Mini Crochet Bag Charm Pattern | Keychain Coin Purse (PDF Download)
If you’ve been looking for a fun, quick, and absolutely adorable crochet project, you’ve landed in the right place. This mini crochet bag charm pattern is exactly the kind of project that hooks you in — no pun intended — and before you know it, you’re making one in every color for every friend you have. Whether you want a charming little accessory to hang from your handbag, a keychain coin purse that actually holds a few cards or coins, or a thoughtful handmade gift that looks far more impressive than the time it takes to make, this pattern has you covered.
In this post, we’re walking through everything you need to know: materials, techniques, step-by-step instructions, sizing tips, and a few creative variations to make the pattern your own. A PDF download version of this pattern is available so you can print it out, save it to your device, and work from it anywhere — at home on the couch, on your lunch break, or wherever your crochet adventures take you.
What Is a Mini Crochet Bag Charm?
A mini crochet bag charm is exactly what it sounds like — a tiny, miniature version of a crocheted bag, usually no larger than a few inches, designed to hang decoratively from a zipper pull, a handbag handle, or a set of keys. Some versions are purely decorative, while others, like this keychain coin purse design, are functional enough to hold a couple of coins, a folded bill, a single AirPod, a ring, or any tiny treasure you want to keep close.
The trend of bag charms has exploded in the fashion world, with luxury brands selling oversized charm accessories for hundreds of dollars. The handmade crochet version brings that same playful, personalized energy for a fraction of the cost — and with the added satisfaction of having made it yourself. These little pieces have become staples in the handmade accessory community because they’re beginner-friendly enough for new crocheters, fast enough to finish in an evening, and versatile enough to be customized endlessly.
Why You’ll Love This Pattern
There are a few things that set this particular mini bag charm pattern apart from others you might find online.
First, it’s genuinely fast. Most crocheters complete the basic version of this charm in under two hours. If you’re an experienced crocheter, you might finish in forty-five minutes or less. That makes it a perfect project for using up small amounts of leftover yarn or for crafting sessions where you only have a short window of time.
Second, the construction is simple and satisfying. The pattern uses basic stitches — primarily single crochet and slip stitch — arranged in a way that creates a surprisingly polished, dimensional little bag. There’s no complicated shaping or confusing stitch counting that requires you to stop and restart.
Third, it’s incredibly giftable. A set of these made in different colors or styled with different mini accessories like tiny tassels, pearl beads, or chain handles makes a gift that feels genuinely luxurious and considered. People who receive handmade bag charms tend to treasure them in a way that store-bought accessories simply don’t inspire.
Finally, it’s customizable. Once you understand the basic structure, you can adapt it endlessly — change the color, add a flap closure, stitch on initials, add a wrist strap, or scale it up slightly to hold larger items like a lip balm or earbuds case.
Materials You’ll Need
Before diving into the pattern itself, let’s talk about what you’ll need to gather. One of the great things about this project is that it requires very little — which means even a new crocheter can get started without a large investment.
Yarn: For a mini charm that holds its shape nicely and has a clean, structured look, cotton yarn works beautifully. A fingering weight or sport weight cotton gives you a firm fabric that doesn’t stretch out over time. You only need a small amount — a few yards — so this is an excellent stash-buster project. That said, acrylic yarn in a similar weight works perfectly well if that’s what you have on hand.
Hook: Match your hook size to your yarn. For fingering weight cotton, a 2.0mm to 2.5mm hook is typical. For sport weight, try a 2.75mm to 3.25mm hook. Going down a hook size from what’s recommended on the yarn label will give you a tighter, denser fabric — which is exactly what you want for a structured little bag charm.
Hardware: You’ll need a keychain ring or lobster clasp to attach the charm to your bag or keys. These are available at any craft store or online in bulk at very low cost. If you want to add a chain handle to make the bag look more realistic, a small piece of gold or silver chain with a jump ring works wonderfully.
Notions: A yarn needle for weaving in ends, scissors, and optionally a small amount of stiff interfacing or a piece of cardboard cut to size if you want the base of the bag to be extra structured.
Optional embellishments: Tiny stitch markers, a small button or snap for the closure, seed beads, or embroidery floss for adding decorative stitching or a monogram.
Understanding the Pattern Structure
This mini bag is worked in the round from the bottom up. The base is a small oval or rectangle (depending on your preferred bag shape), the sides are worked straight up from the base, and the top edge is finished with a decorative stitch or a simple slip stitch border. A small chain or hardware loop is attached at the top center to connect to your keychain ring.
The beauty of working in rounds is that you don’t have to worry about seaming the sides of the bag together — it naturally forms a tube that becomes the body of the charm.
Step-by-Step Crochet Instructions
Finished size: Approximately 2.5 inches (6.5 cm) tall and 2 inches (5 cm) wide, not including the keychain hardware.
Gauge: Exact gauge is not critical for this project, but working tightly is important. Aim for approximately 24 stitches and 28 rows per 4 inches in single crochet using your chosen yarn and hook.
Part One: The Base
Start by making a foundation chain. Chain 9.
Round 1: Starting in the second chain from the hook, single crochet in each of the next 7 chains (7 stitches). Work 3 single crochets in the last chain to turn the corner. Now continue along the opposite side of the foundation chain, single crocheting in the next 6 chains. Work 2 single crochets in the final chain. Join with a slip stitch to the first single crochet. You now have an oval base with 18 stitches.
Round 2: Chain 1 (does not count as a stitch). Single crochet in each stitch around, working 2 single crochets in each of the 3 corner stitches on each end. Join with a slip stitch. You should have approximately 24 stitches.
Round 3: Single crochet around, increasing only at the two outer corners (not at the straight sides). This shapes your base into a rounded rectangle. Join with a slip stitch. Approximately 28 stitches.
