This chubby crochet cat keychain has a pink bow and a flower bouquet. It makes a sweet handmade gift. Expect Christmas cat crochet and holiday amigurumi gifts in December, then Valentine’s Day crochet keychains and New Year crochet ideas in January.
Meet the chubby crochet cat keychain with a white body and a soft blue belly. It has a pink bow and a bouquet of yellow flowers in its arms. This cute amigurumi cat keychain is a beginner-friendly project and a handmade gift for cat lovers. In December, people search for Christmas cat crochet gifts and holiday amigurumi ornaments. In January, Valentine crochet keychains and New Year crochet projects rise.
Chubby Crochet Cat Keychain Overview
Skill level: Beginner
Finished size: About 6 to 7 cm tall and wide (estimate)
Terminology: US
This little cat is a plump white ball with a soft blue belly, tiny ears, small arms and legs, a pink bow and a bouquet of three flowers. Depending on the look you want, you can make the bouquet big or small.
Because it is quick and cute, it also works well as a seasonal gift. For example, it fits Christmas cat crochet gifts in December and Valentine’s Day crochet keychains in January.
Materials and Tools for the Chubby Crochet Cat Keychain
- Yarn in white, blue, pink, green, yellow, orange and dark brown. The tutorial uses cotton, about 50 g in total, and the yarn weight is not given. Wool works as well, although it gives a softer, slightly fuzzier cat.
- 2.5 mm crochet hook
- Toy stuffing
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch marker
- Hot glue
- Keychain ring
- Blush and a small brush for the cheeks
Abbreviations and Special Stitches
MR = magic ring
ch = chain
sl st = slip stitch
sc = single crochet
hdc = half double crochet
dc = double crochet
inc = increase (2 sc in the same stitch)
dec = decrease (2 stitches worked together)
Special Stitches You Will Need
Magic ring: To begin, wrap the yarn around two fingers, pull a loop through with the hook and chain 1 to lock it. Then work your first round into the ring and pull the short tail to close it tightly.
Decrease: First, go through the outer loop of one stitch and then through the outer loop of the next. After that, yarn over, pull through both and finish like a single crochet.
Spiral rounds: Since the body is worked without joining, place the marker in the first stitch of each round and move it up every time. Also, count your stitches at the end of every round.
Changing colour: Finish the last stitch in the old colour and pull the new colour through the final loop. Next, crochet the following round over the old tail, and cut it once it is held in place.
Thin strands: For the bow, stems and flowers, split the yarn and hold 2 thin strands together.
Chubby Crochet Cat Keychain Pattern
Chubby Crochet Cat Keychain Body
Start with white yarn.
- R1: MR, 6 sc, pull tight, sl st into the first sc. (6)
- R2: inc in every stitch. (12)
- R3: 1 sc, inc, repeat 6 times. (18)
- R4: 1 sc, inc, 1 sc, repeat 6 times. (24)
- R5: 3 sc, inc, repeat 6 times. (30)
- R6: 1 sc in each stitch. (30)
- R7: 2 sc, inc, 2 sc, repeat 6 times. (36)
- R8 and R9: 1 sc in each stitch. (36)
- R10: 5 sc, inc, repeat 6 times. (42)
Now switch to blue and crochet over the white tail.
- R11 to R16: 1 sc in each stitch for 6 rounds. (42)
- R17: 5 sc, dec, repeat 6 times. (36)
- R18: 2 sc, dec, 2 sc, repeat 6 times. (30)
- R19: 3 sc, dec, repeat 6 times. (24)
- R20: 1 sc, dec, 1 sc, repeat 6 times. (18)
At this point, stuff the body firmly until it is round and plump.
- R21: 1 sc, dec, repeat 6 times. (12)
- R22: dec 6 times. (6)
Finally, cut the yarn, sew through the front loops of the last 6 stitches, pull tight and hide the end inside.
Ears, Arms, Legs and Tail for the Chubby Crochet Cat Keychain
Ears (make 2, white)
- R1: MR, 3 sc, pull tight. (3)
- R2: inc in each stitch. (6)
Afterwards, cut the yarn and leave a long tail for sewing.
Arms and legs (make 4, white)
Make 2 pieces for the arms and 2 for the legs. To begin, leave a long tail and make a slip knot. Then ch 4 and, starting in the 2nd chain from the hook, work 1 hdc, 1 hdc and 1 sc. (3) Finally, cut the yarn, leaving a second long tail, and turn the right side up.
