Rainbow Crochet Keychain Pattern: Your New Favorite Easy Amigurumi Project

There is something undeniably magical about a tiny rainbow dangling from your keys or peeking out of a bag. It catches the light, puts a smile on your face, and reminds you that color and joy can show up in the smallest places. If you have been looking for the perfect beginner crochet project that doubles as a charming handmade gift, you have found it. This rainbow cloud bag charm crochet pattern is everything you want in a quick make — it is small, satisfying, endlessly giftable, and genuinely easy enough for someone who picked up a crochet hook for the first time last week.

This post walks you through everything you need to know: the supplies, the stitches, the full written pattern, tips for finishing and attaching your keyring, and ideas for customizing your rainbow cloud to make it completely your own. Whether you are making one for yourself or a batch of ten as party favors or stocking stuffers, this little amigurumi keychain is going to become one of your most-loved patterns.

Why Rainbow Keychains Make the Best Handmade Gifts

Before we get into the pattern itself, let’s talk about why this particular project has become such a favorite in the crochet gifting world.

First, the size is perfect. A finished rainbow cloud keychain measures roughly 3 to 4 inches wide, which means it is substantial enough to feel like a real gift but small enough to make in an evening. You are not committing to weeks of work when you decide to make a batch of these for friends. A single rainbow can realistically take anywhere from 45 minutes to about two hours depending on your speed, and that time drops significantly once you have made your first one and gotten into a rhythm.

Second, the material cost is incredibly low. You are working with very small amounts of yarn — we are talking scraps and leftovers — so this is a wonderful stash-busting project. If you already have white yarn for the cloud and a few colors for the rainbow stripes, your cost per keychain could be practically nothing. This makes it ideal for crafters who want to give meaningful handmade presents without spending a lot of money.

Third, the wow factor is genuinely high for the effort involved. People see a tiny crocheted rainbow cloud keychain and immediately assume it took tremendous skill. The three-dimensional shape, the cheerful colors, the little cloud puffs — it all reads as intricate even though the construction is straightforward once you understand the steps. That combination of impressive result and manageable process is exactly what makes this pattern so satisfying to give and to make.

Finally, rainbow imagery translates across age groups, backgrounds, and personalities in a way that very few motifs do. A rainbow says something universally hopeful and warm. It works as a gift for a child, a teenager, a coworker, a new mom, a grandmother, or anyone in between. It works as a pride symbol, a general feel-good charm, a teacher appreciation gift, or simply a burst of color for someone whose day could use brightening. That versatility is rare and worth celebrating.

What You Will Need

Getting your materials together before you start is always a good idea with a small project like this, because running out of a particular color mid-stripe is more disruptive than it sounds. Here is a full list of what you need.

Yarn: You will need a small amount of white or off-white yarn for the cloud body, and small amounts of at least six colors for the rainbow stripes. Traditional rainbow order is red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet, but you can absolutely use a different palette — pastels are particularly popular for this project. Any weight of yarn works as long as you match your hook size accordingly. Most people find that sport weight or DK weight gives a nice, firm fabric that holds its shape well and results in a keychain that does not feel too floppy.

Hook: Match your hook to your yarn weight. For DK weight, a 3.5mm or 4mm hook is typical. For sport weight, a 3.25mm or 3.5mm hook works well. Go down a hook size from what the yarn band recommends so that your stitches are tight and your stuffing does not show through gaps.

Stuffing: A small amount of polyfill stuffing is all you need. Because these keychains are small, you will be amazed by how little stuffing actually goes in — a single bag of polyfill will make dozens of these.

Keyring hardware: A standard split ring keyring in silver or gold, depending on your preference. You can find these in bulk at craft stores or online. About 25mm diameter is a comfortable size for most keychains.

Jump ring or lobster clasp (optional): Some makers prefer to attach a short length of chain and a lobster clasp between the crocheted piece and the keyring, which makes it easier to swap keychains between bags and keys. This is entirely optional.

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

Scissors.

