How To Crochet a Mouse and Cheese Keychain Tutorial – Amigurumi

If you have been looking for a cute, quick, and satisfying amigurumi project to add to your collection, this mouse and cheese keychain tutorial is exactly what you need. These tiny crocheted charms are perfect for beginners who want to try amigurumi for the first time, and equally fun for experienced crocheters who want a fast weekend project. Whether you are making them as gifts, selling them at craft fairs, or simply treating yourself to something adorable dangling from your bag, this step-by-step guide will walk you through every single stitch.

By the end of this tutorial, you will have a teeny crocheted mouse sitting on a wedge of yellow cheese, all hooked together on a keychain ring so you can take your little creation everywhere you go.

What Is Amigurumi?

Before we dive in, let’s take a quick moment for anyone who is new to the craft. Amigurumi is the Japanese art of crocheting or knitting small stuffed animals and characters. The word itself combines the Japanese words for “knitted” and “stuffed doll.” The style originated in Japan in the 1950s and became a global craze in the 2000s, and it has never really slowed down since. Amigurumi pieces are typically crocheted in the round using a slightly smaller hook than you might normally use for the yarn weight, which creates a tighter fabric that keeps the stuffing from showing through.

Keychains are one of the most popular amigurumi formats because they work up quickly, use minimal materials, and make incredibly thoughtful handmade gifts. A mouse and cheese pairing is a classic combination that is instantly recognizable and universally charming.

Materials You Will Need

Gathering your supplies before you begin will make the whole process smoother. Here is everything you need for this project.

Yarn: You will need a small amount of light grey or lavender yarn for the mouse body, pink yarn for the ears and nose details, and yellow yarn for the cheese wedge. Any lightweight yarn works well here, though DK weight or sport weight will give you a nicely sized keychain charm. If you want a chunkier keychain, you can go up to worsted weight and adjust your hook size accordingly.

Crochet hook: A 2.5mm or 3mm hook is ideal if you are using DK or sport weight yarn. For worsted weight, a 3.5mm hook works well. Using a hook slightly smaller than the yarn label recommends creates that tight amigurumi fabric we want.

Safety eyes: Two 4mm or 6mm black safety eyes for the mouse. If you are making this for a small child, embroider the eyes with black thread instead for safety.

Polyfill stuffing: A small amount goes a long way. Both the mouse and the cheese wedge are tiny, so you will barely make a dent in a standard bag of polyfill.

Keychain ring: A standard split ring keychain in silver or gold, whichever you prefer. You can find these at any craft store or online in bulk packs.

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

Scissors: Sharp embroidery scissors work best for cutting yarn close to the work.

Stitch marker: To mark the beginning of each round in continuous rounds.

Optional: A small amount of pink or red embroidery thread or floss for stitching the nose and mouth if you prefer embroidered details over yarn.

Abbreviations and Stitches Used

This pattern uses standard US crochet terminology.

MR – Magic ring (also called magic loop or adjustable ring)

ch – Chain

sl st – Slip stitch

sc – Single crochet

inc – Increase (two single crochets in the same stitch)

dec – Invisible decrease (insert hook through front loops of the 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(s) – Stitch(es)

Gauge and Finished Size

Gauge is not critical for amigurumi, but as a general reference, the mouse body crocheted in sport weight yarn with a 2.5mm hook measures approximately 3 centimeters tall without the ears. The cheese wedge measures about 4 centimeters across the widest part. Together, the completed keychain charm measures roughly 6 to 7 centimeters from the top of the mouse ears to the bottom of the cheese wedge, not including the keychain ring.

Part One: Crocheting the Cheese Wedge

We will start with the cheese because it is the base of the piece and the slightly larger of the two components. The cheese wedge is worked flat in rows and then the sides are joined.

With yellow yarn:

Row 1: ch 10, sc in the second chain from the hook and in each chain across. (9 sc) Turn.

Row 2: ch 1, inc in the first st, sc across to the last st, inc in the last st. (11 sc) Turn.

Row 3: ch 1, inc in the first st, sc across to the last st, inc in the last st. (13 sc) Turn.

Row 4: ch 1, sc across. (13 sc) Turn.

