As Christmas quietly tiptoes closer, I found myself holding a tiny ball of brown yarn and smiling. There’s something magical about creating small handmade gifts — ones that fit in your palm yet hold so much warmth. That’s how the Little Reindeer Keychain was born — a cheerful companion that jingles softly beside your keys and carries a bit of holiday joy wherever you go.
Whether you’re making it for a loved one or keeping it as your own little lucky charm, this free crochet keychain pattern will bring you cozy, heartwarming hours of stitching.
About the pattern
This crochet keychain pattern is beginner-friendly, quick to finish, and perfect as a mini handmade gift or a Christmas ornament for your bag, keys, or tree.
Difficulty: Beginner
Finished size: Approx. 7 cm tall (with hat)
Estimated time: Around 4–5 hours
Materials
You’ll need:
- Yarn: Brown, beige, white, red, and a bit of dark brown for the antlers (I used soft cotton yarn)
- Hook: 2.3mm crochet hook
- Stuffing: Polyester fiberfill
- Accessories: Keychain ring, yarn needle, stitch marker
- Optional: Black embroidery thread for the smile
This tiny amigurumi keychain works beautifully with soft cotton yarn — giving your reindeer a gentle, smooth finish that’s perfect for gifting or Christmas craft fairs.
[Copyright Notice] This pattern was written, designed, and copyright held by, Lennutas. You are not permitted to copy, share, edit, upload or redistribute this pattern in any way, this includes making video tutorials or translating into other languages. Personal use only.
Free Crochet Keychain Pattern
Here are the abbreviations and stitch terminology used in this pattern:
- MR: Magic ring/ Magic circle
- Ch: Chain stitch
- Sc: Single crochet stitch
- Inc: Single crochet increase stitch
- Dec: Single crochet decrease stitch
- […] * X: Repeat instructions X times
- (…): Number of stitches of each round
- {…}: Work instructions within brackets into the same stitch
If you’re interested in learning more about crochet and amigurumi, check out my post about basic stitches for beginners. This post provides a step-by-step guide to the most common crochet stitches, including chain stitches, single crochet stitches, and half double crochet stitches.
This crochet keychain pattern is designed to bring you joy from the very first stitch. It’s small enough to finish in one cozy afternoon — perhaps with a cup of tea, a candle flickering nearby, and Christmas music softly playing in the background.
HEAD
Use brown yarn
- 1: 6 sc into MR (6)
- 2: 6 inc (12)
- 3: [inc, sc] * 6 (18)
- 4: [inc, 2 sc] * 6 (24)
- 5: [inc, 3 sc] * 6 (30)
- 6: [inc, 4 sc] * 6 (36)
- 7: [inc, 5 sc] * 6 (42)
- 8-11 (4 rounds): 42 sc (42)
- 12: [dec, 12 sc] * 3 (39)
- 13-14 (2 rounds): 39 sc (39)
- 15: 6 sc, [dec, 11 sc] * 2, dec, 5 sc (36)
- 16-17 (2 rounds): 36 sc (36)
- 18: [dec, 10 sc] * 3 (33)
- 19: 33 sc (33)
- 20: 5 sc, [dec, 9 sc] * 2, dec, 4 sc (30)
- 21: 30 sc (30)
- 22: [dec, 3 sc] * 6 (24)
Start stuffing
- 23: [dec, 2 sc] *6 (18)
- 24: [dec, sc] * 6 (12)
End stuffing
- 25: 6 dec (6)
Fasten off, weave in ends.
EARS (x2)
Use brown yarn
- 1: 4 sc into MR (4)
- 2: [inc, sc] * 2 (6)
- 3: [inc, sc] * 3 (9)
- 4: [inc, 2 sc] * 3 (12)
- 5-8 (4 rounds): 12 sc (12)
- 9: 6 dec (6)
Fasten off, leave a long tail for sewing. Do not stuff.
