🧶 Beautiful ✨ Detailed 💝 Adorable

Mini Penguin Keychain Amigurumi Pattern

Mini Penguin Keychain Amigurumi Pattern
4.7★ Rating
2-3 Hours Time Needed
4.2K Made This
✂️

Intermediate Level

Ideal for those with basic knitting experience, featuring slightly more advanced stitches and techniques to expand your skills.

⏱️

Bite-Sized Project

Complete in under 2 hours—quick, fun, and perfect for a little creative escape.

🐾

Pocket Pal

A mini friend to carry anywhere, providing comfort and companionship in a perfectly portable size.

About This Mini Penguin Keychain Amigurumi Pattern

This mini penguin keychain pattern is designed to bring joy wherever you go. With its compact size and adorable features, this little penguin makes the perfect portable companion. The pattern uses simple increases and decreases to create a rounded, huggable shape, while the contrasting colors between the yellow body and white face give this penguin its distinctive charm. Whether you're making it as a thoughtful gift or keeping it for yourself, this quick project delivers maximum cuteness in minimal time.

Mini Penguin Keychain Amigurumi Pattern crochet pattern - detailed view of completed project

The pattern includes detailed photo instructions for every step, making it easy to follow along even if you're new to color changes or embroidering facial features. Your finished penguin will measure about 9.5 cm tall when using the recommended yarn and hook size.

Why You'll Love This Mini Penguin Keychain Amigurumi Pattern

I absolutely love this pattern because it's one of those projects that brings instant satisfaction. There's something magical about watching this tiny penguin come to life in just a couple of hours. I love how portable and giftable these little friends are—they fit perfectly on keychains, backpacks, or purses. The embroidered sleeping eyes give each penguin such a peaceful, calming expression that makes me smile every time. Plus, once you've made one, you'll want to make a whole waddle of penguins in different colors!

Mini Penguin Keychain Amigurumi Pattern step 1 - construction progress Mini Penguin Keychain Amigurumi Pattern step 2 - assembly progress Mini Penguin Keychain Amigurumi Pattern step 3 - details and accessories Mini Penguin Keychain Amigurumi Pattern step 4 - final assembly and finishing

Switch Things Up

I love experimenting with this pattern to create an entire waddle of unique penguins! Try swapping the yellow body for soft pastels like mint green, baby blue, or blush pink for a kawaii aesthetic that's absolutely irresistible. You could even create seasonal versions—imagine a red and white Christmas penguin with a tiny crocheted scarf, or a purple and orange Halloween edition.

Another fun variation I enjoy is changing the eye style. Instead of the peaceful sleeping eyes shown in the pattern, try making open eyes with small white highlights for a more alert, curious expression. You can also add tiny accessories like a miniature crocheted bow tie, a small felt heart on the belly, or even a tiny crocheted fish in its wing.

For a more traditional look, use black yarn for the body cap and back, keeping the white belly portion. This creates a classic penguin appearance that's instantly recognizable. I've also made versions with sparkly metallic yarn mixed in for a festive holiday keychain that catches the light beautifully. The possibilities are truly endless with this versatile little pattern!

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

✗ Not stuffing the head and body firmly enough, which can result in a floppy penguin that loses its rounded shape over time ✗ Placing the safety eyes too far apart or too close together, which changes the penguin's sweet expression significantly ✗ Forgetting to leave long yarn tails when fastening off pieces, making it difficult to sew parts together securely and neatly ✗ Sewing the yellow head cap too high or too low on the white face portion, affecting the overall proportions and cuteness ✗ Not counting stitches carefully when crocheting the wedge-shaped beak area, which can make the face look asymmetrical or uneven

Mini Penguin Keychain Amigurumi Pattern

Create your own adorable mini penguin keychain with this delightful amigurumi pattern! This charming little companion features a sweet yellow body with a white face, gray beak, and tiny embroidered eyes that give it an irresistibly cute personality. Perfect for beginners and intermediate crocheters alike, this quick project makes wonderful handmade gifts or bag accessories. The finished penguin stands approximately 9.5 cm tall and can be customized in any colors you love.