Row 5: ch 1, sc across. (13 sc) Turn.

At this point you have a small rectangular-ish piece. Now we will shape the top of the wedge by working a row of decreases across one short edge to give it that classic triangular wedge look.

Fold the piece so that the two short edges meet. Sl st the two short edges together by inserting your hook through both layers and slip stitching across. This creates the two slanted sides of the wedge. Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing later if needed, but most of the joining will be done through the side seams.

Now, working along the top edge (the longest edge) of the wedge, join yarn and sc evenly across to close the top and give it a finished edge.

To add the cheese holes, use a tapestry needle and a short length of yellow yarn in a slightly deeper shade, or use the same yellow and simply make French knots or surface slip stitches in a circular pattern at a few random spots across the flat face of the wedge. Alternatively, you can crochet tiny flat circles using just two rounds of a magic ring with increases and sew them flat onto the surface for a raised three-dimensional cheese hole effect.

Lightly stuff the cheese wedge with polyfill before fully closing it up. You want just enough stuffing to give it a slightly puffy, rounded feel without distorting the wedge shape.

Part Two: Crocheting the Mouse Body

The mouse body is worked in continuous rounds. Place a stitch marker at the beginning of each round and move it up as you work.

With grey yarn:

Round 1: MR, 6 sc in the ring. (6 sts)

Round 2: inc in each st around. (12 sts)

Round 3: sc 1, inc repeat around. (18 sts)

Round 4: sc 2, inc repeat around. (24 sts)

Round 5: sc in each st around. (24 sts)

Round 6: sc in each st around. (24 sts)

Round 7: sc 2, dec repeat around. (18 sts)

Now insert the safety eyes between rounds 4 and 5, about 4 to 5 stitches apart from each other. If you are embroidering the eyes, do this after the piece is finished and stuffed.

Round 8: sc 1, dec repeat around. (12 sts)

Begin stuffing the mouse body with polyfill at this point. Get it nice and firm so the mouse holds its rounded shape.

Round 9: dec around. (6 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a short tail. Use the tapestry needle to close the remaining hole by running the yarn through the front loops of the remaining six stitches and pulling tight. Weave in the end.

Part Three: The Mouse Snout

The snout is a small oval that gives the mouse its distinctive little face.

With grey or light pink yarn:

Round 1: MR, 6 sc in the ring. (6 sts)

Round 2: sc 1, inc repeat around. (9 sts)

Sl st to join and fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Flatten the snout slightly and sew it onto the front of the mouse head between the eyes and toward the bottom half of the face. Once it is sewn on, use pink embroidery thread or a small piece of pink yarn to stitch a tiny V-shape or Y-shape for the nose and mouth at the center of the snout.

Part Four: The Mouse Ears

With grey yarn (make two):

Round 1: MR, 6 sc in the ring. (6 sts)

Round 2: inc in each st around. (12 sts)

Sl st to join and fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

For the inner ear detail, make a second, smaller circle:

With pink yarn (make two):

Round 1: MR, 6 sc in the ring. (6 sts)

Sl st to join and fasten off.

Sew the pink circle flat onto the center of the grey ear. Then pinch the bottom of the grey ear slightly (like a taco fold) to give it dimension, and sew both ears onto the top of the mouse head, positioning them symmetrically toward the back of the head.

Part Five: The Mouse Tail

Cut a length of grey yarn about 8 to 10 centimeters long. Fold it in half and use a crochet hook to pull the folded loop through the back bottom of the mouse body, then pull the loose ends through the loop and tighten to secure. You can leave the tail as is for a natural yarn look, or you can braid three strands together for a thicker tail with a little more texture. A tiny knot at the very tip of the tail adds a cute finishing touch.

If you want a slightly more polished tail, chain 8 to 10 with grey yarn, fasten off, and sew the chain directly onto the back of the mouse body.

Assembling the Keychain

Now comes the fun part: putting everything together.

Place the mouse body on top of the cheese wedge and decide on the positioning you like best. Most people find it charming to have the mouse sitting on the top flat surface of the wedge, as if it has just discovered its favorite snack.

