Crochet Pencil Keychain Pattern

Colorful crochet pencil keychains on a desk with yarn and a pencil pouch

If you have a few small balls of yarn left from other projects, this crochet pencil keychain is a simple way to put them to use. It is small, colorful, and easy to customize with your favorite main color.

The project is worked in rounds with simple crochet stitches. The project starts with a magic ring, then moves through the pencil shape, color changes, stuffing, and keychain hardware.

Once finished, the crochet pencil can be attached to your keys or a bag, or used as a small handmade gift.

For extra help, follow the full step-by-step video while you crochet:

Watch the video tutorial:

Why Make This Crochet Pencil Keychain?

This is a nice project when you want to make something small without starting a large crochet piece.

The main pencil section can be made in any color you like. You can also change the number of rounds if you want to adjust the length.

The pattern uses a small set of basic crochet techniques:

Magic ring
Chain
Single crochet
Slip stitch
Increase
Decrease
Simple color changes

Because the project grows one round at a time, it is also easy to follow along with the video as you work.

Materials for the Pencil Keychain

You will need:

5-ply cotton yarn
2.20 mm crochet hook
Stuffing
Keychain hardware

Yarn Colors

Use:

A starting color
Gray
A main color of your choice
Cream
Black

The main section is where you can have the most fun with color. Make one in your favorite color, or use whatever shade you already have in your yarn basket.

Crochet Pencil Keychain Abbreviations

This pattern uses US crochet terms.

ch – chain
sc – single crochet
inc – increase
dec – decrease
sl st – slip stitch
st / sts – stitch / stitches
MR – magic ring

Written Pattern

Start

Leave a long yarn tail, then make a magic ring.

Hands making a magic ring with pink yarn for a crochet pencil keychain

Round 1

Ch 1.
Work 6 sc into the magic ring.
Pull the ring closed.
Sl st into the first stitch.

6 sts

Round 2

Ch 1.
Work 2 sc in each stitch around.

12 sts

Round 3

Work:

1 inc in the next stitch.
1 sc in the next stitch.

Repeat this sequence around.

18 sts

Rounds 4–6

Work 18 sc in each round.

18 sts in each round

At the end of Round 6, change to gray yarn.

Hands changing from pink yarn to gray yarn in a crochet pencil keychain at the end of Round 6

Crochet Pencil Keychain Gray Section

Rounds 7–8

With gray yarn, work:

18 sc in each round

18 sts in each round

At the end of Round 8, change to your main color.

Crochet Pencil Keychain Main Color Section

Continue with your main color.

Work 18 sc in each round until you reach Round 17.

18 sts in each round

You can adjust the number of rounds here if you want to make the pencil shorter or longer.

At the end of Round 17, change to cream yarn.

Hands holding crochet pencil keychain pieces while showing the main color section and adjustable body length

Round 18

Work this round to:

14 sts total

See the video tutorial for the decrease placement in this round.

Round 19

Work:

14 sc around

14 sts

Round 20

Work the following sequence:

1 sc
dec

Continue this sequence until you have:

9 sts total

Skip the remaining stitch.

Round 21

Work:

9 sc around

9 sts

Add the stuffing before closing the round.

Finish the Crochet Pencil Keychain in Black

Change to black yarn.

Next Round

Work:

1 sc
dec

Continue this sequence around until you have:

6 sts total

Final Round

Work:

6 sc around

6 sts

Attach the Keychain Hardware

Attach the keychain hardware as shown in the video tutorial.

The crochet pencil keychain is now finished.

Finished colorful crochet pencil keychains with gold key rings on a craft desk — Finished crochet pencil keychains

Crochet Pencil Keychain Round Summary

Round	Instructions	Stitch Count
Round 1	6 sc in MR	6
Round 2	2 sc in each stitch	12
Round 3	inc, 1 sc	18
Rounds 4–6	18 sc each round	18
Rounds 7–8	18 sc in gray	18
Rounds 9–17	18 sc in main color	18
Round 18	Work to stated count	14
Round 19	14 sc	14
Round 20	1 sc, dec; skip remaining stitch	9
Round 21	9 sc	9
Black shaping round	1 sc, dec	6
Final round	6 sc	6

Beginner Tips for This Crochet Pencil Keychain

Count your stitches as you finish each round. This is especially helpful after the increase and decrease sections.

Keep the pattern nearby while you work, and use the video whenever a stitch placement is easier to understand visually. Round 18 is one place where the video is especially useful because the written source gives the final stitch count but does not specify the exact decrease placement.