Crochet Flower Tutorial: How to Make a Keychain, Zipper Pull & Covered Button (Crochet Series #3)

Welcome back to the Crochet Series! If you’ve been following along, you already know that this series is all about building confidence with small, satisfying projects that teach real skills without overwhelming you. In Series #1, we explored the basics of getting started, and in Series #2, we took those foundational stitches a little further. Now, in Series #3, we’re diving into one of my absolute favorite things to make: crochet flowers.

But not just any crochet flowers. Today’s tutorial covers three different ways to use a simple crocheted flower — as a keychain, a zipper pull, and a covered button. Each one makes a beautiful handmade accessory or gift, and once you learn the flower itself, the rest is just a matter of choosing how you want to use it. Let’s get into it.

Why Crochet Flowers Are Worth Learning

Before we get to the how-to, let’s talk about why crochet flowers deserve a spot in every crocheter’s skill set.

First, they’re fast. A single crocheted flower can be finished in under 30 minutes, even for beginners. That makes them perfect for those crafting sessions when you only have a little time but still want to create something you’re proud of.

Second, they’re incredibly versatile. The same flower pattern can be turned into a hair clip, a brooch, a bag embellishment, a bookmark, or — as we’re focusing on today — a keychain, a zipper pull, or a covering for a button. You’re not just learning one thing. You’re learning a base that opens up dozens of possibilities.

Third, crochet flowers are a fantastic stash-buster. Because they use so little yarn, they’re the perfect excuse to dig into those small leftover balls of yarn sitting in your craft room. You can mix and match colors, try out different textures, and experiment without committing to a large project.

And finally, they make the most wonderful handmade gifts. A crocheted flower keychain or a bag with a flower-covered button feels thoughtful and personal in a way that store-bought accessories simply can’t match.

What You’ll Need

Before we start, gather your supplies. The good news is that this project requires very little.

For the Crochet Flower:

You’ll need a small amount of yarn in your chosen color or colors. Worsted weight yarn works beautifully here and is the easiest to work with if you’re still building your skills. You can absolutely use fingering weight or DK weight yarn — just pair them with the appropriate hook size. A 5mm hook is a great all-purpose choice for worsted weight yarn.

You’ll also need a yarn needle to weave in your ends, and a pair of scissors.

For the Keychain:

A keychain ring or lobster claw clasp. You can find these at craft stores or online, and they’re usually sold in packs, which is perfect because you’ll want to make more than one.

For the Zipper Pull:

A small piece of jewelry wire or a jump ring works beautifully here. You can also use a short length of sturdy cord or even a small piece of the same yarn you used to make the flower, folded and knotted into a loop.

For the Covered Button:

A self-cover button kit. These are available in most fabric and craft stores and come with two-piece plastic button forms — a front domed piece and a back that snaps on to secure everything in place. They come in several sizes, so choose the one that best suits your project.

Optional but helpful: a stitch marker to keep track of your rounds, and a small amount of fiberfill or a felt circle if you want to add a little padding to your covered button.

Understanding the Pattern: Abbreviations and Skill Level

This pattern is rated as beginner to intermediate. If you know how to chain, single crochet, double crochet, and slip stitch, you have everything you need. Here’s a quick reference for the abbreviations used throughout:

ch — chain
sl st — slip stitch
sc — single crochet
dc — double crochet
tr — treble crochet
sp — space
rep — repeat
st — stitch
MR — magic ring (also called a magic circle or adjustable ring)

If you’re not comfortable with the magic ring just yet, you can start with a simple chain-4 joined into a circle with a slip stitch. It works just as well, and I’ll note where you’d make that substitution.

The Crochet Flower Pattern

This is a classic five-petal flower that looks beautiful in a single color or in two contrasting colors. I’ll walk you through both the single-color version and the two-color version so you can choose what suits you.

Round 1: The Center

Start with a magic ring. If you’re using a chain circle instead, chain 4 and join with a slip stitch to form a ring.

Chain 1. Work 10 single crochets into the ring (or into the center of your chain circle). Pull the magic ring tight if you used one. Join with a slip stitch to the first single crochet. You should have 10 stitches in your center round.

