Free Crochet Pumpkin Cap Mushroom Keychain Pattern

If you’ve been scrolling through craft shops and Etsy lately, you’ve probably noticed that mushroom-themed everything is having a serious moment. From embroidered tote bags to ceramic mugs, the cottagecore aesthetic has captured the hearts of crafters everywhere — and crochet is no exception. Today I’m sharing a completely free crochet pattern for the most adorable little mushroom keychain, styled with a classic pumpkin-ribbed cap that gives it just the right amount of whimsy and autumn charm.

This pattern is beginner-friendly, works up in under an hour, and uses only small amounts of yarn, making it the perfect stash-buster project. Whether you want to dress up your keys, clip it onto a backpack, attach it to a zipper pull, or gift a handmade charm to someone you love, this little mushroom checks every single box. Let’s get into it.

Why You’ll Love This Mushroom Keychain Pattern

Before we dive into the actual stitches, let me tell you a few reasons this particular pattern has become one of my absolute favorites to make.

First, it’s small. There’s something deeply satisfying about a project you can finish in a single sitting — especially one that looks like it took far longer than it actually did. This mushroom keychain is roughly 2.5 to 3 inches tall depending on your tension, which makes it the ideal size for a keychain without being too bulky.

Second, it features a pumpkin-style ribbed cap. The ridged texture that runs across the mushroom’s head gives it a slightly different look than the typical smooth-capped mushroom you might see in other patterns. It has a squashy, organic feel that makes it look almost edible. The ribs are achieved through a simple technique using back-loop-only single crochets, which you’ll pick up immediately even if you’ve never done it before.

Third, it’s incredibly versatile. Swap out the colors and you can make a classic red and white toadstool for a fairy-tale feel, a golden chanterelle in warm amber tones, a spooky dark purple mushroom for Halloween, or a pastel rainbow set for a gift basket. The basic construction stays exactly the same no matter which colorway you choose.

Finally, this is a genuinely free pattern with no sign-up required, no email capture, and no paywall. Just the pattern, written clearly, so you can make your mushroom today.

Materials You’ll Need

One of the best things about tiny amigurumi-style keychains like this one is that the materials list is short and inexpensive. Here’s everything you’ll need to gather before you sit down to crochet.

Yarn: You’ll need worsted weight yarn (size 4) in two colors — one for the mushroom cap and one for the stem. Worsted weight is recommended because it produces a firm, well-defined fabric when used with a smaller hook, which helps the keychain hold its shape. You only need a small amount of each color, so this is a perfect scrap yarn project. For the classic mushroom look, try a rust orange or deep burgundy for the pumpkin-style cap and a warm cream or off-white for the stem. For white spots on the cap, you’ll need an even tinier bit of white yarn or you can use dimensional fabric paint as an alternative.

Hook: A 3.5mm (size E/4) crochet hook is recommended for this pattern. Using a slightly smaller hook than what your yarn label suggests will tighten up your stitches and help ensure the stuffing doesn’t show through gaps in your fabric.

Stuffing: Polyester fiberfill is the standard choice. You only need a small pinch for each keychain, so one bag of stuffing will last you through dozens of these little mushrooms.

Notions: You’ll need a yarn needle for weaving in ends and closing up the pieces, scissors, stitch markers (optional but helpful), and a keychain ring or swivel clasp to attach your finished mushroom. You can find keychain hardware at craft stores, dollar stores, or online in bulk packs. A length of chain between the mushroom and the ring gives it a nice dangling effect, but a simple split ring works perfectly too.

Abbreviations and Stitch Guide

This pattern uses standard US crochet terminology. Here’s a quick reference for every abbreviation used throughout the instructions.

MR — Magic ring (also called a magic circle or adjustable ring)
ch — Chain
sl st — Slip stitch
sc — Single crochet
BLO — Back loop only
inc — Increase (work 2 single crochets into the same stitch)
dec — Invisible decrease (insert hook through the front loops of the next two stitches and complete one single crochet — this creates a much tidier decrease than a standard sc2tog)
st(s) — Stitch(es)
rnd — Round

If you’re brand new to working in the round, just note that this pattern is worked in a continuous spiral rather than joined rounds. That means you won’t join at the end of each round with a slip stitch. Instead, use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each new round so you can keep track of your progress.

The Pumpkin Cap Mushroom Keychain Pattern

The mushroom is made in two separate pieces — the cap and the stem — and then joined together before the final stuffing and closing. Let’s start with the cap since it’s the most visually interesting piece.

Part One: The Pumpkin Cap

The ribbed pumpkin effect is created by working in back loops only throughout the main body of the cap, which creates raised ridges that run vertically across the dome shape. It sounds fancier than it is — once you try it, you’ll see how naturally it comes together.

Using your cap color yarn:

Rnd 1: Start with a magic ring. Work 6 sc into the magic ring and pull the tail to close. (6 sts)

Rnd 2: Work 2 sc into each stitch around. (12 sts)

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

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

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

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

At this point you should have a flat circle with 36 stitches. From here we’ll begin working down the sides of the cap and switching to back loop only stitches to create the pumpkin ribbing.

Rnd 7: Working in BLO only — sc in each stitch around. (36 sts)

Rnd 8: Working in BLO only — sc in each stitch around. (36 sts)

Rnd 9: Working in BLO only — sc 4, dec — repeat around. (30 sts)

Rnd 10: Working in BLO only — sc in each stitch around. (30 sts)

Rnd 11: Working in BLO only — sc 3, dec — repeat around. (24 sts)

At this point, you can add the white spot details if you’d like them. Cut small circles from white felt and glue them on, or use a yarn needle and white yarn to embroider a few simple circles onto the cap surface. Another popular option is to use a tiny amount of white yarn to crochet flat circles and attach them with a needle and thread. Do this step now while there’s still enough of an opening to work comfortably.

