How to Crochet an Amigurumi Unicorn Keychain: Step-by-Step Pattern for a Plush Bag Charm with Rainbow Mane (PDF Download)

If you have been searching for the perfect crochet project that combines charm, color, and just the right amount of magical whimsy, this amigurumi unicorn keychain pattern is exactly what you need. Whether you are a seasoned crocheter looking for a quick and satisfying make, or a beginner who wants to try their hand at three-dimensional amigurumi figures for the first time, this little unicorn bag charm ticks every box. Small enough to finish in an afternoon, cute enough to give as a gift, and versatile enough to clip onto a backpack, handbag, keys, or zipper pull, this plush unicorn is one of those patterns you will return to again and again.

In this post you will find everything you need: an explanation of all the stitches and techniques involved, a complete written crochet pattern for the unicorn keychain, tips for getting the rainbow mane just right, suggestions for color combinations, advice on how to finish and assemble your charm, and a link to download the printable PDF version so you always have it on hand at your craft table.

Why Amigurumi Keychains Are the Perfect Crochet Project

Amigurumi is the Japanese art of crocheting or knitting small stuffed figures, and it has become one of the most beloved corners of the crafting world for good reason. The projects are compact, the materials are inexpensive, and the results are immediately satisfying. A full amigurumi plush toy might take several days to complete, but a keychain-sized version gives you that same creative reward in just a couple of hours.

Unicorn-themed crafts in particular have shown remarkable staying power. What began as a trend has settled into a genuine classic of the craft world, appearing on everything from birthday cakes to embroidery hoops. A crocheted unicorn keychain captures that magic in a tangible, handmade way. It makes an ideal gift for children and adults alike, works beautifully as a party favor, sells well at craft markets, and brings a little brightness to an everyday bag or set of keys.

The rainbow mane is arguably the most delightful detail of this particular design. By working small loops or fringe in multiple colors, you create a flowing, dimensional mane that gives the finished charm real personality and visual impact.

Materials You Will Need

Before you begin, gather the following supplies. Because this is a small project, you do not need large quantities of yarn, which makes it a wonderful stash-busting project.

Yarn: Worsted weight yarn (approximately 4 weight) works well for a keychain that measures roughly 5 to 6 centimeters when finished. You can also use DK or sport weight for a smaller result. You will need a main color for the body (white or cream is classic, but soft lavenders, pale pinks, and sky blues are equally beautiful), plus small amounts of yarn in at least four to five colors for the rainbow mane. Traditional rainbow colors are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet, but you can choose pastel versions for a softer look, or go monochromatic in shades of a single color for something more modern and understated.

Crochet hook: A 2.5 mm or 3.0 mm hook works well with worsted weight yarn for amigurumi, since you want a tight gauge that keeps the stuffing from showing through the fabric. Adjust your hook size if you are working with a lighter yarn.

Stuffing: Polyester fiberfill is the standard choice. For a keychain, you will need only a small pinch.

Safety eyes: Two black safety eyes, 4 mm or 5 mm in diameter, give the most polished result. If you are making this keychain for a young child, embroider the eyes instead with black yarn for safety.

Keychain hardware: One split ring or lobster clasp keychain ring, available at any craft store or online.

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

Stitch markers: Helpful for marking the beginning of each round.

Scissors.

Optional: A small amount of pink embroidery floss or pink yarn for the cheeks, and gold or yellow yarn for the horn.

Stitches and Abbreviations Used

This pattern uses standard US crochet terminology.

MR — Magic ring (also called magic circle): A technique for starting amigurumi pieces that closes the center hole completely for a tidy finish.

sc — Single crochet

inc — Increase: work two single crochets into the same stitch

dec — Invisible decrease: insert hook into the front loop of the next stitch, then the front loop of the stitch after that, and complete as a single crochet. This creates a neater finish than a standard decrease.

sl st — Slip stitch

ch — Chain

BLO — Back loop only

FLO — Front loop only

( ) x — Repeat the instructions inside the brackets the stated number of times

All pieces are worked in continuous rounds unless otherwise stated. Place a stitch marker at the beginning of each round and move it up as you go.