Stitch marker: Helpful for marking the beginning of rounds, especially when you are working in continuous rounds as this pattern calls for.

Stitches and Abbreviations Used

This pattern uses standard US crochet terminology. Here are the abbreviations you will encounter.

MR — magic ring (also called a magic loop or adjustable ring)
ch — chain
sl st — slip stitch
sc — single crochet
inc — increase (two single crochets into the same stitch)
dec — invisible decrease (insert hook through the front loops of two consecutive stitches and complete as one single crochet)
BLO — back loop only
st — stitch
rnd — round

If you are not yet comfortable with the magic ring, you can substitute a starting chain: chain 2, then work your first round of single crochets into the second chain from the hook. The magic ring gives a neater, tighter center, but either method produces a lovely result.

The invisible decrease is strongly recommended over a standard decrease for this project because it keeps the surface of your work smooth and tidy, which matters especially on a small piece where every stitch is visible.

The Full Rainbow Cloud Keychain Pattern

This pattern is worked in multiple separate pieces that are joined at the end: the rainbow arch and the cloud body. You will make the rainbow first, then make the cloud, and finally assemble everything together.

Part One: The Rainbow Arch

You will work the rainbow as a flat, layered arch. Each color stripe is a separate semicircle worked in back loops only to create the ridged, striped appearance.

Using your first color (red or your chosen starting color), make a magic ring.

Round 1: Chain 1, work 6 single crochets into the magic ring, pull the ring closed. (6 sts)

Round 2: Work 2 single crochets into each stitch around. (12 sts)

Round 3: Working in BLO, single crochet in the first stitch, 2 single crochets in the next stitch; repeat from the beginning to end of round. (18 sts)

After round 3, slip stitch to join and fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.

Now fold this circle in half so that you have a semicircle shape. This is your first rainbow stripe. Set it aside and repeat the same process with your second color (orange), your third color (yellow), and so on through all six colors.

Once all six semicircles are made, you will stack them concentrically. The smallest stripe will sit on top and the largest will be on the bottom — but because you are making them all the same size with this simplified pattern, you are instead going to use the layering effect created by the BLO ridges to suggest the stripe separation. Place all six semicircles together with colors aligned and whipstitch them together around the straight edge using a matching or neutral thread to keep them unified as one arch piece.

Note for makers who want a more dimensional rainbow: you can work each subsequent stripe with one additional increase round so that each successive color is slightly larger, which makes the arch curve more naturally. Round the sizes up by 6 stitches per additional stripe (18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48 stitches for the six colors). This takes more time but produces a stunning result.

Part Two: The Cloud Body

The cloud is made in three connected bumps worked in continuous rounds.

First cloud bump:

Using white yarn and your hook, make a magic ring.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, 6 sc into the ring, pull closed. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: Sc 1, inc repeat around. (18 sts)
Rnds 4–5: Sc in each st around. (18 sts)

Begin stuffing lightly. You want the bump to be rounded but not overly firm.

Rnd 6: Sc 1, dec repeat around. (12 sts)
Rnd 7: Dec around. (6 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Do not close the opening entirely — you will use the opening to join the bumps.

Second cloud bump (make one):

Repeat the process above but do not fasten off after rnd 7. Instead, you are going to join the second bump directly to the first by slip stitching the open ends together as you close. Stuff the second bump before joining. Once joined, continue directly to the third bump by chaining 1 and beginning a new magic ring, or work the third bump separately and join the same way.

Third cloud bump:

Repeat as above, joining to the second bump in the same manner.

Once all three bumps are joined in a row, you will have a lumpy, cloud-shaped flat piece. Use your yarn needle and white yarn to reinforce the joins and smooth out any gaps between the bumps.

Cloud back panel:

To give the cloud a flat back (which makes assembly much easier), work a flat oval or rectangle in white yarn approximately the same width as your three joined bumps and whipstitch it to the back of the cloud. This also helps the keychain hang straight rather than rotating and showing the back side.