Intermediate 2-3 Hours

Materials Needed for Mini Penguin Keychain Amigurumi Pattern

— Main Fabric

  • 01
    Yarn Art Jeans in white (color #62), yellow (color #88), and light gray (color #80)
  • 02
    Alize Cotton Gold or Schachenmayr Catania Originals as yarn alternatives
  • 03
    Sport weight yarn (50g/160m, 55% cotton/45% acrylic blend recommended)

— Tools Required

  • 01
    Crochet hook size 2.00 mm (US B, UK 14)
  • 02
    Stuffing material (hollowfibre recommended)
  • 03
    Thin black embroidery thread for eyes
  • 04
    Black beads or safety eyes 4-5 mm
  • 05
    Yarn needle for sewing details
  • 06
    Scissors
  • 07
    Stitch marker or piece of yarn
  • 08
    Keychain fittings

Progress Tracker

0% Complete

— Head (White Part) :

Round 1 :

6 sc in MR (6)

Round 2 :

6 inc (12)

Round 3 :

(1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)

Round 4 :

1 sc, inc, (2 sc, inc) x 5, 1 sc (24)

Round 5 :

(3 sc, inc) x 6 (30)

Round 6 :

2 sc, inc, (4 sc, inc) x 5, 2 sc (36)

Round 7-12 :

36 sc (6 rounds)

Round 13 :

2 sc, dec, (4 sc, dec) x 5, 2 sc (30)

Round 14 :

(3 sc, dec) x 6 (24)

Round 15 :

1 sc, dec, (2 sc, dec) x 5, 1 sc (18), slst

Info :

Fasten the thread, leave a long end for sewing. If using safety eyes, place them between rows 10 and 11 at 7-8 sc apart. Stuff head tightly with filler.

— Head (Yellow Cap Part) :

Round 1 :

6 sc in MR (6)

Round 2 :

6 inc (12)

Round 3 :

(1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)

Round 4 :

1 sc, inc, (2 sc, inc) x 5, 1 sc (24)

Round 5 :

(3 sc, inc) x 6 (30)

Round 6 :

2 sc, inc, (4 sc, inc) x 5, 2 sc (36)

Round 7-13 :

36 sc (7 rounds)

Info :

Fasten the thread, leave a long end for sewing. Note: Round 13 may not be necessary depending on your head volume after stuffing.

— Wedge-Shaped Beak Area :

Info :

From the end of Round 13, count forward 16 sc and join new yellow yarn to the 17th sc

Row 1 :

ch 1 (counts as first sc), 5 sc, turn (6)

Row 2 :

From the second sc: 5 sc, turn (5)

Row 3 :

From the second sc: 4 sc, turn (4)

Row 4 :

From the second sc: 3 sc, turn (3)

Row 5 :

From the second sc: 2 sc (2)

Info :

Fasten thread and hide the end. Sew this wedge part to the white head portion.

— Beak :

Round 1 :

6 sc in MR

Round 2 :

6 sc, slst

Info :

Fasten thread, leave a long end for sewing. Sew beak right under the wedge-shaped part of the penguin's face.

— Eyes :

Info :

Embroider eyes using black embroidery thread following photo instructions (Images 16-20). Alternatively, sew on black beads or place safety eyes between rows 10 and 11 at a distance of 7-8 sc apart.

— Body :

Round 1 :

6 sc in MR (6)

Round 2 :

6 inc (12)

Round 3 :

(1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)

Round 4 :

1 sc, inc, (2 sc, inc) x 5, 1 sc (24)

Round 5 :

(3 sc, inc) x 6 (30)

Round 6 :

2 sc, inc, (4 sc, inc) x 5, 2 sc (36)

Round 7-10 :

36 sc (4 rounds)

Round 11 :

(10 sc, dec) x 3 (33)

Round 12 :

33 sc

Round 13 :

(9 sc, dec) x 3 (30)

Round 14 :

30 sc

Round 15 :

(8 sc, dec) x 3 (27)

Round 16 :

(7 sc, dec) x 3 (24)

Round 17 :

(6 sc, dec) x 3 (21)

Round 18 :

(5 sc, dec) x 3 (18), slst

Info :

Fasten thread and hide the end. Stuff body tightly with filler.