Part Two: The Sides
Now you’ll work straight up without increasing to create the walls of the bag.
Rounds 4 through 12: Work single crochet in the back loop only for Round 4. This creates a clean visual fold line between the base and the sides. From Round 5 onward, work both loops as usual. Single crochet in each stitch around, joining at the end of each round without turning. Work until the sides measure approximately 1.5 to 2 inches tall.
This portion is wonderfully meditative — just steady single crochet around and around. It’s a great section to work on while watching a show or listening to a podcast.
Part Three: The Top Edge
Once your sides have reached the desired height, you have a few options for finishing the top edge.
For a simple clean finish: Work one round of slip stitch around the top edge. Fasten off and weave in ends.
For a scalloped decorative edge: Work a shell stitch border by repeating the following sequence: skip one stitch, work 5 double crochets in the next stitch, skip one stitch, slip stitch in the next stitch. Repeat around. This adds a lovely, lacy finish.
For a flap closure: Single crochet across the back half of the top edge for approximately 8 to 10 rows, decreasing one stitch at each end every other row to create a slight taper. Fasten off. Attach a small button to the front of the bag and create a chain loop on the edge of the flap as a button loop. This turns your charm into a fully functional tiny coin purse.
Part Four: Attaching the Hardware
Once your bag body is complete, cut a piece of yarn approximately 8 inches long. Thread it onto your yarn needle and weave it through several stitches at the center top of the bag, drawing both ends together through a keychain ring or jump ring. Tie securely with several knots, pulling tight, then weave in the ends through the inside of the bag so they’re invisible from the outside.
If you’re adding a mini chain handle, attach one end of the chain to a jump ring on each side of the top edge of the bag. Adjust the chain length to your preference — a shorter chain of about 2 inches gives a structured, boxy bag look, while a longer chain of 4 to 5 inches creates more of a crossbody silhouette.
Color and Customization Ideas
One of the most enjoyable parts of this pattern is exploring the design possibilities. Here are some favorite ways to personalize your mini bag charm.
Classic neutrals with hardware accents: Work the bag in cream or beige cotton and attach gold-tone hardware. Add a tiny tassel in a matching or contrasting color at the base. This look mimics luxury designer aesthetics in a charming, miniature way.
Bold and colorblocked: Use two colors — one for the base and one for the sides — for a color-blocked effect. Switch yarns cleanly at the fold line between base and sides for a sharp, graphic look.
Striped sides: Alternate colors every two rounds as you work up the sides of the bag. Even a simple two-color stripe in a classic combination like navy and white, or camel and cream, looks surprisingly sophisticated at this small scale.
Personalized monogram: Using a single strand of embroidery floss and a sharp needle, stitch your initial (or a friend’s initial) onto the front face of the bag after the crochet is complete. Keep the letter simple — a single capital letter in backstitch is elegant and easy.
Textured stitch variations: If you want a more textured look, swap the single crochet on the sides for a moss stitch (alternating single crochet and chain-1, offset each round) or a simple linen stitch for added visual interest.
Tips for Getting the Best Results
Working small can feel fiddly at first, especially if you’re used to larger projects. Here are a few tips to make the process smoother.
Work tightly. At a small scale, loose stitches make the fabric look sloppy and can cause the structure to collapse. Don’t be afraid to go down a hook size.
Count your stitches at the end of each round during the base construction. Losing a stitch during the increases is the most common source of frustration on this project, and it’s much easier to catch and fix early.
Use stitch markers to track your rounds and to mark the beginning of each round. At such a small stitch count, it’s easy to lose your place.
Block lightly if using cotton. A quick spritz with water and a few minutes of shaping while damp can make a significant difference in how clean and professional the finished charm looks.
Weave in ends securely. Because this piece will be handled frequently — clipped to a bag or keys — ends that aren’t well secured will work their way out over time.
About the PDF Download
The PDF download version of this pattern includes the full written instructions as described above, a materials list, a stitch diagram for the base construction, notes on customization, and a quick-reference abbreviation guide. It’s formatted for easy reading both on screen and when printed, with a clean, uncluttered layout. Print it once and keep it in your project bag, or save it to your phone or tablet for portable crafting.
The PDF is available for personal use only — please do not distribute it or sell copies of the file itself. However, you are absolutely welcome to sell finished items made from this pattern. If you share your finished charms on social media, using a relevant hashtag is a wonderful way to connect with other makers who are working from the same pattern.
Making a Set as Gifts
If you’re thinking about making a set of these as gifts — for a birthday, a holiday basket, a bridesmaid gift, or just because — a few practical notes will help the process go smoothly.
Batch your base rounds. Make all your bases at once before moving on to the sides. This keeps your tension consistent across the set and makes the whole batch feel more cohesive.
Choose a color palette in advance. A set of three charms in coordinating colors — say, dusty pink, warm white, and soft sage — looks intentional and lovely presented together in a small box or tied with ribbon.
Consider the recipient’s style. A minimalist might love a clean neutral with a simple gold ring and no embellishment. Someone who loves maximalism might prefer bold colors, a tassel, and a beaded chain. The customizability of this pattern makes it genuinely easy to tailor each charm to the person receiving it.
Final Thoughts
There’s something uniquely satisfying about finishing a project that is both beautiful and functional at a miniature scale. The mini crochet bag charm manages to feel impressive and considered while remaining genuinely accessible — a rare combination in any craft. Whether you’re picking up a crochet hook for only the second or third time, or you’re a seasoned maker looking for a fast and rewarding project, this mini bag charm pattern delivers.
Download the PDF, gather a few yards of your favorite cotton yarn, and give yourself an evening to make something entirely charming. You’ll likely end up making several — and wondering why you didn’t start sooner.
