Whale Keychain Amigurumi Crochet Pattern

This whale crochet pattern makes a tiny round whale keychain, about the size of a walnut. It has a creamy white belly, a soft blue back, two little side fins and a folded tail, and it hangs from a keyring attached to the top of its head.

The whole whale is two small 36-stitch pieces sewn together, plus three tiny add-ons. It is worked in single crochet only, so it is a great first amigurumi and a quick stash-buster for a bag charm, a party favor or a little gift for an ocean lover.

The designer uses DMC Natura Just Cotton with a 2.5 mm hook and 6 mm black safety eyes. A smooth cotton gives the neat, firm stitches you see in the photos and helps the round shape hold up on a keychain.

Tip: Stuff the whale firmly. A keychain gets squeezed a lot, and firm stuffing keeps the round body from going flat.

Finished size

The PDF does not list measurements. Worked in fingering-weight cotton with a 2.5 mm hook, as in the sample, the whale is roughly 4.5–5 cm (about 2 in) wide and 3.5–4 cm (1.5 in) tall, not counting the keyring. This is an estimate from the stitch counts, not the designer's figure.

Yarn substitution

DMC Natura Just Cotton is a fingering / light sport weight 100% cotton. Any similar cotton or cotton blend works with a 2–2.5 mm hook.

• Colour A (white or cream) for the belly, like the shade Ibiza.
• Colour B (light blue) for the back, fins and tail, like Blue Layette.

For a bigger, softer whale to cuddle, use DK or worsted cotton with a 3–3.5 mm hook and 8–10 mm eyes, and leave off the keyring.

Common mistakes

• Fastening off the belly without a tail. Leave a long tail on body part 1. You will use it to sew both halves together.
• Placing the eyes on the wrong rounds. Insert the eyes into body part 2 between Rnd 10 and Rnd 11, with 8 stitches between them, before you sew the halves together.
• Under-stuffing before closing. Once the belly is sewn on, you can't add more fiberfill, so stuff firmly when about three quarters of the seam is closed.
• Sewing the fins too high. The fins sit on each side, just above the seam where the white belly meets the blue back.
• Weak keyring attachment. Open the end link of the keyring chain with pliers and pass it through several stitches at the center top, then close it tightly.

FAQ

Is this whale keychain safe for small children?
Safety eyes, a metal keyring and small parts can be a choking risk for children under 3. For a baby, embroider the eyes with black yarn and skip the keyring.

Do I need to stuff the fins and tail?
No. The fins are tiny 6-stitch tubes and the tail is a flat strip folded in half, so neither needs stuffing.

How do I join the two body halves neatly?
Hold the white belly against the open edge of the blue back with wrong sides facing in, line up the 36 stitches and whipstitch through the outer loops with the long tail from part 1.

Can I add the pink cheeks from the photo?
Yes. The PDF does not include them, but a few short stitches of pink yarn or a touch of blush under each eye gives the same sweet look.

Pattern

The body is worked in continuous rounds. Use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round.

Body part 1 (belly)

Worked in colour A (white).

1. Rnd 1: mr, 6 sc [6]
2. Rnd 2: (inc) x 6 [12]
3. Rnd 3: (1 sc, inc) x 6 [18]
4. Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) x 6 [24]
5. Rnd 5: (3 sc, inc) x 6 [30]
6. Rnd 6: (4 sc, inc) x 6 [36]

Fasten off, leaving a long tail to sew the two body parts together later.

Body part 2 (back)

Worked in colour B (blue).

1. Rnd 1: mr, 6 sc [6]
2. Rnd 2: (inc) x 6 [12]
3. Rnd 3: (1 sc, inc) x 6 [18]
4. Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) x 6 [24]
5. Rnd 5: (3 sc, inc) x 6 [30]
6. Rnd 6: (4 sc, inc) x 6 [36]
7. Rnd 7–12: 36 sc [36]

Fasten off. Insert the 6 mm safety eyes between Rnd 10 and Rnd 11, with 8 stitches between them.

Joining the body

Place the white belly over the open edge of the blue back. Using the tail from part 1, sew the two parts together. Stuff the body firmly before you close the seam completely.

Fins (make 2)

Worked in colour B (blue).

1. Rnd 1: mr, 6 sc [6]
2. Rnd 2–3: 6 sc [6]

Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Sew one fin on each side of the body, just above the seam where part 1 and part 2 meet.

Tail

Worked in colour B (blue), in a row.

1. Row 1: ch 10.
2. Row 2: ch 1 (does not count as a stitch), then sc in each of the 10 foundation chains [10]

Fasten off, leaving a tail. Fold the strip in half and sew the folded end to the back of the whale, just above the seam where part 1 and part 2 meet.

Tip: Keep the tail strip flat and don't stuff it. Sewing it on folded gives the little two-lobed whale tail.

Keyring

Open the first link of the keyring chain with a pair of small pliers, pass it through the stitches at the middle of the top of the whale, and close it again.

Your little whale keychain is ready to swim along on your keys or bag.

Optional & Creative Ideas

• Customize colors: Try a gray back for a classic whale, pink or lilac for a pastel version, or a rainbow set for a party.
• Add a water spout: Chain a few stitches in white or light blue and sew a tiny loop of them to the top of the head.
• Make it a toy: Skip the keyring, embroider the eyes, and work it in thicker yarn for a palm-sized plush.
• Bag charm: Swap the keyring for a lobster clasp and add a small bead or tassel.

Final Thoughts

This whale is one of the quickest amigurumi you can make: two simple halves, two fins and a tail. Make a little pod in different colors for gifts, markets or a beach-themed keychain set.

Patterns and instructions on OpenCrochet are for personal use. Please do not redistribute copies of this content; share the page link instead.