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Crochet Keychain

Pencil Crochet Keychain: Free Amigurumi Pattern Tutorial

Pencil crochet keychain handmade gift

Crafting a Cute Pencil Crochet Keychain

Note: This pattern uses US crochet terminology. UK/Commonwealth terms: sc = dc, hdc = htr, dc = tr, tr = dtr.

Making a handmade pencil crochet keychain is a quick, fun, and highly rewarding project. Whether you want to surprise a special teacher for Teacher’s Appreciation Day, create a back-to-school accessory for a student’s backpack, or simply crochet something cute and functional, this step-by-step tutorial is exactly what you need. Crocheting everyday objects in mini amigurumi form has become incredibly popular, and this pencil design is no exception. Its iconic colors – pink for the eraser, silver/grey for the metal band, yellow for the body, beige for the wood, and black for the pencil lead – make it instantly recognizable and absolutely charming.

In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the entire process of making a pencil crochet keychain from scratch. This includes a complete list of materials, stitch abbreviations, detailed round-by-round instructions, assembly advice, and styling tips. Even if you are a beginner, the simple stitches and clear structure will help you successfully complete this lovely accessory in less than an hour. Let’s gather our crochet hooks and get started!

Materials Needed

  • Yarn: Sport weight or DK weight cotton yarn in pink (eraser), light grey/silver (metal band), yellow (pencil body), cream/beige (wood), and dark grey/black (pencil lead).
  • Crochet Hook: 2.5 mm or 2.75 mm hook to ensure tight stitches so the fiberfill stuffing does not show through.
  • Safety Eyes: 6 mm round black plastic safety eyes (optional, if you want to give your pencil a cute face).
  • Stuffing: Premium polyester fiberfill to give the pencil its shape.
  • Tapestry Needle: For weaving in ends and embroidering details.
  • Keychain Attachment: A sturdy metal key ring with a short chain.
  • Stitch Markers & Scissors: Essential tools for tracking rounds and trimming yarn.

Abbreviations & Stitches

  • ch: Chain stitch
  • sl st: Slip stitch
  • sc: Single crochet
  • inc: Increase (2 single crochet stitches in the same stitch)
  • dec: Decrease (single crochet 2 stitches together using the invisible decrease method)
  • BLO: Back loop only
  • FLO: Front loop only
  • st(s): Stitch(es)
  • Rnd(s): Round(s)

Step-by-Step Crochet Pattern

This pencil is worked in continuous rounds from the top (eraser) down to the pencil tip. Remember to use a stitch marker to track the beginning of each round.

Part 1: The Pink Eraser

Using the pink yarn:

  1. Rnd 1: Start with a magic ring, work 6 sc into the ring. (6 sts)
  2. Rnd 2: Work [inc] in each stitch around. (12 sts)
  3. Rnd 3: Work [1 sc, inc] 6 times. (18 sts)
  4. Rnd 4-6: Work 1 sc in each stitch around. (18 sts)

Part 2: The Metal Band (Ferrule)

Change to light grey or silver yarn:

  1. Rnd 7: In BLO, work 1 sc in each stitch around. (18 sts)
  2. Rnd 8-9: Work 1 sc in each stitch around. (18 sts)

Part 3: The Yellow Pencil Body

Change to yellow yarn:

  1. Rnd 10: In BLO, work 1 sc in each stitch around. (18 sts)
  2. Rnd 11-20: Work 1 sc in each stitch around. (18 sts)

If you wish to add a cute face, insert the 6 mm safety eyes between Rounds 14 and 15, leaving about 3 stitches between them. Embroider a tiny smile between the eyes using black sewing thread. Begin stuffing the pencil firmly with fiberfill.

Part 4: The Sharpened Wood Section

Change to cream/beige yarn:

  1. Rnd 21: In BLO, work [4 sc, dec] 3 times. (15 sts)
  2. Rnd 22: Work 1 sc in each stitch around. (15 sts)
  3. Rnd 23: Work [3 sc, dec] 3 times. (12 sts)
  4. Rnd 24: Work 1 sc in each stitch around. (12 sts)

Continue stuffing the body of the pencil, ensuring it remains firm and straight.

Part 5: The Pencil Lead Tip

Change to dark grey or black yarn:

  1. Rnd 25: Work [2 sc, dec] 3 times. (9 sts)
  2. Rnd 26: Work [1 sc, dec] 3 times. (6 sts)
  3. Rnd 27: Work [dec] 3 times. (3 sts)

Cut the yarn, leaving a short tail. Use your tapestry needle to thread through the front loops of the remaining 3 stitches, pull tight to close the hole, and hide the yarn tail inside the pencil body.

Assembly, Detailing & Customization

Now that the body is finished, it is time to attach the keychain hardware. Securely sew the keychain ring to the very center of Round 1 of the pink eraser. Ensure the thread is pulled tight and knotted multiple times to withstand daily use. If you did not use plastic safety eyes, you can easily embroider sleeping eyes or star-shaped eyes using black yarn. You can also add rosy cheeks using pink yarn or a dab of actual blush makeup right below the eyes.

There are many ways to customize this pencil crochet keychain. You can adjust the height of the pencil by adding or removing rounds in the yellow section. You can also change the body color to green, red, or blue to represent colored pencils. Experimenting with different yarn types, such as fuzzy or metallic yarn for the grey band, can also give your keychain a unique texture.

Care & Maintenance Tips

Since keychains are often attached to bags, keys, or backpacks, they can accumulate dirt over time. To clean your crochet pencil, wash it gently by hand in lukewarm water with a mild soap. Do not wring or twist the amigurumi; instead, squeeze out excess moisture with a clean towel and lay it flat to dry completely. This keeps the shape intact and prevents the fiberfill from clumping.

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