Crochet Sunflower Keychain: Free Bag Charm Pattern You’ll Want to Make on Repeat

There is something about a sunflower that just makes people smile. Maybe it’s the bold yellow petals, or the way they always seem to be reaching toward the light. Whatever the reason, sunflowers have become one of the most beloved motifs in the crafting world, and this free crochet sunflower keychain pattern brings that cheerful energy into something small, wearable, and endlessly giftable.

This pattern is beginner-friendly, works up quickly, and can be customized in so many ways that you’ll probably find yourself making a whole bunch of them at once. Whether you want to attach one to your handbag, your backpack, your keys, or give them away as handmade gifts, this little sunflower charm is one of those patterns that genuinely earns a permanent spot in your project rotation.

Let’s get into everything you need to know, from materials to finishing touches.

Why You’ll Love This Crochet Sunflower Keychain Pattern

Before we dive into the how-to, let’s talk about why this particular project deserves a spot in your queue.

First, it’s fast. Once you get the hang of the pattern, you can finish one sunflower keychain in about 30 to 45 minutes. That makes it perfect for an evening project when you want to feel accomplished without committing to something that takes weeks.

Second, it’s budget-friendly. You’ll likely already have most of what you need in your yarn stash. This project uses only small amounts of yarn, so it’s a great way to use up scraps that are too small for bigger projects but too pretty to throw away.

Third, it makes an incredible handmade gift. Keychains and bag charms are the kind of gift that feels thoughtful and personal, but doesn’t require the same time investment as a full blanket or garment. Teachers, bridesmaids, coworkers, best friends, kids — this gift works for just about everyone.

And finally, it’s versatile. The basic sunflower motif can be adjusted in size depending on your hook and yarn weight. Make it tiny and delicate with fingering-weight yarn, or chunky and bold with worsted weight. Change the center color, add a second petal layer, or leave off the keychain hardware entirely and sew it onto a hat or tote bag instead.

Materials You’ll Need

One of the best things about small projects like this is that the materials list is short and simple. Here’s what you’ll need to make your crochet sunflower keychain:

Yarn: You’ll need a small amount of yellow yarn for the petals and a small amount of brown or dark chocolate yarn for the center. Any worsted weight yarn works beautifully for this pattern and gives the sunflower a nice, visible texture. If you want a more delicate look, you can use DK or sport weight, but you’ll need to adjust your hook size accordingly. Lion Brand Pound of Love, Red Heart Super Saver, and Paintbox Simply DK are all excellent choices and widely available.

Crochet Hook: For worsted weight yarn, use a 4.0mm or 4.5mm hook. Go smaller for lighter yarn, larger for bulkier yarn. The exact gauge isn’t critical for this project since it’s decorative rather than wearable, so feel free to experiment.

Keychain Hardware: You can find these at craft stores, dollar stores, and online. Look for lobster claw clasp keychains or simple split ring keychains. They typically come in silver or gold finishes, so choose whichever matches your aesthetic.

Yarn Needle: You’ll need this for weaving in your ends and, optionally, for adding embroidered details to the center of the sunflower.

Scissors: Any pair will do.

Stitch Marker: Optional, but helpful for keeping track of your rounds, especially if you’re new to crocheting in the round.

Stuffing or Cardboard Circle (Optional): If you want your sunflower to have a little dimension and body, you can lightly stuff the center or slip a small circle of cardboard inside before closing it up. This is completely optional and depends on your personal preference.

Abbreviations and Stitches Used

This pattern uses US crochet terminology. Here’s a quick reference for the stitches you’ll encounter:

ch — chain
sl st — slip stitch
sc — single crochet
hdc — half double crochet
dc — double crochet
tr — treble crochet
MR — magic ring (also called a magic circle)
st(s) — stitch(es)
rnd — round

If you’re not familiar with the magic ring technique, don’t worry. It sounds more intimidating than it is, and there are plenty of video tutorials that walk through it step by step. Alternatively, you can start with a chain of 4 and join it into a ring with a slip stitch — this is a perfectly acceptable substitution and gives you a similar result.

Free Crochet Sunflower Keychain Pattern

This pattern creates a sunflower that measures approximately 3 to 3.5 inches across when made with worsted weight yarn and a 4.0mm hook.

The Center (Brown/Dark Yarn)

Round 1: Start with a magic ring. Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch), work 6 sc into the ring. Pull the tail to close the ring. (6 sts)

Round 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)

Round 3: Sc 1, 2 sc in next st — repeat around. (18 sts)

Round 4: Sc 2, 2 sc in next st — repeat around. (24 sts)

Slip stitch to join the final stitch of Round 4 to the first stitch of that round. Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing if needed, but do not close the circle yet — you’ll want to attach it to the petals. If you’re adding a cardboard circle or a small bit of stuffing, this is the moment to do it before closing.

You can add a little texture to the center by using a yarn needle to embroider small cross stitches or French knots across the surface, mimicking the seed pattern of a real sunflower. This step is optional but adds a beautiful handmade touch.

The Petals (Yellow Yarn)

The petals are worked as a separate round that gets attached to the center, or you can work them directly onto the edge of the center piece. Both methods work well.

Method 1: Petals Worked Separately and Sewn On

With yellow yarn, ch 4 and join with a sl st to form a ring (or use a magic ring).

Work the following petal sequence into the ring: [Ch 3, dc, ch 3, sl st] — repeat this 8 times for 8 petals, working all of them into the center ring.

Fasten off and leave a long tail. Use this tail to sew the petal ring to the back of the center circle, centering it so the petals fan out evenly all the way around.

Method 2: Petals Worked Directly onto the Center

After completing Round 4 of the center, do not fasten off. Instead, switch to yellow yarn (you can carry it up or join it with a sl st at any point around the edge).