Tail (white)
- R1: MR, 6 sc, pull tight. (6)
- R2: 1 sc in each stitch. (6)
After that, cut the yarn, leave a tail and turn the right side out.
Bow, Stems, Flowers and Bouquet for the Chubby Crochet Cat Keychain
Bow (pink, 2 thin strands)
Make an MR. Then ch 3, work 2 dc into the ring, ch 3 and sl st into the ring for the first loop. Next, repeat once for the second loop. Afterwards, pull the ring closed, tie the two tails together and trim.
Stems (green, 2 thin strands, make 3)
Make a slip knot and ch 11. Next, starting in the 2nd chain from the hook, sl st in each chain. (10) Then tie the tails together and trim.
Flowers (yellow and orange, 2 thin strands, make 3)
Make a slip knot and ch 6. Starting in the 2nd chain, work 1 sc, then inc, then 3 sc in each of the last 3 chains. (12 stitches) After tying the tails and trimming, roll the strip into a spiral and glue it closed.
Bouquet
First, glue each flower to a stem. Next, layer the three stems with the light yellow flower, the orange flower and the lighter flower on top, then tie them with white yarn. Use full strands for the big bouquet, or split strands if you prefer the small one.
Step-by-Step Guide to the Chubby Crochet Cat Keychain
First, make a magic ring in white and work the first rounds of the body, increasing each round so the circle stays flat.
Second, once R10 is done, pull the blue yarn through the last loop and crochet over the white tail to hold it.
Third, work 1 sc in each stitch with the blue yarn for 6 rounds, so the count stays at 42.
Fourth, check that the body is round with a white top and a blue lower half before you start the decreases, and then stuff it firmly.
Fifth, make the pink bow from 2 thin strands, pull the ring closed and then tie the tails together before trimming.
Sixth, glue the 3 flowers to the 3 green stems, and after that,t tie them together into a mini bouquet.
Seventh, sew the ears on top and glue the bow to the side. Then embroider the yellow nose, dark brown eyes and thin whiskers.
Finally, glue the bouquet to the arms and legs, and then brush blush on the cheeks, hands, feet and tail.
Chubby Crochet Cat Keychain Assembly
- Ears: First, sew both ears to the top of the head.
- Arms: Next, pass the two tails of one arm through the back of the body at two different points. Do the same for the other arm, then cross the tails between the arms and tie them inside so they stay firm.
- Legs: After that, attach them the same way as the arms.
- Tail: Then sew it to the back at the bottom.
- Bow: Also glue it on at this point.
- Face: Afterwards, embroider the nose in yellow, the eyes in dark brown and the whiskers with one thin strand.
- Bouquet: Once the face is done, glue it to the arms and legs, then pose the arms so the cat hugs the flowers.
- Blush: Meanwhile, add it to the cheeks, and lightly to the hands, feet and tail.
- Keychain: Lastly, attach the ring, for example, through a small sewn loop between the ears.
Stitch Count Check for the Chubby Crochet Cat Keychain
Body: 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 30, 36, 36, 36, 42, then 42 for six rounds, then 36, 30, 24, 18, 12, 6
Ear: 3, 6
Limb: 3
Tail: 6, 6
Flower: 12
Common Mistakes When Making a Chubby Crochet Cat Keychain
- Losing count. To avoid this, move the marker every round.
- Under-stuffing. The body should feel firm and round, so add more filling if it feels soft.
- Cutting the sewing tails too short.
- Sewing the arms or legs at uneven heights. Instead, pin everything first and then check from the front and back.
Bonus Section: Chubby Crochet Cat Keychain Gifting and Display Ideas
Once the cat is done, you can use it in more ways than a keychain. For instance, clip it to a bag zipper, hang it from a backpack or tie it onto a wrapped present as a small extra. If you want a different look, try pink and white for a sweet baby style, or grey and cream for a calmer one. You can also swap the bouquet for a single big flower. Just keep the same stitch counts and change only the yarn colours.
Safety Note
Embroidered details, hot glue and the keychain ring are not suitable for babies or children under 3.
Time to Make Yours
So that’s the whole cat. You can easily finish one in an evening, and you’ll probably want to make a few more afterwards. The body takes the longest, but once it’s round and stuffed, the small parts go quickly. Because a firm body looks so much better, stuff it a little more than you think you need to. Then take your time placing the arms, and clip your chubby crochet cat keychain on your bag.