Octopus Keychain Crochet Pattern by Jen Hayes: Your Complete Step-by-Step Guide
If you’ve ever scrolled through a craft fair or an Etsy shop and spotted the most irresistibly squishy little octopus dangling from someone’s bag, chances are you’ve already fallen in love with the idea of making one yourself. The Octopus Keychain crochet pattern by Jen Hayes is one of those designs that manages to be both beginner-friendly and completely charming — the kind of small project that takes just an afternoon but produces something people genuinely stop to admire. Whether you’re new to amigurumi or you’ve been crocheting for years, this pattern is worth adding to your queue.
In this guide, we’re going to walk through everything you need to know: the materials, the stitches, the construction process, tips for getting it just right, and ideas for customizing your finished octopus to make it uniquely yours. Let’s dive in.
Who Is Jen Hayes and Why Should You Trust This Pattern?
Jen Hayes is a well-known crochet content creator who has built a dedicated following across YouTube and social media by sharing clear, approachable crochet tutorials. Her teaching style is welcoming and easy to follow, which is a big part of why her patterns have become so popular with beginners and experienced crafters alike. The Octopus Keychain pattern is one of her most beloved designs — a quick, satisfying make that produces a result people absolutely adore.
What sets Jen Hayes patterns apart is her attention to proportion and personality. Her octopus isn’t just a blob with legs; it has a nicely rounded body, evenly spaced tentacles, and those iconic big safety eyes that give it an almost cartoon-like expression. The finished piece looks polished and professional even when made by someone who is relatively new to crochet.
Why Crochet an Octopus Keychain?
Before we get into the how, let’s talk about the why — because there are genuinely a lot of good reasons to make this little guy.
First, it’s a fast project. Unlike a full amigurumi stuffed animal that might take several days of work, a keychain octopus is small enough to complete in a single sitting. Most crafters finish the whole thing in two to four hours, which makes it enormously satisfying, especially if you’re someone who struggles to see large projects through to the end.
Second, it’s incredibly versatile as a gift. Handmade keychains are one of those rare gifts that feel personal and thoughtful without requiring weeks of preparation. They’re the right size to tuck into a card, pop in a little gift bag, or attach to a present as a finishing touch. Children love them, teenagers think they’re cute, and adults appreciate the handmade quality. An octopus keychain covers a lot of gifting ground.
Third, they’re great for using up yarn scraps. Since the project uses such a small amount of yarn, it’s a perfect stash-buster. That half-skein of cotton yarn in dusty rose that’s been sitting in your craft bin since last spring? Perfect for a tiny octopus.
Finally, they sell well. If you’re a crafter who sells at markets or online, small amigurumi keychains are consistent bestsellers. They’re impulse-buy-priced, eye-catching, and easy to display. Making a batch of octopus keychains in different colors is a great way to stock a market table or an online shop.
Materials You’ll Need
Getting your supplies together before you start is always a good idea, especially for a small project like this where swapping yarn mid-make can change the size and feel of the finished piece. Here’s what you’ll need:
Yarn: Jen Hayes recommends using a smooth worsted weight or DK weight yarn for this pattern. Cotton yarn works beautifully because it holds its shape well and gives the octopus a neat, structured look. Acrylic yarn also works and is available in a much wider range of colors. The body of the octopus uses very little yarn — we’re talking less than one full skein — so this is a great opportunity to use scraps or try a color you’ve been curious about.
Crochet Hook: For worsted weight yarn, a 3.5mm or 4mm hook is typically recommended. If you’re using DK weight yarn, lean toward 3.5mm. If you tend to crochet tightly, you might size up slightly. The goal is a tight enough tension that your stuffing won’t show through the stitches, but not so tight that the work becomes stiff and difficult.
Safety Eyes: The signature look of this octopus comes largely from its safety eyes. Jen Hayes typically uses 12mm black safety eyes for her version. If you’re making the keychain for a young child, you may want to embroider the eyes instead of using safety eyes, as the backs of safety eyes can potentially come loose over time. For adults and older children, safety eyes are perfectly fine and give the most appealing finished look.