— Wings (Make 2) :

Round 1 :

6 sc in MR

Round 2 :

(1 sc, inc) x 3 (9)

Round 3 :

9 sc (9)

Round 4 :

(2 sc, inc) x 3 (12)

Round 5 :

(3 sc, inc) x 3 (15)

Info :

Fold detail in half and crochet 7 sc across. Fasten thread, leave a long end for sewing. Sew wings between rows 17 and 18 of the body.

— Paws (Make 2) :

Round 1 :

6 sc in MR

Round 2 :

(1 sc, inc) x 3 (9)

Round 3-4 :

9 sc (2 rounds)

Info :

Fold detail in half and crochet 4 sc across. Fasten thread, leave a long end for sewing. Sew to body at a distance of 1-2 sc apart.

— Tail (Make 1) :

Round 1 :

6 sc in MR

Round 2 :

(1 sc, inc) x 3 (9)

Info :

Fold detail in half and crochet 4 sc across. Fasten thread, leave a long end for sewing. Sew tail to back of body as shown in photos.

— Final Assembly :

Info :

Sew the completed head to the body. Attach keychain ring and your mini penguin is complete!

Assembly Instructions

  • Sew the yellow head cap onto the white head portion, aligning the edges carefully to create the penguin's distinctive two-tone face.
  • Attach the wedge-shaped yellow beak area to the front center of the white face portion, creating the characteristic penguin facial structure.
  • Sew the light gray beak directly under the wedge-shaped section, centered on the face.
  • Embroider or attach eyes between rows 10 and 11 of the head, spaced 7-8 sc apart for the sweetest expression.
  • Attach the completed head securely to the top of the stuffed body using the long yarn tail.
  • Sew both wings to the sides of the body between rows 17 and 18, positioning them symmetrically.
  • Attach both gray paws to the bottom front of the body, spacing them 1-2 sc apart, and sew the yellow tail to the back. Attach keychain ring to complete.

Important Notes

  • 💡Use a stitch marker to track the beginning of each round, especially important during color changes and when working the wedge-shaped beak area
  • 💡Stuff the head and body firmly but not overly tight to maintain the rounded penguin shape without distorting stitches
  • 💡When sewing the yellow cap to the white head, pin pieces together first to ensure proper alignment before stitching permanently
  • 💡If using safety eyes, insert them before stuffing the head completely and make sure they're positioned symmetrically for the best expression
  • 💡Leave long yarn tails when fastening off each piece to make assembly easier and more secure
  • 💡The pattern note mentions Round 13 of the yellow cap may not be necessary depending on stuffing—adjust based on your work

This charming mini penguin keychain pattern brings portable cuteness wherever you go! Designed for quick completion and maximum adorability, this little companion combines simple amigurumi techniques with thoughtful details like embroidered sleeping eyes and a distinctive two-tone head. The compact 9.5 cm size makes it perfect for keychains, bag charms, or thoughtful handmade gifts. Whether you're new to color changes or an experienced amigurumi maker, you'll love watching this peaceful penguin come to life stitch by stitch. 🐧💛

You ask,

we answer.

FAQs

What size will my finished penguin be?

Using the recommended Yarn Art Jeans and a 2.00 mm hook, your penguin will measure approximately 9.5 cm (3.7 inches) tall. Using different yarn weights or hook sizes will change the final dimensions.

Can I use different colors for my penguin?

Absolutely! While the pattern uses yellow and white for a classic look, you can create penguins in any color combination. Try pastels, rainbow colors, or even black and white for a traditional penguin appearance.

Do I need to use safety eyes or can I embroider them?

You have three options: embroider eyes with black thread (as shown in the pattern photos), use black beads, or insert 4-5mm safety eyes. If making for small children, embroidered eyes are the safest choice.

How do I attach the yellow head cap to the white head portion?

After completing both pieces, pin the yellow cap over the white head section, aligning the edges. Use the long yarn tail and a whip stitch or mattress stitch to sew them together securely around the perimeter.

What if my Round 13 on the yellow head cap doesn't match?

The pattern notes that Round 13 may not be necessary depending on your stuffing and tension. Compare your yellow cap to your white head piece and adjust accordingly—you want them to fit together smoothly.

Can I make this penguin without the keychain attachment?

Yes! Simply skip adding the keychain ring and you'll have an adorable standalone mini penguin that works perfectly as a desk buddy, ornament, or small toy.