The Complete Unicorn Keychain Pattern

Head and Body

For this design, the head and body are worked as one continuous piece from the bottom up, which simplifies assembly and gives a cleaner result.

Round 1: MR, 6 sc into ring. (6 stitches)

Round 2: Inc in each stitch around. (12 stitches)

Round 3: (sc 1, inc) repeat 6 times. (18 stitches)

Round 4: (sc 2, inc) repeat 6 times. (24 stitches)

Rounds 5–7: sc in each stitch around. (24 stitches)

This forms the base of the body. At this point the piece should look like a small flat disc beginning to curve upward at the sides.

Round 8: (sc 2, dec) repeat 6 times. (18 stitches)

Round 9: sc in each stitch around. (18 stitches)

Now insert the safety eyes between rounds 5 and 6, spacing them approximately 6 stitches apart. If you are embroidering the eyes, you can add them at the finishing stage instead. Stuff the body lightly with fiberfill at this point, then continue adding more stuffing as you close the piece.

Round 10: (sc 1, dec) repeat 6 times. (12 stitches)

Round 11: dec around. (6 stitches)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Use the yarn needle to close the remaining 6 stitches by threading the tail through the front loops and pulling tight. Weave in the end securely on the inside of the piece.

Ears (Make Two)

Round 1: MR, 4 sc into ring. (4 stitches)

Round 2: Inc in each stitch around. (8 stitches)

Round 3: (sc 1, inc) repeat 4 times. (12 stitches)

Round 4: sc in each stitch around. (12 stitches)

Slip stitch to close, leaving a long tail for sewing. Flatten each ear slightly before attaching it to the head. Do not stuff the ears.

For a decorative inner ear detail, you can work a few single crochets in a contrasting pink or pale purple along the center of each flattened ear using surface crochet, or simply embroider a few straight stitches.

Horn

The horn is worked in a tight spiral and should feel firm and pointed.

Round 1: MR, 3 sc into ring. (3 stitches)

Round 2: (sc 1, inc) repeat once, sc 1. (4 stitches)

Round 3: (sc 1, inc) repeat twice. (6 stitches)

Round 4: sc in each stitch around. (6 stitches)

Slip stitch to close, leaving a long tail for sewing. Stuff the horn lightly or leave it unstuffed for a firmer, more defined shape. Gold or yellow yarn is the traditional choice here, but silver, pearlescent white, or even a rainbow self-striping yarn can look stunning.

Legs (Make Four)

Round 1: MR, 6 sc into ring. (6 stitches)

Round 2: Inc in each stitch around. (12 stitches)

Rounds 3–5: sc in each stitch around. (12 stitches)

Slip stitch to close, leaving a long tail for sewing. Stuff lightly. You can add a slightly darker hoof detail by switching yarn color for round 5 or by embroidering a line around the base of each leg.

Tail

The tail can be made in a few different ways depending on the look you prefer.

For a simple loop tail, cut several strands of your rainbow mane yarn (about 8 centimeters each), fold them in half, and use a crochet hook to pull the folded end through a stitch at the rear base of the body, then draw the cut ends through the loop and pull snug. Repeat with multiple colors until you have a full, flowing tail. Trim to even the ends if needed.

For a crocheted loop tail, chain 12 to 15 in your chosen color, slip stitch back to the first chain to form a loop, then fasten off and sew the tail directly to the body at the base. Repeat in different colors for a layered, rainbow effect.

Creating the Rainbow Mane

The mane is where this little unicorn truly comes to life, and it is worth taking a few extra minutes to get it looking lush and full.

Cut lengths of yarn approximately 6 to 8 centimeters long in each of your chosen rainbow colors. Starting just behind the horn and working in a line toward the back of the head, attach each strand using the lark’s head knot technique: fold the strand in half, insert your hook through a stitch on the head, draw the folded end through, then pull the cut ends through the loop and tug gently to secure. Work row by row if you want a thicker, more voluminous mane, or space the knots slightly further apart for a more delicate, wispy effect.

