. Sew each leg on securely with several passes of the yarn.
Tail: Attach the tail at the very back of the body, centered at the top. Sew it on at a slight upward angle — dachshunds tend to carry their tails up.
Charm hardware: To attach the keyring or lobster clasp, you have a couple of options. The simplest is to sew a small loop of yarn at the top of the body (roughly above the midpoint, between the front and back legs) and thread your jump ring or clasp through that loop. Alternatively, you can use a small piece of satin ribbon folded through the ring and sewn down firmly. Make sure whatever attachment method you use is secure, since the charm will be pulled and jostled when it’s on a bag.
Customization Ideas
One of the best things about this pattern is how easily it adapts. Here are some ideas to make your dachshund charm uniquely yours.
Color variations: Classic dachshunds come in red, chocolate, black and tan, cream, and dapple. You can achieve the tan markings on a black and tan dachshund by working the inner ear, eyebrow dots, chest, and lower leg areas in a light tan yarn, either by crocheting them in separately or by embroidering the details on after assembly.
Wire-haired or long-haired look: For a long-haired dachshund, try adding small loops of yarn around the ears and chest area, or use a slightly fluffy or brushed yarn for those parts. For a wire-haired look, you can use a textured yarn or add short cut loops of yarn around the face and body for a scruffy appearance.
Accessories: Tiny crochet collars are adorable and simple to make — just a short chain stitched into a ring and fitted around the neck before final assembly. You can add a tiny bow tie, a flower, or even a miniature bandana for extra personality.
Size adjustments: If you use a thinner yarn and smaller hook, you’ll get a much tinier charm. Use a chunkier yarn and larger hook for a bigger, plushier version that could work as a bag pendant or a small keychain toy.
Tips for Getting the Best Results
A few practical notes that will help your dachshund charm turn out as polished as possible.
Work tightly. Loose tension in amigurumi lets the stuffing show through and makes the finished piece look less refined. If your tension is naturally loose, go down a hook size.
Use stitch markers consistently. In continuous rounds it’s very easy to lose track of where you are, and a stitch marker at the beginning of each round saves a lot of frustration.
Don’t overstuff. For a small charm, overstuffing makes the piece lumpy and distorts the shaping. You want the body to feel firm but smooth.
Pin before you sew. Always pin limbs and ears in place and look at the overall shape before committing to sewing. Small adjustments at this stage make a huge difference in the final look.
Weave in your ends well. This charm is going to be handled frequently, so take the extra minute to weave each end through several stitches in different directions to prevent unraveling.
If you want to give the finished charm extra structure and help it hold its shape over time, you can lightly mist it with a starch solution and let it dry. This is especially helpful if you plan to sell the charms, as it gives them a more polished presentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sell items made from this pattern? Yes! This is a free pattern shared for personal and small business use. You’re welcome to sell finished charms made from this pattern. A credit or link back to this post is always appreciated but not required.
What if I don’t know how to do a magic ring? You can substitute a foundation chain of 2 stitches and work your first round into the second chain from the hook. The magic ring gives a tighter, neater center, but a chain start works perfectly well too.
My dachshund looks more like a generic dog than a dachshund. What went wrong? The key to the dachshund silhouette is the body length relative to the leg length. If the legs seem too long, try doing one fewer round on each leg. The body should feel noticeably longer than it is tall. Also make sure you haven’t overstuffed the body, as too much stuffing can make it look rounder and less elongated.
Can I use a different weight of yarn? Absolutely. Just adjust your hook size to match and keep in mind that the finished size will change. Fingering or sock weight yarn with a 1.5mm or 2mm hook will give you a very tiny, delicate charm. Bulky yarn will give you something much larger.
A Few Words on Gifting These Charms
If you’re making dachshund charms as gifts, a few presentation ideas can make them even more special. Tuck the finished charm into a small kraft paper box or a clear organza bag tied with twine. You could also attach it to a handmade card with the recipient’s dachshund’s name on it. Dachshund owners are famously devoted to their breed, and receiving a handmade miniature version of their dog is an incredibly thoughtful gesture.
For those selling at craft fairs or in online shops, consider photographing your charms against a clean white background as well as styled on a bag or backpack so customers can see how the charm looks