Rnd 12: Working in BLO only — sc in each stitch around. (24 sts)

Rnd 13: Working in BLO only — sc 2, dec — repeat around. (18 sts)

Set the cap aside — leave the bottom open — and make your stem.

Part Two: The Stem

Using your stem color yarn:

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

Rnd 2: Work 2 sc into each stitch around. (12 sts)

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

Rnd 4: Sc in each stitch around. (18 sts) — This creates the base/foot of the stem.

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

Rnds 6–10: Sc in each stitch around for 5 rounds. (12 sts) — This creates the shaft of the stem. If you want a taller mushroom, simply add extra rounds here.

Before closing the stem, add your keychain hardware. Cut a short length of chain (about 1 to 2 inches) or use a single jump ring. Thread it through the top of the stem before stuffing and closing so it’s securely embedded in the body of the mushroom rather than just glued on top. This makes for a much more durable attachment point.

Stuff the stem lightly with fiberfill.

Part Three: Joining the Cap and Stem

This is where the mushroom really comes together, and it’s honestly one of the most satisfying moments in the whole process.

Hold the cap with the open bottom facing down. Hold the stem with the open top facing up. You’ll be joining them by slip stitching or single crocheting through both layers simultaneously, which fuses them into one seamless piece.

Place the top of the stem up into the opening of the cap so that the top few rounds of the stem are tucked just inside the lower edge of the cap. The stem should peek out from underneath the cap in a natural mushroom shape. If the stem’s opening is smaller than the cap’s opening (which it will be), center the stem and use stitch markers or pins to hold it in place.

Using either color yarn and your hook, work a round of single crochets through both the stem edge and the cap edge simultaneously, going around the full circumference and joining them as you go. Once you’ve gone all the way around, add your stuffing to the cap now — push a small, firm ball of fiberfill up into the dome of the cap from below before fully closing the seam.

Fasten off and weave in all your ends.

Finishing Touches

Once your mushroom is assembled, take a moment to do a little shaping. Gently mold the cap between your fingers to emphasize the dome shape and coax the pumpkin ribs into even spacing. If the ribs look a little flat, you can use the tip of a pencil or a blunt needle to define them from the inside.

If you haven’t already attached your keychain hardware, do so now. The most secure method is to run a jump ring through the top stitches of your mushroom and then connect it to your keychain ring or swivel clip. If you preloaded the chain into the stem as described above, simply attach your split ring or lobster clasp to the end of the chain.

For an extra special touch, you can add a thin coat of fabric stiffener to the cap to help it hold its dome shape permanently. This is especially useful if you’re making these as gifts or selling them, since it gives the finished product a more polished, professional look.

Color Inspiration and Variations

Once you’ve made your first mushroom, you’ll probably want to make a dozen more. Here are some colorway ideas to get your imagination going.

A classic fairy ring mushroom uses a bright red cap with white spots and an ivory stem — instantly recognizable and always popular. A harvest version leans into warm burnt oranges, deep terracotta, and golden yellows for an autumn aesthetic that pairs beautifully with the pumpkin rib texture. Try a galaxy mushroom in deep midnight purple or navy with iridescent thread held alongside your yarn for a sparkly, magical effect. A pastel rainbow set in soft pink, lavender, mint, and butter yellow makes a gorgeous gift for baby showers or children’s rooms. For Halloween, a black and orange or black and neon green colorway is spooky and fun.

If you want to skip the spots entirely and let the pumpkin ribbing do all the talking, that looks absolutely beautiful too, especially in a single tonal yarn or a subtle self-striping yarn that creates gentle color shifts across the cap.

Tips for Success

A few practical notes that will make this project go more smoothly, especially if you’re newer to working small-scale amigurumi.

Tension matters more in miniature projects than in almost any other type of crochet. Too loose and your stitches will gap; too tight and the piece becomes stiff and difficult to stuff. Aim for a fabric that’s firm but not rigid — you should be able to see slight stitch definition without seeing the stuffing through the gaps.

Count your stitches at the end of every round, especially during the increase and decrease rounds on the cap. One missed stitch can throw off the whole dome shape. A stitch marker in the first stitch of each round is genuinely worth the tiny extra effort.

Use the invisible decrease rather than a standard sc2tog. The invisible decrease (worked through the front loops only of two stitches) creates a far smoother line, which really shows up in a small project like this where every stitch is visible.

Don’t overstuff. For a keychain specifically, a light stuffing is better than a firm one because you want the finished piece to have a slightly soft, squishable feel. Overstuffing can also stretch out your stitches and make the finished dimensions larger than intended.

Skill Level and Time Estimate

This pattern is rated as beginner to easy. If you know how to single crochet, work in the round, and do a basic increase and decrease, you have all the skills you need. The only technique that might be new is the back-loop-only ribbing, and as I mentioned earlier, that’s something most crocheters pick up in just a few stitches.

Time-wise, expect the full mushroom to take between 45 minutes and 90 minutes depending on your speed and familiarity with working in small rounds. Once you’ve made one, subsequent keychains go much faster since you don’t need to re-read the instructions as carefully.

Sharing Your Finished Mushrooms

I would absolutely love to see what you create with this pattern. If you make one of these pumpkin cap mushroom keychains, please share your photos on Instagram or Pinterest and tag me so I can see your beautiful work. It’s always such a joy to watch a pattern come to life in different hands, with different yarns and color choices.

If you’d like to sell items made from this pattern, you’re welcome to do so — just please don’t copy or redistribute the pattern itself as your own. A link back to this post is always appreciated and helps other crafters find free patterns like this one.

Happy crocheting, and may your yarn never tangle and your hooks never snag.