Alternatively, if you prefer a fully three-dimensional approach, make a second set of three bumps and join the two cloud faces together around the edges, stuffing as you go, before closing completely.

Part Three: Assembly

This is where everything comes together and becomes a keychain.

Lay your rainbow arch with the straight edge pointing downward. Position the cloud so that it sits along the bottom straight edge of the rainbow, centered. The rainbow should appear to emerge from behind the cloud on both sides, just like a real rainbow peeking through clouds.

Using white yarn and your yarn needle, sew the rainbow arch securely to the cloud. Take your time here — a few extra stitches make a significant difference in how well the finished piece holds up to daily use as a keychain.

Once the rainbow and cloud are joined, cut a length of white yarn approximately 6 inches long and fold it in half. Thread both ends through the yarn needle and push the needle through the top center of the cloud, going from front to back. Pull through until a small loop remains at the top. Thread your keyring hardware through this loop, then pull the yarn ends to snug the loop tightly against the ring. Tie the ends in a secure knot on the inside of the cloud and weave in all ends thoroughly.

If you are using a jump ring and lobster clasp setup, attach the jump ring to the loop of yarn before pulling tight, and then clip your keyring onto the lobster clasp. This allows for easy swapping.

Finishing Touches and Tips

Weaving in ends well is more important on a small project like this than it might seem. Because the piece gets handled constantly as a keychain, any loose ends will work their way free. Use your needle to weave each end in at least two different directions, pulling the yarn through several stitches and reversing direction once. A small dot of fabric glue on the final end adds extra security without being visible.

If your colors feel a bit muted and you want them to pop more vividly, a quick spray of water followed by gentle shaping and flat drying (blocking) can open up the stitches and make the colors look brighter. This is especially effective with plant-based yarns like cotton.

For a more polished look, consider adding tiny white French knot eyes and a small curved embroidered smile to the cloud face. This transforms it from a charm into a character and makes it even more appealing as a gift for children.

Customization Ideas

One of the best things about this pattern is how well it adapts to different styles and colorways.

Instead of a traditional rainbow, try a pastel palette — baby pink, lavender, mint, peach, powder blue, and soft yellow — for a dreamy aesthetic that photographs beautifully. A dark rainbow using jewel tones like burgundy, burnt orange, mustard, emerald, cobalt, and plum gives the same design a moodier, more sophisticated look.

You can also make the cloud in colors other than white. A grey cloud with a silver-toned rainbow feels storm-y and whimsical. A yellow cloud with warm rainbow tones suggests golden hour light. An all-white cloud with a white or cream rainbow arch creates a subtle, tonal cloud charm that works beautifully as a wedding favor or addition to a bridal shower gift.

For gifting, consider making several rainbow cloud keychains and packaging them in a small organza bag tied with ribbon. A set of three in different colorways — classic rainbow, pastel, and jewel tones — makes an especially lovely gift set that feels both thoughtful and polished.

Downloadable PDF Pattern

If you would like a printer-friendly version of this rainbow crochet keychain pattern, a downloadable PDF is available with the full written pattern, stitch counts at a glance, a suggested color chart, and additional tips for achieving a clean assembly. The PDF is formatted for easy reading at your craft table and includes a materials checklist so you can gather everything before you start. It makes a wonderful addition to your digital pattern library and is easy to share with crochet friends or a stitch-along group.

A Few Last Thoughts

This rainbow cloud bag charm crochet pattern is proof that the most joyful projects are often the simplest. There is real pleasure in picking up a handful of colorful yarn scraps, spending an evening with your hook, and ending up with something genuinely delightful that you can use every day or share with someone you care about. The amigurumi keychain format — small, three-dimensional, worked in the round — is one of the most beginner-friendly approaches in all of crochet, and once you have made your first rainbow cloud, you will wonder why you waited so long to try it.

Make one for your keys. Make one for your bag. Make a dozen for the holidays. However many you make, each one will carry that same little burst of color and warmth that a real rainbow brings — just small enough to hold in your hand and keep close whenever you need it.

Happy crocheting.