About this Minion crochet pattern

This is a small, quick amigurumi: a round yellow ball with a gray goggle band, a white eye with a black pupil and a stitched smile. In the photos the finished pieces are used as keychains, with a metal ring and a little cream bell on top.

The body is a simple sphere worked from a magic ring, so it is a good project if you are learning to shape amigurumi. The face is built from a separate eye piece and a goggle strap, which you sew onto the body at the end.

The pattern gives you one eye, and the photos show both one-eyed and two-eyed versions. Make one eye or two, depending on the look you want.

As the designer says, you can change the colors and details to suit your taste. A different yarn color and a different face turn the same ball into other characters.

The original does not list a hook size or yarn weight, so the notes below explain how to choose them yourself.

Finished size

The original does not give a finished size. The photos show palm-sized keychains, small enough to hang from a bag or a zipper.

The widest round has 36 stitches. With a fine yarn and a small hook the ball stays small, and a thicker yarn with a bigger hook makes a larger, softer toy.

Tip: Make the eye and strap in the same yarn weight as the body, so the pieces stay in proportion.

Yarn substitution

Any smooth yarn works, and cotton or a soft acrylic in a fine or sport weight suits a small keychain best. You need three colors: yellow for the body, white for the eye and gray for the goggle rim and band.

Use a hook one size smaller than the yarn label suggests. A tight fabric keeps the stuffing inside and gives you a smooth ball.

If you change the colors, keep a strong contrast between the body and the goggle band so the face reads clearly.

Common mistakes

Under-stuffing the ball. Stuff before R18, when the opening is still wide, and push the filling out into the curve of the sphere.
Skipping the stitch count. Check the total in brackets at the end of each round, especially on the increase rounds.
A strap that is too tight. The goggle band should wrap around the body without squeezing it. Check the length before you sew.
Sewing the pieces on crooked. Pin the eye and the band in place and look at them from the front before you sew.
Leaving a gap at the top. Close the last round firmly with the tail and weave in the end.

FAQ

Can I make a one-eyed and a two-eyed version?

Yes. The eye piece is worked once in the pattern. Make it twice for the two-eyed look, or once for the one-eyed look. Both versions appear in the photos.

How do I turn it into a keychain?

The original does not include keychain instructions. In the photos a metal ring and a small bell are attached at the top. Sew a loop of yarn or a clasp securely to the top of the ball.

Are the eyes safe for small children?

Black beads and safety eyes can come loose, so they are not suitable for babies or young children. For a toy, embroider the pupils with black thread.

Where does the color change happen?

The color change is on the eye piece. You work the first two rounds in white, then change to gray for the third round to create the goggle rim.

What hook should I use?

The pattern does not say. Choose a hook slightly smaller than the one your yarn recommends, so the stitches are tight and the stuffing does not show through.

Pattern

Body (yellow yarn)

R1: 6 sc in magic ring [6]
R2: (inc) x 6 [12]
R3: (sc, inc) x 6 [18]
R4: (2 sc, inc) x 6 [24]
R5: (3 sc, inc) x 6 [30]
R6: (4 sc, inc) x 6 [36]
R7-R14: 36 sc [36]
R15: (4 sc, dec) x 6 [30]
R16: (3 sc, dec) x 6 [24]
R17: (2 sc, dec) x 6 [18]

Stuff the body.

R18: (sc, dec) x 6 [12]
R19: (dec) x 6 [6]

Add a little more stuffing if needed, then fasten off and leave a tail for sewing.

Eye (make 1 or 2)

R1: 6 sc in magic ring [6]
R2: (inc) x 6 [12]
Change color to gray.
R3: (sc, inc) x 6 [18]

Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing.

Goggle strap (gray yarn)

ch 45, turn.
Starting in the 2nd chain from the hook, work 43 sc.

Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing.

Assembly

Wrap the strap around the middle of the body and sew the ends together at the back.
Sew the eye (or eyes) to the strap at the front.
Add a black bead or embroidered pupil to the center of each eye.
Embroider a small smile below the goggles.
If you like, attach a key ring and a bell at the top.

Optional & Creative Ideas

Customize colors: Change the yarn colors to make other round characters, or use a different color for the goggle band.
Make a set: Crochet a one-eyed and a two-eyed version and attach each to a key ring or a bag.
Add small details: Embroider eyebrows or hair on the top, or use felt for the pupils.
Gift idea: Put a few finished pieces on a card as small party favors.

Final Thoughts

This is a short project that you can finish in an evening. Keep your stitches tight and the face small and neat, and you will end up with a charming keychain.

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Cute Minion Crochet Pattern Amigurumi Keychain