Alternate your colors as you go, or group them in bands of color for a more organized rainbow effect. Once all the strands are attached, you can gently brush the mane with a stiff toothbrush or pet slicker brush to separate the plies and create a fluffier, more flowing texture. Trim the ends carefully with sharp scissors to shape the mane if needed.

A pastel rainbow mane might use rose pink, peach, soft yellow, mint green, sky blue, and lavender. A bolder version might use true red, orange, golden yellow, leaf green, royal blue, and deep purple. There are no rules here — this is the most personal and expressive part of the whole pattern.

Assembly

Lay all your pieces out before you begin sewing to plan placement. The ears sit on top of the head, flanking the horn. The horn goes directly between them at the center top. The legs attach to the underside of the body, two at the front and two at the rear, positioned so the finished unicorn sits evenly.

Use your yarn needle and the long tail left on each piece to sew everything securely in place. For the ears and horn, work a ring of stitches around the base of each piece, passing through both the piece itself and the body fabric. Pull your stitches firmly and check that nothing wobbles. Weave in all ends carefully so they are hidden inside the body.

Once the body is assembled, attach the keychain ring through the top of the unicorn’s head or through a small crocheted loop you can add at the crown. To make a loop, simply chain 5 to 6, slip stitch into the first chain to form a ring, and sew this ring securely to the very top of the head before or after attaching the horn.

Embellishment and Finishing Details

A small pair of rosy cheeks adds enormous charm to amigurumi faces. Cut a short length of pink embroidery floss or thin pink yarn and use a yarn needle to embroider two small circular patches of color onto the face, one on each side just below the eyes. Work several small satin stitches in a roughly circular shape, blending the stitches slightly at the edges.

For a more expressive face, you can add a tiny embroidered smile. Using a single strand of black embroidery floss or dark yarn, work a very small upward curve just below the safety eyes.

If you want your unicorn to sparkle, look for yarn with a subtle metallic sheen for the body or horn. There are many beautiful iridescent and pearlescent yarns on the market that work perfectly for amigurumi unicorns without being overly stiff or difficult to work with.

Tips for Beginners

If you are new to amigurumi, a few things will make this project much smoother. The magic ring can feel tricky at first, but it becomes second nature with practice. If it frustrates you, you can start each piece by chaining 2 and working your initial stitches into the second chain from the hook instead — just pull the tail gently to close any gap at the center.

Keeping a tight, even gauge is the most important skill in amigurumi. If your stitches are too loose, the stuffing will show through and the finished piece will look uneven. Go down a hook size or two from what the yarn label recommends.

Count your stitches at the end of every round. Amigurumi patterns rely on precise stitch counts, and catching an error early is far easier than discovering it rounds later.

The invisible decrease creates a much neater finish than a standard decrease and is well worth learning for this type of project.

PDF Download

The full written pattern, including all rounds, stitch counts, a materials list, and an assembly diagram, is available as a printable PDF download. Having a printed version at your craft table means you can tick off each round as you go, make notes in the margins, and return to the pattern easily without needing a screen nearby. The PDF is formatted to print cleanly on a single sheet, making it easy to store in your pattern binder or craft folder. You will find the download link below this post.

Make It Your Own

One of the greatest joys of amigurumi is the endless scope for customization. Once you have made the basic unicorn keychain a few times, try changing the color of the body for different seasonal versions — pale orange and brown for autumn, icy blue and white for winter, soft green and yellow for spring. Swap the rainbow mane for an all-silver or all-gold mane for a more elegant, grown-up version. Add a tiny crocheted bow behind one ear. Make a matching set in different sizes by adjusting your yarn weight and hook size.

This pattern also scales beautifully into a larger plush toy. Work it in bulky yarn with a 5.0 mm or 6.0 mm hook and you will have a charming desk companion or soft toy rather than a keychain. The construction and stitch sequence are exactly the same — only the scale changes.

Whether you are making this unicorn for yourself, as a gift, to sell at a market, or just because you need something joyful and colorful to work on this weekend, this amigurumi unicorn keychain pattern has everything you need for a project that is genuinely fun from first stitch to last. Clip on the keychain ring, shake out that rainbow mane, and let a little magic hang from your bag.