Stuffing: Polyfill stuffing is the standard choice. You won’t need much — just enough to give the octopus body its round shape. Overstuffing can distort the shape, while understuffing leaves the body looking a little flat, so a moderate, even fill is what you’re aiming for.
Keychain Ring: A simple keychain ring or lobster clasp keychain is all you need. You can find these at craft stores in the jewelry-making section, or order them in bulk online. Some crafters prefer to crochet a small loop and attach the ring to that for added security.
Yarn Needle: You’ll need a blunt tapestry or yarn needle for weaving in ends and sewing pieces together.
Scissors: A small, sharp pair of scissors is helpful for cleanly snipping yarn ends.
Stitch Marker: This is optional but genuinely helpful for keeping track of where your rounds begin and end, especially if you’re newer to crocheting in the round.
Stitches and Skills Used in This Pattern
The Octopus Keychain pattern is built almost entirely from basic crochet stitches, which is one of the reasons it’s so accessible to beginners. Here’s what you’ll be working with:
Magic Ring (Magic Circle): This is the starting point for both the body and the tentacles. If you’re not familiar with the magic ring technique, it’s worth taking a few minutes to practice it before starting the pattern. A magic ring allows you to start crocheting in the round with a tight center — no hole in the middle of your work.
Single Crochet (sc): The workhorse stitch of amigurumi. The entire body and tentacles are worked in single crochet stitches.
Increases (inc): Two single crochets worked into the same stitch to increase the total stitch count and create a rounded shape.
Decreases (dec or sc2tog): Two stitches crocheted together to reduce stitch count. The invisible decrease (working through the front loops only) gives a cleaner finish and is often recommended for amigurumi.
Slip Stitch (sl st): Used at the end of rounds or to join pieces.
Chains (ch): You may use a short chain to create the attachment loop for the keychain ring.
If you’ve never worked in the round before, this pattern is actually a great way to learn. Amigurumi is worked in continuous rounds rather than joined rounds, meaning you simply keep spiraling upward without joining at the end of each round. It can feel a little disorienting at first, which is exactly where that stitch marker comes in — place it at the first stitch of each new round to keep yourself oriented.
Step-by-Step Construction Overview
While this guide isn’t a word-for-word replication of Jen Hayes’s exact pattern (she shares that in her own tutorials, which you can find on her YouTube channel and linked platforms), here is a detailed overview of how the octopus keychain is constructed so you understand the process from start to finish.
The Body: The octopus body is a small sphere, worked from the top down. You’ll start with a magic ring, work several increases in the first couple of rounds to widen the circle, then work even rounds (no increases or decreases) to build height, and finally work decrease rounds to close the bottom. Before you close it completely, you’ll insert the safety eyes and stuff the body. The eyes should be placed roughly in the center of the body, with a few stitches between them — exact placement is up to you and affects the overall expression of your octopus, so take a moment to try different positions before committing.
The Tentacles: This is where the octopus gets its personality. You’ll crochet a set of eight tentacles separately — or sometimes they’re worked as joined strips depending on the specific pattern version. Each tentacle is a small, elongated piece worked in single crochet. Some versions curl naturally; others are left straight. Jen Hayes’s version tends to have a lovely gentle curl to the tentacles, which gives the finished piece that animated, lifelike quality.
Assembly: Once you have your body and tentacles ready, it’s time to put everything together. The tentacles are sewn or attached to the underside of the body in an evenly spaced ring. Take your time with this step — evenly placed tentacles make a big difference in the finished look. Use your yarn needle and a length of yarn to sew each tentacle securely in place.
Attaching the Keychain Ring: The final step is adding your keychain hardware. Depending on the pattern version, you’ll either crochet a small loop at the top of the body before closing it up, or you’ll attach the ring by threading it through a stitch at the top. If you crochet a loop, make sure it’s tight and secure by reinforcing it with a few extra slip stitches or sewing through it multiple times.