With yellow yarn joined to any stitch on the outer edge of the center:

[Sl st into next st, ch 3, 2 dc in same st, ch 3, sl st into same st, sl st into next st] — repeat this sequence all the way around the edge, spacing your petals evenly. You should end up with approximately 8 petals, though you can adjust slightly depending on your gauge and how evenly your stitches land.

For slightly fuller petals, try this variation: [Sl st, ch 1, hdc, dc, tr, dc, hdc, ch 1, sl st] all into the same stitch, then sl st to the next stitch before starting the next petal. This gives you a rounded, organic petal shape rather than a pointy one, and it reads very much like a real sunflower when finished.

Fasten off and weave in all ends.

Attaching the Keychain Hardware

Cut a short length of yarn (about 6 inches), fold it in half, and use a latch hook or crochet hook to pull the folded loop through one of the stitches at the top of the sunflower center. Thread both loose ends through the loop and pull snug — this creates a basic lark’s head knot that holds your keychain ring.

Thread both loose ends through your keychain ring or split ring, then tie them securely with several overhand knots. Apply a tiny drop of fabric glue or fray check if you want extra security. Trim the ends close to the knot and tuck any remaining yarn between the layers of the sunflower.

Alternatively, you can use a small length of jewelry chain to create a longer dangle effect. Simply attach the chain to the sunflower using the lark’s head method, then attach your lobster claw clasp or key ring to the other end of the chain.

Tips for Getting the Best Results

Tension matters more than you think. For a flat, attractive sunflower, try to keep your tension consistent throughout. If your center is curling up rather than lying flat, your tension may be too tight. Try going up half a hook size or consciously loosening your grip.

Block if needed. A quick wet block can work wonders on a sunflower that isn’t lying perfectly flat. Spritz the finished piece with water, shape it gently with your fingers, and let it dry on a flat surface. Even a small amount of blocking makes a noticeable difference in how professional the finished product looks.

Use quality yarn for gifts. If you’re making these as gifts, it’s worth investing in a slightly nicer yarn — something soft and with good color saturation. Drops Safran, WeCrochet Brava, and Paintbox Cotton DK are all budget-friendly options that look and feel elevated.

Make multiples at once. Since the project uses such small amounts of yarn, it’s easy to set up an assembly line. Make all your centers first, then make all your petal layers, then do all the finishing at once. This is especially helpful if you’re making a batch of them for a craft fair or a large group of recipients.

Experiment with colors. Traditional sunflowers are yellow and brown, but don’t let that stop you from getting creative. Orange and dark green make a beautiful autumn variation. White petals with a mustard center give a more daisy-like feel. Lavender petals and a forest green center look unexpected and gorgeous. You can even use variegated yarn for the petals and let the color shifts do the work for you.

Creative Variations to Try

Once you’ve mastered the basic pattern, there are so many directions you can take it.

Double-Layered Sunflower: Make two petal rounds — one with longer, more open petals and one with shorter petals — and layer them so the shorter petals peek out from between the longer ones. Stagger the layers so no two petals are directly on top of each other. This gives the sunflower a much more realistic and full appearance.

Sunflower Coaster: Use the same basic pattern but scale it up significantly. With bulky yarn and a larger hook, the center alone becomes a coaster, and adding the petal round makes a charming decorative trivet or table accent.

Sunflower Appliqué: Skip the keychain hardware entirely and use your sunflower as an appliqué. Sew it onto a tote bag, a denim jacket, a baby blanket, or a pillow cover. A cluster of sunflowers in different sizes makes a stunning arrangement.

Sunflower Hair Clip: Sew or glue a barrette finding to the back of the sunflower for an adorable accessory that works for kids and adults alike.

Sunflower Bookmark: Make a longer stem by crocheting a chain of about 40 stitches and working single crochet stitches back along it. Attach the sunflower to one end and a small leaf (a simple oval worked in green yarn) to the other end or partway along the stem.

Mini Sunflower Earrings: Use fingering or lace-weight yarn and a 1.5mm or 2mm hook to create tiny sunflowers, then attach earring findings for a delicate, handmade jewelry look. These are genuinely impressive and very popular at craft fairs.

How to Care for Your Crochet Sunflower Keychain

Most acrylic yarns are machine washable, which is a major practical advantage for something like a keychain that gets handled frequently. Check the label on whatever yarn you used for specific care instructions.

If you’ve used cotton yarn, the sunflower can typically be hand washed and laid flat to dry, which helps it maintain its shape.

Since keychains get knocked around a lot, it’s worth reinforcing the hardware attachment point every few months if you’re using the piece daily. A fresh knot or a drop of glue can extend the life of your little charm significantly.

Sharing Your Makes

Once you’ve finished your sunflower keychain, consider sharing it on Instagram, Pinterest, or in a crochet community group. Use hashtags like #crochetflower, #freecrochetpattern, #crochetkeychain, #sunflowercrochet, and #bagcharm to help other crafters find your photo and connect with you.

If you make a variation of this pattern or come up with a creative modification, share that too. The crochet community is one of the most generous and supportive creative spaces on the internet, and other crafters genuinely appreciate seeing how different makers interpret the same base pattern.

Final Thoughts

The crochet sunflower keychain is one of those projects that earns its place in the canon of classic small crochet makes. It’s quick enough to be satisfying without feeling mindless, simple enough for beginners without being boring for intermediate or advanced crocheters, and versatile enough to become something truly personal and unique in your hands.

Whether you’re making one for yourself, a dozen for gifts, or a whole basket of them for a craft fair booth, this little sunflower will bring a little brightness to whoever carries it. And there’s something really lovely about that — the idea that something you made in an afternoon, with just a bit of yarn and a hook, can make someone smile every single time they reach for their keys.

Happy crocheting, and may your yarn never tangle.