This creates the neat, tight center of your flower. If you’d like a two-color flower, this is the point where you would change to your second color for the petals.

Round 2: The Petals

This is where the magic happens and your flat circle of stitches suddenly becomes a flower.

Working into the stitches from Round 1, you’ll create five petals. Each petal is worked over two stitches.

For each petal: Slip stitch into the first stitch. Chain 3. Work 2 double crochets, then 2 treble crochets, then 2 double crochets into the next stitch. Chain 3. Slip stitch into the following stitch.

Repeat this sequence four more times to complete all five petals. At the end, you’ll have a beautiful little five-petal flower.

Alternatively, for a simpler petal shape that works beautifully for the covered button especially: In each pair of stitches, work a slip stitch, chain 2, 3 double crochets, chain 2, and slip stitch. This creates a slightly smaller, more rounded petal that looks very tidy on the face of a button.

Fasten off and weave in your ends. Leave a tail of about 6 inches on the starting end — you’ll use it to attach your flower to the keychain ring, zipper pull loop, or button back.

Turning Your Flower into a Keychain

Now that your flower is finished, the keychain assembly is genuinely simple and takes just a few minutes.

Cut a length of yarn about 8 to 10 inches long. Thread it through your yarn needle and pass it through the center of your flower, from front to back. Loop this yarn through your keychain ring or clasp, then pass the needle back through the center of the flower in the opposite direction so the ring is now looped securely through the yarn. Tie the two ends of yarn together with a firm double knot at the back of the flower, pulling tightly so the keychain ring sits snug against the flower.

Weave in these ends along the back of the flower, hiding them as neatly as possible. If you’d like to reinforce the attachment, you can add a small dab of clear fabric glue or fray check on the knot before tucking the ends in.

That’s it. Your crochet flower keychain is finished.

Styling tips: Try making a cluster of two or three small flowers in different sizes and attaching them all to the same keychain ring for a bouquet effect. You can also add a small crocheted leaf on either side of the flower for a more botanical look. To make a leaf, chain 7, single crochet in the second chain from hook, half double crochet in the next chain, double crochet in the next two chains, half double crochet in the next chain, and 3 single crochets in the final chain. Then work back along the other side of the chain in the same sequence. Fasten off and attach alongside your flower.

Turning Your Flower into a Zipper Pull

A crochet flower zipper pull is charming on a jacket, a hoodie, a handbag, a backpack, or a coin purse. It’s a small thing that makes a big impression, and people will absolutely ask you where you got it.

To make the zipper pull loop, cut a 6-inch length of yarn and fold it in half. Thread the folded end through the center of the flower from back to front, creating a small loop at the front. Pass the two tail ends through that loop and pull to tighten — this creates a lark’s head knot that holds the loop securely in the center of the flower.

Thread the two tail ends onto your yarn needle and weave them back through the flower to hide them. The loop you’ve created at the front is what you’ll attach to the zipper pull.

To attach it, open the zipper tab slightly and slide your yarn loop through the small hole in the zipper pull. Then pass the flower through the loop itself — again creating a lark’s head knot — and pull the flower snug against the zipper. Give it a gentle tug to make sure it’s secure.

If you’d prefer a more polished or durable attachment, use a small jump ring (a thin metal ring that you can open and close with jewelry pliers) to connect the yarn loop to the zipper tab. This distributes the weight of the flower more evenly and reduces wear on the yarn over time.

A few ideas for personalization: A zipper pull flower in school colors makes a great gift for students heading back to school. A flower in the colors of a sports team is a fun way to show team spirit on a gym bag. And a flower made with sparkly or metallic yarn is glamorous on an evening bag or clutch.

Turning Your Flower into a Covered Button

This might be my favorite application of all, because a flower-covered button adds the most beautiful handmade touch to a knitted cardigan, a crochet bag, a jacket, or a pillow cover.

Self-cover button kits come in sizes typically measured in ligne (a unit of measurement used for buttons) or in millimeters. Common sizes are 18mm, 22mm, 29mm, and 38mm. For most crocheted flowers made with worsted weight yarn, a 29mm or 38mm button form works best. The flower should be large enough to cover the dome of the button form completely.

Here’s how to do it.

