A small handmade charm will make a dull bag look special, while a little jellyfish is a lot of fun! It is a rounded body, with hanging tentacles and a cute shape. It’s a happy accessory for backpacks, handbags, purses and even pencil cases.
This Jellyfish key chain pattern is a miniature project, yet it is very characterful. Not an excessive amount of yarn is needed and it can be completed relatively quickly. So it is a great project for a quiet afternoon, a break from a larger project, or as a means of making use of leftover yarn.
The design is also flexible for customization. The jellyfish can be ocean-inspired blues or greens, soft pastel colors, or bright colors that contrast with the dark of the bag. To bring your crochet creature to life, embroider eyes on it, use a little bow or sew on tiny beads.
This is a small project that incorporates amigurumi skills and makes a useful accessory; it’s a great idea to try for someone who’s been wanting to try a fun project combining the two. After making your first jellyfish, you might want to make a whole rainbow of jellyfish.
Why You’ll Love This Pattern
It is nice to create small crochet ones. You have the opportunity to learn some of the useful techniques without working on the same piece for days! This jellyfish charm is:
- Small and portable
- Beginner-friendly
- Quick to crochet
- A great use for leftover yarn!
- Easy to customize
- Can be used in bags and backpacks.
- Easy to make in various colors
- Easy to make for an accessory!
- The round shape and curling tentacles make it an excellent addition to small amigurumi creations as well.
This is a good project for beginners to miniature crochet as it is a great way to learn how to crochet neatly in the round and keep the finished size small.
Skill Level
Time: 2-3 hours to complete
Be familiar with:
- Magic ring
- Chain stitch
- Single crochet
- Increase
- Decrease
- Slip stitch
- Performing in a round-robin style
- Basic sewing
Getting the tentacles “just right” may take a bit of practice since you can’t afford them to get too bulky; you want them to curl on their own.
Materials You’ll Need
Collect tools and materials.
Yarn
- Main-color cotton or acrylic yarns
- Small amount of contrasting yarn
- Black embroidery thread for eyes and nose
- Cheek Yarn (optional)
- Cotton yarn is especially good for small charms as it results in neat, defined stitches.
Tools
Crochet hook suitable for your yarn
- Polyester fiberfill
- Stitch marker
- Yarn needle
- Sharp scissors
- Keychain ring
- Small clasp or swivel hook for latching the tackle to the hook.
Optional:
- Tiny beads
- Ribbon
- Embroidery thread
- Decorative buttons
If you want a smaller, smaller charm, then use smaller yarn and smaller hooks.
Finished Size
The finished jellyfish will be about 3-4” long with the yarn and hook you use.
The size can be easily changed. The thicker the yarn, the bigger the charm, and the smaller the yarn, the jellyfish is going to be, but it all works great on smaller bags.
Don’t forget that if you change yarn weight you will also need to adjust your keychain hardware size and stuffing quantity!
Pattern Notes
Just before starting, make sure that the stitches are tight enough so that the stuffing doesn’t show through.
If you need to find the start of each round, use a stitch marker.
With this it is a small item, so make sure to count your stitches regularly. One stitch loss will make a significant difference in the shape.
Do not over eat. Just a bit of pressure and a round shape will be formed.
How to Crochet the Jellyfish Keychain
The jellies are crocheted from a key chain of beads. It is helpful to have an understanding of the construction before beginning the crochet steps. The body of the jellyfish is round, with small details on its face, and many hanging tentacles. After these pieces are completed, you will add the keychain hardware at the top of the pieces.
The overall form is straightforward, and the majority of the character is derived from the colors and tentacle style.
Step 1: Crochet the Jellyfish Body
Use primary yarn to create a magic ring.
Make six single crochet stitches into the ring.
Rounds should be made as far around as you can without the piece widening, even around the next rounds.
Keep working single crochet stitches around body.
As you crochet, you’ll notice the shape becoming rounded.
Continue proceeding evenly until the body is at a desired height.
The lower half should start to curve in slightly to form the shape of the jellyfish, a dome.
Step 2: Shape the Bottom
Start to taper down slowly at the bottom rounds.
Do not completely close the opening, but keep it shut.
Add a little at a time of polyester fiberfill.
Spread stuffing out evenly amongst fingers.
The body should be firm, but not too compact.
When the shape is smooth, the run rate decreases.
Tie off tightly and weave yarn end into.
Step 3: Add the Face
The face may be plain or expressive.
Embroider two small eyes with black embroidery thread.
They may be round, oval or a bit sleepy.
Place a very little curved smile in the middle between them.
Add a touch of pink blush under the eyes for an even cuter look.
For an extremely young child, it would be better to embroider the facial features rather than use loose plastic ones.
Step 4: Crochet the Tentacles
The recognizable feature of the project is the tentacles.
Make a number of chains with your selected yarn.
They can be various lengths to create a more natural look.
Stop and start with a work stitch or single crochet along the chains.
Some tentacles can be straight, and others curved slightly.
Typically, four to six tentacles will suffice for a mini jellyfish crochet charm.
