About This Pattern
This little chicken fits in one evening, maybe two. It works up in rounds, yellow body, orange bits for detail. The bubble stitches on round ten give it small hands, which take a bit of care. It needs 5 ply yarn, a 3 mm hook, and a little stuffing. Attach it to a keychain, or leave it as a shelf companion. Small hands can finish it in one sitting.
In the basket
Abbreviations
- sc
- single crochet
Little crochet chicken keychain for beginners
Main Pattern
- Round 1Create a magic ring with the yellow yarn. Work 6 single crochets (sc) into the magic ring. Pull the tail of the magic ring to tighten and close the circle.(6)
- Round 2Increase in each stitch around (12 sc).(12)
- Round 3(1 sc, increase) repeat around (18 sc).First, make an increase to prevent a hexagon shape.(18)
- Round 4(Increase, 2 sc) repeat around (24 sc).(24)
- Rounds 5–91 sc in each stitch around. (24 sc in each round)Sew in safety eyes between Rounds 7 and 8, roughly five stitches apart.Create a beak with orange yarn by making a small chain or a few embroidery stitches between the eyes.Add optional blush with pink yarn.(24)
- Round 105 sc, then make one bubble stitch for the chicken's hand. 11 sc, then another bubble stitch for the second hand. 6 sc to finish the round.
- Rounds 11–121 sc in each stitch around. (24 sc in each round)(24)
- Round 13(start of decreases): (2 sc, decrease) repeat around (18 sc).(18)
- Round 14Start with a decrease, then do (1 sc, decrease) repeat around. Stuff the amigurumi firmly with your stuffing material.Close the opening by threading the yarn needle through all the front loops of the remaining stitches, then pull tight and secure with a knot.Attach the keychain with pliers by opening a link and inserting it through a stitch at the top of the amigurumi.Weave in all ends using a darning needle.
More pictures
Before the first stitch
- Check you have both yellow and orange yarn in 5 ply weight.
- Read round four before starting it, so the hexagon shaping makes sense.
- Have your stuffing ready before round five, so you can stuff as you close the piece.
Minutes per piece
- Rounds 1-4, shaping the base about 20 minutes, because the increases need careful counting
- Rounds 5-10 plus finishing about 2.5 hours, because the bubble stitch hands take patience
Other yarns that work
- Cotton, 5 ply or fingering weight Gives a crisper stitch definition. Keeps the piece small, good for a keychain size.
- Acrylic, worsted weight Makes a bigger chicken. Move up to a 4 mm hook, and use less stuffing per round.
Where it ends up
- Clip it to a backpack zipper, small and light enough to swing free.
- Set it on a desk beside a mug, a tiny bit of color.
- Give it as a small gift, paired with a handwritten note.
Small notes
- Use a 3 mm hook throughout, for a tight, even fabric that holds stuffing well.
- Count stitches after each increase round. Round three should land on eighteen, round four on twenty-four.
- Stuff a little at a time as you work rounds five through nine, so the shape stays even.
Little questions
Why does round four need extra care?
The increase pattern can pull the shape into a hexagon. Making the first increase early in the round helps it stay round instead.
Can I skip the bubble stitch hands?
Yes, you can leave round ten plain with single crochet. The chicken will still hold its shape, just without the small raised hands.
How much yarn do I actually need?
This pattern is small, so a partial skein of each color usually covers it. Keep both yellow and orange nearby before you start.
Do I need safety eyes, or can I skip them?
Safety eyes give a clean, finished look. Black yarn or felt work fine too, and are gentler for very young hands nearby.
Original pattern: https://crocheteverything.com/crochet-chicken-keychain-amigurumi-tutorial-for-beginner/
About the Author
Tamsin Okoro Who writes the patterns at Yarn Gallery, how a pattern gets from the hook to the page, and what this site will never do.