HORNS (x2)
Use dark brown yarn
Part 1
- 1: 6 sc into MR (6)
- 2: [inc, sc] * 3 (9)
- 3: 9 sc (9)
- 4: [dec, sc] * 3 (6)
Fasten off.
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Part 2
- 1: 6 sc into MR (6)
- 2: 6 inc (12)
- 3: 12 sc (12)
- 4: [dec, 2 sc] * 3 (9)
- 5: 9 sc (9)
- 6: [dec, sc] * 3 (6)
Join to part 1, stuff as you go
- 7: 6 sc (part 1), 6 sc (part 2) (12)
- 8: [dec, 2 sc] * 3 (9)
- 9: [dec, sc] * 3 (6)
Fasten off, leave a long tail for sewing.
SNOUT
Use white yarn
- 1: 6 sc into MR (6)
- 2: 6 inc (12)
- 3: [inc, sc] * 6 (18)
- 4: [inc, 2 sc] * 6 (24)
- 5: [inc, 3 sc] * 6 (30)
- 6: [inc, 4 sc] * 6 (36)
- 7: [[inc, 2 sc] * 3, 9 sc] * 2 (42)
- 8: 4 sc, inc, 20 sc, inc, 16 sc (44)
- 9: 44 sc (44)
Fasten off, leave a long tail for sewing.
NOSE
Use red yarn
- 1: 6 sc into MR (6)
- 2: 6 inc (12)
- 3: 12 sc (12)
Fasten off, leave a long tail for sewing.
SANTA HAT
Start with white yarn
- 1: 6 sc into MR (6)
- 2: 6 inc (12)
- 3: [inc, 3 sc] * 3 (15)
- 4-5 (2 rounds): 15 sc (15)
- 6: [dec, 3 sc] * 3 (12)
Stuff firmly this part only
- 7: 6 dec (6)
Change to red yarn
- 8: 6 sc (6)
- 9: [inc, sc] * 3 (9)
- 10-11 (2 rounds): 9 sc (9)
- 12: [inc, 2 sc] * 3 (12)
- 13-14 (2 rounds): 12 sc (12)
- 15: [inc, 3 sc] * 3 (15)
- 16-18 (3 rounds): 15 sc (15)
- 19: [inc, 4 sc] * 3 (18)
- 20-28 (9 rounds): 18 sc (18)
- 29: [inc, 5 sc] * 3 (21)
- 30: [inc, 6 sc] * 3 (24)
- 31: [inc, 3 sc] * 6 (30)
- 32: [inc, 4 sc] * 6 (36)
- 33: 36 sc (36)
- 34: [inc, 5 sc] * 6 (42)
- 35-37 (3 rounds): 42 sc (42)
Change to white yarn
- 38: [inc, 6 sc] * 6 (48)
- 39-41 (3 rounds): 48 sc (48)
Fasten off, leave a long tail for sewing.
Fold the white part up side down.
ASSEMBLY
- Use the wrong side of the snout and sew to the head from round 1 to round 15.
- Use black yarn to embroider the eyes from round 15 to round 16.
- Sew the nose to the snout.
- Use black yarn to embroider the mouth on the snout.
- Sew the hat to top of the head.
- Sew the ears to the hat.
- Sew the horns to the hat.
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A Little Christmas Joy to Carry With You
If this Little Reindeer Keychain made you smile, you might also enjoy its little friends — the Chubby Christmas Collection, featuring a gnome, elephant, unicorn, and this reindeer — all chubby, cozy, and ready to brighten your handmade season.
🎄 Get the Full Chubby Christmas Collection (up to 40% off)
Each stitch in this crochet keychain pattern is a little story of warmth and love — and I can’t wait to see yours come to life.
It’s a delightful way to share the joy of handmade gifts and bring that peaceful Christmas feeling into your everyday life.
If you finish this tiny crochet reindeer keychain, please tag me @lennutas so I can celebrate your adorable creation too!
More Handmade Inspiration
- How to choose yarn for amigurumi
- Beginner’s guide to amigurumi stitches
- More free Christmas amigurumi patterns