Tips for the Best Results
Even the most straightforward patterns have their nuances, and a few practical tips can make a real difference in the quality of your finished octopus.
Work tightly. Amigurumi looks best with tight tension because it prevents the stuffing from showing through. If your stitches look loose or you can see gaps, try going down a hook size.
Place your eyes thoughtfully. The position of the safety eyes dramatically changes the personality of your octopus. Eyes placed farther apart look more surprised; eyes placed closer together look more focused. Eyes placed slightly lower on the face look rounder and cuter; eyes placed higher look more alert. Play around with placement before snapping the backs on, because once those safety eyes are locked in, they’re staying there.
Don’t overstuff. It’s tempting to pack the body as full as possible, but overstuffing creates a tight, stretched look and can distort the stitch definition. Aim for a body that’s firm but still has a little give when squeezed.
Weave in your ends carefully. A small project means there aren’t many ends to weave in, but do it carefully — particularly on the tentacles, where a loose end can unravel surprisingly quickly.
Use a stitch marker without fail. Even experienced crocheters can lose their place when working small rounds in amigurumi. A stitch marker at the beginning of each round saves a lot of counting and potential frogging.
Customization Ideas
One of the most enjoyable parts of a pattern like this is making it your own. Here are some ways to customize your octopus keychain:
Color: The most obvious customization is color. Classic choices include teal, coral, lavender, and deep purple — all very octopus-appropriate. But there’s no rule against making a hot pink octopus, a black and white one, or a gradient octopus using a self-striping yarn.
Variegated Yarn: Self-striping or variegated yarn produces a completely different look without any extra effort on your part. Ocean-themed variegated yarn is particularly fun for this project.
Embroidered Details: Some crafters add a small embroidered smile or rosy cheeks below the safety eyes using embroidery thread or a length of contrasting yarn. This gives the octopus even more personality and takes just a few minutes to add.
Size Variations: If you use a thicker yarn and a larger hook, you can make a bigger version of the octopus as a stuffed toy rather than a keychain. Scale down with thread weight yarn for a truly tiny version that could become a charm.
Color-Blocked Tentacles: Make each tentacle a different color for a rainbow effect, or alternate two colors for a bold striped look.
Seasonal Themes: A white octopus with red eyes becomes a spooky ghost for Halloween. Add a tiny Santa hat for Christmas. Dye the yarn (if using natural fiber) for a hand-dyed, artisan look.
How to Find Jen Hayes’s Pattern
Jen Hayes shares her patterns and tutorials primarily through her YouTube channel, where she offers video walkthroughs that are particularly helpful for visual learners. A quick search for “Jen Hayes octopus keychain crochet” will bring you directly to her content. She also shares patterns on platforms like Ravelry and through her own website and social media pages, where you may find additional variations and updates.
Watching her video tutorial alongside this written guide is highly recommended, especially if you’re relatively new to amigurumi. Seeing the stitches worked in real time makes a significant difference in understanding how the pieces come together.
Caring for Your Finished Octopus
If you’re making the octopus as a gift or selling it, knowing how to care for it is useful information to pass along. Cotton and acrylic yarn octopuses can generally be hand-washed in cool water and laid flat to dry. Avoid putting them in a dryer on high heat, as this can distort the shape, especially if you’ve used a yarn with any wool content. Safety eyes are waterproof, so washing isn’t a concern there. If the octopus gets a little flat after use, a gentle fluff and reshape while damp restores it nicely.
Final Thoughts
The Octopus Keychain crochet pattern by Jen Hayes is the kind of project that earns its place in a crafter’s regular rotation — quick enough to make on a whim, charming enough to give as a gift, and satisfying enough that you’ll almost certainly want to make more than one. Once you’ve made your first, you’ll start seeing color combinations everywhere and imagining the next one.
Whether you’re making it for yourself, for someone you love, or as part of a batch for a craft market, this little octopus is a genuine joy to create. Clear your afternoon, gather your scraps of yarn, and treat yourself to one of the most delightful small makes in the crochet world.
Happy crocheting.
