How to Crochet a Penguin Keychain – Easy Amigurumi Pattern

Those chubby little penguins make adorable handmade charms, with a white belly, rosy cheeks, and tiny flippers that bring each one to life.

Hello, friends! This chubby little crochet penguin is hard not to love, with its black-and-white body, tiny flippers, and soft pink blush on its cheeks. Whether you choose classic black or a sweet grey shade, this pocket-sized crochet character makes an especially cute handmade companion.

This little crochet penguin is more than a decoration; it can become a keychain, phone strap, bag charm, or thoughtful gift for kids. Start with a foundation chain, then use white yarn to create the belly against the main body color. With simple stitches, gradual shaping, and a little fiberfill, even beginners can enjoy making their own tiny crochet penguin.

Credit ghazi craft

Materials & Tools Needed

• Yarn: Polyester or milk cotton yarn in a main color (black, grey, or blue); white yarn for the belly and face; and yellow or orange yarn for the beak and feet.
• Crochet Hook: No. 3 hook.
• Stuffing: Fiberfill or polyfill.
• Tapestry Needle: For closing the body and attaching details.
• Scissors: For cutting yarn.
• Stitch Markers: Optional, for keeping track of stitches.
• Craft Glue or Hot Glue Gun: For attaching small parts, if preferred.
• Lighter: For carefully sealing suitable synthetic yarn ends, only with adult supervision and away from the finished stuffed toy.
• Hardware: Keychain ring or phone strap cord.
• Eyes: Safety beads or small black beads.

Finished Size & Customization Ideas

The finished penguin measures approximately 2.5–3 inches tall, making it suitable for a keychain, bag charm, or phone strap.

• Classic Penguin: Use black yarn for the body, white for the belly, and orange for the feet and beak.
• Soft Grey Penguin: Replace black with grey for a gentler look.
• Pastel Penguin: Try pink or pastel blue for a playful variation.
• Winter Penguin: Add a tiny crochet scarf, bow, or miniature winter hat.
• Baby-Friendly Alternative: Replace small beads with securely embroidered eyes. Avoid detachable small parts for young children, as they can pose a choking hazard.

Pattern Abbreviations & Terminology

• ch: Chain
• sl st: Slip stitch
• sc: Single crochet
• dc: Double crochet
• inc: Increase – work 2 single crochets in the same stitch
• dec: Decrease – single crochet 2 stitches together
• st(s): Stitch(es)
• MC: Main Color for the body
• W: White yarn for the belly and face

Step-by-Step Crochet Penguin Pattern

Part 1: Crochet the Main Body

Start with a foundation chain worked around both sides to form an oval. Introduce white yarn in the middle rows to form the penguin’s belly, while the main color shapes the rest of the body.

Foundation

1. Using the main color, make a slip knot.
2. Chain 19.
3. Skip the first chain from the hook.

Row 1

1. Work 1 single crochet into each of the next 17 chains.
2. Work an increase in the last chain.
3. Rotate your work so you can crochet along the opposite side of the foundation chain.
4. Work 17 single crochets down the other side.
5. Join with a slip stitch and chain 1.

Stitch count: 36 stitches.

Teaching guide: When working around the foundation chain, do not turn back across the top of your stitches. Rotate the chain and work into the unused loops along its opposite side. This creates an oval base for the penguin body.

Row 2

1. Work 1 single crochet into each stitch around.
2. Join with a slip stitch and chain 1.

Stitch count: 36 stitches.

Part 2: Add the White Belly

Keep the main color and white yarn ready. The color changes create the white belly panel against the darker body.

Row 3

1. Work 5 single crochets with the main color.
2. Change to white and work 8 single crochets.
3. Change back to the main color and work 23 single crochets.
4. Join with a slip stitch and chain 1.

Stitch count: 36 stitches.

Row 4

1. Work 4 single crochets with the main color.
2. Work 10 single crochets with white yarn.
3. Work 22 single crochets with the main color.
4. Join with a slip stitch and chain 1.

Stitch count: 36 stitches.

Rows 5-7

For each row:

1. Work 3 single crochets with the main color.
2. Work 12 single crochets with white yarn.
3. Work 21 single crochets with the main color.
4. Join with a slip stitch and chain 1.

Stitch count: 36 stitches per row.

Teaching guide for color changes: Keep the white stitches centered so the belly appears even. When changing colors, complete the final yarn-over of the previous stitch with the new color if you want a cleaner transition. Carry the unused yarn neatly or fasten it off as appropriate, and avoid pulling it too tightly, as it can make the body pucker.

Part 3: Shape the Penguin Body

The following rows reduce the stitch count to taper the body toward the top. Keep the color pattern aligned where specified, and count the stitches after each row.

