How to Crochet a Sunflower Keychain: Easy DIY Tutorial & Pattern

ByLina Morgen

How to Crochet a Sunflower Keychain: A Cute and Easy DIY Tutorial

Are you looking for a quick, cheerful, and adorable project to brighten up your day? This crochet sunflower keychain is the perfect solution! Whether you want to add a pop of summer color to your keys, decorate your backpack, or create a handmade gift for a friend, this tiny sunflower is a total crowd-pleaser. Best of all, it is a great project for intermediate beginners who want to practice working with clusters and shaping.

In this detailed tutorial, we will walk you through creating every part of this sunflower, from the deep brown center to the bright yellow petals and the lush green leaf. Grab your crochet hook and let’s get started!

Materials & Abbreviations

To ensure your sunflower turns out looking professional and holds its shape, I recommend using high-quality cotton or cotton-blend yarns. This provides better stitch definition for those lovely petals.

What You’ll Need

  • Yarn: Cotton or cotton-blend yarn in the following colors:
    • Dark Yellow (for the petals)
    • Brown (for the flower center)
    • Green (for the base, leaf, and attachment loop)
  • Crochet Hook: 2.5 mm (approximately a B-1 hook)
  • Stuffing: Small amount of poly-fill or hollowfiber to give the flower some dimension.
  • Keychain Hardware: A standard split ring or lobster clasp.
  • Tools: A tapestry needle for sewing, scissors, and a stitch marker.

US Crochet Abbreviations

Please note that this pattern uses US terminology. If you are used to UK terms, please be sure to convert them before starting!

  • CH: Chain
  • SC: Single Crochet
  • HDC: Half Double Crochet
  • DC: Double Crochet
  • TR: Treble Crochet
  • DTR: Double Treble Crochet
  • SL ST: Slip Stitch
  • MR: Magic Ring (or Magic Circle)
  • Inc: Increase (2 stitches in the same stitch)
  • Dec: Decrease (joining two stitches together)
  • BLO: Back Loop Only
  • FLO: Front Loop Only

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: The Brown Flower Center

We begin with the center of the sunflower. This part will be worked in a continuous spiral.

Using Brown yarn, start with a Magic Ring (MR). Work the following rounds:

  • Round 1: 8 SC into the MR. (8 stitches)
  • Round 2: 8 Inc (2 SC in each stitch). (16 stitches)
  • Round 3: (1 SC, 1 Inc) repeat 8 times. (24 stitches)
  • Round 4: (3 SC, 1 Inc) repeat 6 times. (30 stitches)
  • Round 5: (6 SC, 1 Inc) repeat 4 times, then 2 SC. (34 stitches)
  • Round 6: 34 SC.
  • Round 7: 34 SC.

Fasten off the yarn, leaving a small tail for later assembly.

Step 2: The Sunny Yellow Petals

The petals are worked directly onto the Front Loops Only (FLO) of the brown center. You will be making 17 petals in total. Each petal is worked into two front loops of the center, making it look full and fluffy.

Join Dark Yellow yarn to the first front loop of the brown center. We will now create the first petal using a cluster/shell method.

Creating the First Petal

This petal uses a specific sequence to create height and texture:

  1. The Foundation: CH 4, then work 2 DC into the same loop. You should have 3 loops on your hook.
  2. The First Rise: Through the 1st front loop of the center, work through all 3 loops on your hook. You now have 4 loops on your hook.
  3. Shaping: Work 2 stitches together (Dec), then work 2 stitches together again (Dec). You should have 2 loops left on your hook.
  4. The Peak: Work 2 DC into that same loop. You now have 4 loops on your hook.
  5. Second Rise: Through the same first front loop, work through all 4 loops on your hook. You now have 5 loops on your hook.
  6. Closing the Cluster: Work 2 stitches together (Dec), then work 2 stitches together again (Dec). You should have 3 loops left on your hook.
  7. Second Loop: Move to the 2nd front loop of the center. Work 2 DC into it. You now have 5 loops on your hook.
  8. The Final Shape: Work through all 5 loops, then work 2 stitches together (Dec), then work 2 stitches together again (Dec). You should have 2 loops left on your hook.
  9. Finishing the Petal: Work 4 stitches together (a massive Dec) to bring it down to 2 loops. Work 2 stitches together (Dec) until only 1 loop remains.
  10. End of Petal: CH 4 and SL ST into the same loop to secure the petal.

Repeat this process: Continue working your petals into the remaining front loops. Since there are 34 front loops and each petal uses 2 loops, you will end up with exactly 17 beautiful, fluffy petals.

Step 3: The Green Flower Base (Sepals)

The green base gives the sunflower its sturdy, realistic look. Use Green yarn.

  • Round 1: MR, 8 SC.
  • Round 2: 8 Inc. (16 stitches)
  • Round 3: (1 SC, 1 Inc) repeat 8 times. (24 stitches)
  • Round 4: (3 SC, 1 Inc) repeat 6 times. (30 stitches)
  • Round 5: (6 SC, 1 Inc) repeat 4 times, then 2 SC. (34 stitches)
  • Round 6: 34 SC.

Now, we will add the little green “teeth” or sepals around the edge. This is done by working into the stitches around the edge:

To create a sepal: SL ST into the next stitch, CH 5. In the 2nd chain from the hook, work: SC, HDC, HDC, HDC. Then, SL ST back into the same base stitch. Repeat this around the entire edge until you have 17 little green points.

Step 4: The Leaf and Attachment Loop

The leaf adds a lovely touch of detail. Use Green yarn.

The Leaf

  1. CH 15.
  2. Side 1: Starting from the 2nd chain from the hook: 1 SC, 1 HDC, 1 DC, 2 TR, 4 DTR, 2 TR, 1 DC, 1 HDC, 1 SC. At the very end, work 3 SC into the last chain.
  3. Side 2: Work the stitches in the exact mirror image of Side 1.
  4. Joining: Make two identical leaves. On the first leaf, fasten off. On the second leaf, do not fasten off; instead, use the remaining yarn to sew the two leaves together along one edge, creating a 3D effect.

The Attachment Loop

To attach the keychain, crochet a small green loop. CH 6, then SL ST into the first chain to create a tiny ring. Leave a long tail for sewing.

Finishing

Assembling Your Sunflower

Now comes the fun part—putting it all together!

  1. Stuffing: Take your brown center and your yellow petals. Before you finish closing the petals, lightly stuff the center with your poly-fill. This will make the sunflower look plump and professional.
  2. Joining: Use your green yarn to join the brown/yellow flower to the green base. You can do this by working 34 SC around the edge, joining the flower and the base together. Ensure the “pretty” side of your stitches faces outward toward the petals.
  3. Adding Details: Sew your completed leaf onto the green base.
  4. Attachment: Sew the small green attachment loop to the top of the green base. Finally, attach your metal keychain ring to the loop.

Tips

  • Tension is Key: When working the petals, keep your tension consistent. If you pull too tight, the petals might curl awkwardly; if it’s too loose, they might look limp.
  • Use a Stitch Marker: Since you are working in rounds, it is very easy to lose your place. Always use a marker to identify the start of your round.
  • Customization: Don’t feel limited to yellow! Try making a “Sunset Sunflower” with orange petals, or a “Lavender Flower” with purple. This pattern works with almost any color scheme.
  • Size Matters: If you want a larger keychain, simply use a thicker yarn (like Worsted weight) and a larger hook.

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