Using a tapestry needle and matching grey yarn, sew the bottom of the mouse body firmly to the top of the cheese wedge. Take several passes through both pieces to make sure the mouse is secure and will not wobble.

To attach the keychain ring, cut a small piece of yarn and loop it through the top of the mouse head (between the ears is a natural spot) and through the keychain ring before tying it securely. Alternatively, you can use a small jump ring or lobster clasp for a more polished, jewelry-like finish. Some crocheters also insert a keychain loop before closing the top of the mouse head, which makes for the most seamless attachment.

Finishing Touches and Tips

Weave in all your ends carefully with the tapestry needle, burying them inside the stuffed pieces where possible so they do not show from the outside.

If any of your joins or sewn seams look a little rough, a tiny dab of fabric glue on the inside of the piece can help secure things without being visible.

Blocking is not typically necessary for amigurumi, but if your cheese wedge looks a bit uneven, you can lightly steam it (holding the iron above the piece without touching it) or dampen it slightly and reshape it before letting it dry.

For a bit of extra personality, you can add a tiny bow between the mouse ears using a small strip of ribbon or a few chains of contrasting yarn. A blush of pink on the mouse cheeks using a makeup blush brush and a tiny amount of pink chalk or blush powder is a popular amigurumi technique that gives faces an adorable rosy glow.

Customization Ideas

One of the best things about making your own amigurumi is that you can customize endlessly. Here are a few ideas to make this pattern your own.

Try making the mouse in different colors — a warm brown for a chocolate mouse, a deep grey for a shadow mouse, or even white with pink eyes for an albino variety. You can give the cheese different colors too; an orange cheddar, a white brie, or even a spotted blue cheese using navy yarn for the holes.

For a set of keychains, make a whole family of mice in slightly different sizes by adjusting your hook size or working fewer or more increase rounds. A mama mouse, papa mouse, and baby mouse perched on increasingly smaller wedges of cheese would make an incredibly sweet gift set.

You can also turn this pattern into other applications beyond a keychain. Omit the keychain ring and sew the piece onto a hair clip base for a whimsical barrette. Attach it to a safety pin for a brooch. Make several and string them together for a garland. Add a loop to the back and hang it as a Christmas ornament.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If your mouse body looks lumpy or uneven, the most likely culprit is inconsistent tension. Try to keep your tension even throughout, and remember that amigurumi tends to hide a multitude of small imperfections once it is stuffed.

If the safety eyes look crooked, it is easiest to position them carefully before the piece is completely closed and before you attach the backs. Thread a stitch marker or contrasting yarn through the spots you are considering so you can compare the placement before committing.

If the cheese wedge does not hold its shape well, try adding a little more stuffing than you think you need, as small pieces tend to flatten over time with use.

If the mouse keeps falling off to one side of the cheese rather than sitting upright, reinforce the connection with a few extra stitches and make sure you are sewing through both the outer yarn and into the stuffed interior of both pieces.

Sharing Your Work

Once you have finished your mouse and cheese keychain, share it with the world. Tag your photos on Instagram and Pinterest with amigurumi tags so other crocheters can find your work and be inspired. If you sell handmade goods on Etsy or at local craft markets, this keychain is a consistent bestseller because it appeals to all ages and makes a great impulse buy at a reasonable price point.

Making one of these takes most crocheters between one and three hours once they are familiar with the pattern, which makes it a perfect project to batch-produce for markets or to reach for when you want a quick, satisfying make between larger projects.

Final Thoughts

This mouse and cheese amigurumi keychain is one of those patterns that strikes the perfect balance between simple enough to finish in one sitting and detailed enough to feel genuinely impressive when it is done. The combination of the round little mouse body with its pink ears and wiggly tail perched on top of a plump yellow cheese wedge is the kind of thing that makes people smile the moment they see it.

Crochet has this wonderful quality of being both meditative and productive at the same time, and small projects like this one are a perfect reminder of why so many of us fell in love with the craft in the first place. You start with a little ball of yarn, work through a series of simple stitches, and end up with something that looks like it belongs in a toy store window.

Happy crocheting, and enjoy your adorable little mouse and cheese keychain!