Row 8

1. Work 4 single crochets with the main color.
2. Work 4 single crochets with white yarn.
3. Work 2 more single crochets with white yarn.
4. Work 4 more single crochets with white yarn.
5. Work 4 single crochets with the main color.
6. Work 1 decrease.
7. Repeat (6 single crochets, 1 decrease) twice.
8. Join with a slip stitch and chain 1.

Stitch count stated in the supplied pattern: 33 stitches.

Important stitch-count check: The supplied white section is written as 4 + 2 + 4 stitches, which totals 10 white single crochets. Follow that sequence if it matches your tutorial. If the belly is meant to stay centered but looks shifted, check the original color placement before continuing.

Row 9

1. Work 5 single crochets with the main color.
2. Work 3 single crochets with white yarn.
3. Work 2 more single crochets with white yarn.
4. Work 3 more single crochets with white yarn.
5. Work 4 single crochets with the main color.
6. Work 1 decrease.
7. Repeat (5 single crochets, 1 decrease) twice.
8. Join with a slip stitch and chain 1.

Stitch count stated in the supplied pattern: 30 stitches.

Teaching guide: The white section is written as 3 + 2 + 3 stitches, or 8 white stitches in total. If your white belly doesn’t line up with the previous row, check the color sequence instead of adding or removing stitches at random.

Row 10

1. Repeat (8 single crochets, 1 decrease) three times.
2. Join with a slip stitch and chain 1.

Stitch count: 27 stitches.

Row 11

1. Repeat (7 single crochets, 1 decrease) three times.
2. Join with a slip stitch and chain 1.

Stitch count: 24 stitches.

Row 12

1. Work 1 single crochet.
2. Work 1 decrease.
3. Repeat (2 single crochets, 1 decrease) five times.
4. Work 1 final single crochet.
5. Join with a slip stitch and chain 1.

Stitch count: 18 stitches.

Part 4: Stuff and Close the Body

Add fiberfill before the opening becomes too small to reach comfortably.

1. Gently fill the body with fiberfill.
2. Distribute the stuffing evenly so the penguin feels plump but the stitches are not stretched.
3. Check the shape and add a little more stuffing if any areas feel hollow.

Row 13

1. Repeat (1 single crochet, 1 decrease) six times.
2. Join with a slip stitch and chain 1.

Stitch count: 12 stitches.

Row 14

1. Work 6 decreases.
2. Join with a slip stitch and chain 1.
3. Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail for closing.

Stitch count: 6 stitches.

To close the opening, thread the long tail onto your tapestry needle and pass it through the front loops of the remaining 6 stitches. Pull the yarn gently until the opening closes, then secure the yarn and weave in the end.

Teaching guide: If a gap remains after pulling the yarn, pass the needle through the same front loops again and tighten gradually. Avoid pulling so hard that the yarn breaks or the top becomes distorted.

Part 5: Make the Flippers

Make 2 flippers using the main color.

1. Make a slip knot and chain 4.
2. Skip the first chain from the hook.
3. Work 3 slip stitches down the chain.
4. Chain 3.
5. Skip the first chain and work 2 slip stitches back down the chain.
6. Chain 1, cut the yarn, and leave a tail for sewing or attaching.

Make the second flipper in the same way. Keep both pieces similar in length so they look balanced when attached.

Part 6: Crochet the Feet

Make 2 feet using yellow or orange yarn.

1. Make a slip knot and chain 4.
2. Skip 2 chains from the hook.
3. Work 2 double crochets into the next chain.
4. Chain 2.
5. Work 1 slip stitch into that same space.
6. Chain 1 and cut the yarn, leaving a tail.

The feet create a small webbed shape at the bottom of the penguin. If the yarn is synthetic, do not use a lighter near the finished toy or your hands; trim and weave in the ends instead, or have an experienced adult seal suitable yarn ends safely away from the pattern.

Assemble the Penguin

Attach the Keychain or Phone Strap

Secure the keychain ring or phone strap cord at the top center of the head. Stitch it firmly through the body’s upper stitches so the penguin can hang without pulling loose.

Add the Eyes, Beak, and Blush

1. Position the eyes on the upper white facial area.
2. Secure safety eyes according to their instructions before closing the body, if you’re using them. If the body is already closed, embroidered eyes are often easier.
3. Make a tiny triangular beak with orange yarn by embroidering a few small stitches between the eyes.
4. Add small pink blush marks on the cheeks using pink embroidery floss.

Safety tip: Small beads, safety eyes, and glued parts can detach. For young children, use securely embroidered facial features instead of small components.

Attach the Flippers and Feet

1. Position one flipper on each upper side of the body.
2. Sew them in place with the yarn tails, or attach them with craft glue if you prefer.
3. Place the two feet at the bottom so the penguin can sit upright.
4. Sew or glue them securely, then check that both sides look balanced.

A Helpful Finishing Check

Before using the penguin as a keychain or phone charm, gently tug the hanging hardware and attached pieces to check that they are secure. Make sure the body is closed, the yarn tails are woven in, and nothing can easily come off.