First, lay your finished flower face-down on your work surface. Place the front dome of the button form face-down in the center of the flower. If your flower is slightly small, you can place a small circle of felt or a tiny ball of fiberfill between the flower and the button form for extra coverage and padding.

Fold the edges of the flower around the button form. Because the flower has petals rather than a solid edge, you’ll be tucking and folding the individual petals around the back of the dome. Use the yarn tails you left at the beginning and end of your flower to anchor the petals in place at the back.

Once you’ve wrapped the petals snugly around the dome, snap the button back piece into place over the folded edges. The teeth on the inside of the back piece grip the fabric and yarn to hold everything securely.

Give the finished button a gentle press to make sure everything is even, and there you go — a one-of-a-kind flower button.

If the petals feel a little loose or the flower isn’t sitting perfectly centered on the dome, a tiny amount of fabric glue on the inside of the button back before you snap it closed will hold everything in place as the glue dries.

Using your covered buttons: Replace the buttons on a plain crochet cardigan with flower-covered buttons for an instant upgrade. Sew one onto the flap of a handmade bag. Use a cluster of three different sizes on a pillow cover. Add them to a headband or hair accessory. The possibilities really are endless.

Tips for Making Your Flowers Look Their Best

A few small things make a big difference in the finished look of your crochet flowers.

Tension matters. Try to keep your tension consistent throughout the flower, especially in Round 2 when you’re working the petals. Tight tension gives you crisp, defined petals. Loose tension gives you softer, more open petals. Neither is wrong — they just have a different look and feel.

Block your flowers. If you want your petals to really open up and lie flat, a little blocking goes a long way. Lightly dampen the finished flower and pin it to a foam blocking mat, spreading the petals out evenly. Let it dry completely before removing the pins. The flower will hold its shape beautifully.

Use quality yarn. Because these flowers are so small, you don’t need much yarn, so this is a great opportunity to use a nicer quality yarn than you might for a larger project. A little bit of cashmere blend, a soft merino, or a pretty cotton makes the finished accessory feel luxurious.

Experiment with texture. Try using a fuzzy yarn like mohair for a softer, more romantic flower. Try a cotton yarn for a crisp, structured look. Try a gradient or variegated yarn and watch how the color shifts through the petals.

Stitch markers are your friend. Even in a simple two-round pattern, a stitch marker placed at the beginning of a round helps you keep track of where you are.

Ideas for Gifting Your Crochet Flower Accessories

Handmade gifts feel special, and these small crochet flowers pack a surprising amount of charm into a tiny package. Here are some gift ideas to get you thinking.

A set of three flower keychains in a recipient’s favorite colors makes a thoughtful and practical gift. A flower zipper pull attached to a pouch filled with lip balm and a handwritten note is a sweet birthday or thank-you gift. A set of flower-covered buttons packaged in a small tin alongside a skein of yarn makes a lovely gift for the crafter in your life. And a single flower keychain attached to a gift tag is a pretty way to dress up any wrapped present.

Because they take so little yarn and time, you can easily make a dozen of these in an afternoon and have gifts ready for multiple people.

What’s Coming in the Crochet Series

If you’ve made it through Series #1, #2, and now #3, you’ve built a really solid foundation of crochet skills and finished projects you can be proud of. Coming up in the series, we’ll be exploring mini crochet bags — the kind you can use as coin purses, AirPod cases, or tiny pouches for small essentials. We’ll also be looking at simple crochet home décor, including some beginner-friendly coaster and plant pot cover patterns.

The series is designed so that each project builds on skills from the last, and every project is something you’ll actually want to use or give away. So make sure you’re following along so you don’t miss the next tutorial.

Final Thoughts

The crochet flower is one of those timeless little patterns that never gets old. Once you learn it, you’ll find yourself reaching for it again and again — as a quick gift, as a way to use up scraps, as a personal touch on something you’ve made, or simply because making something small and beautiful is its own reward.

Whether you’re turning your flower into a keychain to clip to your bag, a zipper pull to dress up a jacket, or a covered button to personalize a handmade project, the result is something uniquely yours. And that’s really what crochet is all about — taking a bit of yarn and a hook and making something that didn’t exist before.

Happy crocheting, and I’ll see you in Series #4!