The tentacles should be fairly light in weight, and should dangle from the body in a natural way.
Step 5: Make Curly Tentacles
Crochet a simple curl for additional movement.
Make several chains then crochet into the chain spaces.
This extra stitch will make the strand curly, of course.
Try to play with the number of stitches to adjust the tightness of the tentacle’s curls.
It’s one of the most fun aspects of the project, as even slight shifts can result in vastly different shapes.
Step 6: Attach the Tentacles
Arrange the tentacles evenly around the bottom of the jellyfish body.
If you’d like a layered look, position longer tentacles in the middle and shorter ones at the perimeter.
Tie off each tentacle tightly.
Check the underside before tightening up.
The tentacles should hang free and not be clumped together.
Step 7: Add the Keychain Loop
Make a little loop at the top of the jellyfish, to crochet onto.
Otherwise, use a metal jump ring with a good stitch.
Attach your key ring or swivel lock to a ring.
Be sure that the attachment is tight as it will be under the greatest stress with the charm attached to a bag.
Strengthen the area by making several passes with yarn if necessary.
Step 8: Add Decorative Details
Now you can personalize your jellyfish.
Try adding:
- Tiny embroidered stars
- Small bows
- Contrasting tentacles
- Mini flowers
- Tiny beads
- Metallic thread
- Small embroidered dots
A small crochet bow can be placed near one side of the body for a playful touch, as well.
Creative Color Ideas
Don’t feel restricted to traditional ocean colors.
Try:
- Sky blue colored with white tentacles.
- Tentacles of lavender color with pink additional.
- Mint Green and Cream in details
- Peach coral with black tips.
- Yellow in color, with orange tentacles
- White with pastel rainbow strands
- Deep navy navy with turquoise details.
- To create an underwater-inspired collection, create a few jellyfish in various hues.
For a more understated look, neutral shades like cream, beige, gray and dusty blue can make an elegant accessory.
Creative Uses for This Pattern
This small jellyfish comes with many uses other than hanging it around on a keychain.
Experiment with connecting to:
- Backpacks
- Handbags
- Purses
- Pencil cases
- Tote bags
- Travel bags
- Crochet project bags
- Zipper pulls
- Camera bags
- Gift packaging
You can also crochet a sea creature bag charm to decorate and hang in a room or crochet display.
This project would go great with any of the little crochet turtles, fish, whales and starfish.
Tips for a Professional Finish
The following tips will help you get a professional finish.
The smaller the project, the more apparent an uneven stitch will be.
Maintain even tension and frequently count stitches.
If possible, sew the tentacles in the same space surrounding the body.
Pay attention to the attachment on the keychain. The hardware has to be nice if the charm falls off after a couple of days.
Before attaching the metal ring, gently pull on the loop to test its strength.
Lastly cut and tuck all the loose yarn ends into the body.
Caring for Your Jellyfish Charm
Your crochet charm will get dusty as it comes with your bag, just like it is with many other items, it is a good idea to give it a cleaning every now and then.
- For regular dusting use a soft brush or lint roller.
- If there is a small stain, gently dab with cool water and mild soap.
- Do not wash the whole charm unless specified by the yarn label.
- Don’t wring the piece. Squeeze water out and let dry thoroughly.
- Periodically inspect the keychain hardware to ensure it is securely fastened.
Personalization Ideas
After a basic jellyfish, there are lots of options for making an entirely different version.
You can use variegated yarn for tentacles for color. Alternatively, one could crochet the body a color and each tentacle a different color.
To create a cute theme, add a small bow or embroidered eyelashes.
If you want to make it spooky Halloween, try black and purple yarns, with a dash of orange.
White, icy blue and silver thread might be suitable for a jellyfish for a winter theme.
Even create a petite family of jellyfish with various expressions!
Why Mini Crochet Charms Make Great Projects
Small accessories are a special part of crochet because they don’t take up much time but are useful.
Working with small shapes, stuffing, embroidery and assembly is practiced in a project like this. These skills can be easily applied to bigger amigurumi projects.
This is also a great project to use up some space! A jellyfish requires very little yarn, so what’s left over after making a sweater or scarf is just enough for a jellyfish.
And, since the finished charm is so small, it’s actually easy to take unfinished charms along with you. Crochet a few tentacles while traveling, waiting for an appointment or just relaxing with a cup of coffee.
Final Thoughts
This little crochet jellyfish is evidence that a little project can have lots of personality. The body is rounded, expressive face and dangling tentacles make a cute accessory to add to nearly any bag.
This Crochet Jellyfish Keychain Pattern can also be adapted to various crochet techniques. Maintain an easy and subdued color palette, add colorful, fun tentacles, or even design an entire underwater line with various sea creatures.
Spend time designing the shape of the body, add the expression you love to the face, and ensure there is a good attachment of the keychain to the body. When you master the simple building, try out colors and accessories to make your own little ocean characters.
This handmade charm is a reminder that some of the most fun crochet projects are the smallest projects, whether worn on a backpack, purse or crochet project bag.