Crochet a Festive Christmas Tree Keychain Pattern – DIY Crafts

Hi, I am Amy, and I have a soft spot for a keychain that earns its place on your keys all December long. This tiny tree is built from three ruffled tiers that stack like a little bell-shaped fir, with a sturdy brown trunk and a sweet double star on top.

At just 8 to 10 cm tall, it works up fast and begs to be personalised — try an ombre run of greens, stitch on tiny beads or sequins as ornaments, or swap the hanging string for a swivel lobster clasp and wear it as a bag charm. It makes a lovely stocking stuffer, too.

Materials

• 5-ply combed cotton yarn, or 4-ply / DK yarn, in light yellow, for the top tier and star topper
• 5-ply combed cotton yarn in lime or light green, for the middle tier
• 5-ply combed cotton yarn in dark green, for the bottom tier
• 5-ply combed cotton yarn in brown, for the trunk and hanging string
• 2.5 mm (4/0) crochet hook
• Tapestry or darning needle
• Scissors
• Optional: small pearl beads, sequins or mini rhinestones, and a metal swivel lobster clasp

Abbreviations

• MR: magic ring
• ch: chain stitch
• slst: slip stitch
• sc: single crochet
• hdc: half double crochet
• dc: double crochet
• inc: increase (2 stitches in the same stitch)
• dc inc: double crochet increase (2 dc in the same stitch)
• st / sts: stitch / stitches

Gauge & Size

• Finished size: approximately 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4 inches) tall
• Leaf tiers are worked top-down to create conical bell shapes with ruffled edges
• The trunk is worked in joined rounds and forms a solid cylindrical base
• The star topper is two identical star pieces placed back-to-back over the hanging string
• Keep tension consistent so the tiers nest properly, and test fit everything before final assembly

First Tier Leaf

Work with light yellow yarn.

Round 1: Make an MR, ch 2 (does not count as a stitch), work 6 dc into the magic ring. Pull ring tight and slst to the 1st dc to join. (Total: 6 dc)

Round 2: Ch 2, work 6 dc inc (2 dc in each stitch around). Slst to the 1st dc to join. (Total: 12 dc)

Round 3 (Ruffle Edge): Repeat 6 times: (dc, ch 2, dc) all into the first stitch, slst into the next stitch. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Second Tier Leaf

Work with lime green yarn.

Round 1: Make an MR, ch 2, work 6 dc into the ring. Pull tight, slst to join. (Total: 6 dc)

Round 2: Ch 2, work 6 dc inc around. Slst to join. (Total: 12 dc)

Round 3: Ch 2, (1 dc, 1 dc inc) repeat 6 times around. Slst to join. (Total: 18 dc)

Round 4 (Ruffle Edge): Repeat 6 times: (dc, ch 2, dc) in 1st stitch, slst in next stitch, dc in the next stitch. Fasten off.

Third Tier Leaf

Work with dark green yarn.

Round 1: Make an MR, ch 2, work 6 dc into the ring. Pull tight, slst to join. (Total: 6 dc)

Round 2: Ch 2, work 6 dc inc around. Slst to join. (Total: 12 dc)

Round 3: Ch 2, (1 dc, 1 dc inc) repeat 6 times around. Slst to join. (Total: 18 dc)

Round 4: Ch 2, (dc in stitch, dc inc in next stitch, dc in next stitch) repeat 6 times around. Slst to join. (Total: 24 dc)

Round 5 (Ruffle Edge): Repeat 6 times: (dc, ch 2, dc) in 1st stitch, slst in next stitch, dc in next stitch. Fasten off.

Tree Trunk

Work with brown yarn.

Round 1: Make an MR, ch 1, work 6 sc into the ring. Pull tight, slst to join. (Total: 6 sc)

Round 2: Ch 1, work 6 inc around (2 sc in each stitch). Slst to join. (Total: 12 sc)

Round 3: Ch 1, (1 sc, 1 inc) repeat 6 times around. Slst to join. (Total: 18 sc)

Round 4: Ch 1, work 18 sc around. Slst to join.

Round 5: Ch 1, work 18 sc around. Slst to join.

Round 6: Ch 1, work 18 sc around. Slst to join.

Round 7: Ch 1, work 18 sc around. Slst to join.

Round 8: Ch 1, work 18 sc around. Slst to join.

Round 9: Ch 1, work 18 sc around. Slst to join at the end of Round 9. Fasten off, leaving a tail. Rounds 4 to 9 are 6 rounds of 18 sc in total.

Star Topper and String

Star (yellow, make 2 pieces). Round 1: Make an MR, ch 1, work 5 sc into the ring. Pull tight, slst to join. (Total: 5 sc)

Round 2 (Star Points): Repeat 5 times, once in each of the 5 stitches: Ch 3, starting in the 2nd ch from hook work (1 sc, 1 hdc), then slst into the base stitch on the ring. Fasten off both pieces.

Hanging string (brown): Form a slip knot, chain 30. Fasten off, leaving yarn tails at both ends.

Finishing & Assembly

Hanging loop: Thread the tapestry needle onto one tail of the 30-chain hanging string. Pass the string up through the centre top of the 1st Tier (yellow) leaf and pull it until a loop is left at the top.

Stacking: Thread both bottom yarn tails of the hanging string through the centre hole of the 2nd Tier (lime green), then through the centre top of the 3rd Tier (dark green), and finally down through the top centre of the trunk piece.

Securing: Turn the assembly upside down, pull the string tails firmly to tighten all tiers together, knot the ends securely inside the trunk cavity, and trim excess yarn.

Star: Place the 2 star pieces back-to-back, sandwiching the brown hanging string right above the top yellow leaf tier. Tie or sew the star pieces together securely at the base using yarn tails, and weave in ends. Attach your keychain to keys or a backpack, or hang it as a decoration.

Tips

• Leave tails slightly longer than you think you need — trimming excess later is easier than working with a tail that is too short.
• Lay out all the parts before assembly and test fit, so the tiers sit snugly before you knot anything.
• Glue small pearl beads, colourful sequins or mini rhinestones onto the tier ruffles to mimic Christmas ornaments.
• Work in a well-lit space — these stitches are small, and good light prevents uneven layers.