A pocket-sized turkey is the ultimate way to bring handmade charm to your Thanksgiving table, autumn tier trays, or key ring. This adorable amigurumi features a round, chubby body, a cheerful fan of rust, mustard, and cream feathers, and tiny details that come together in under an hour. Whether you are using up scrap yarn from your stash or making a little flock for the family, this quick project is pure autumn joy.
Mini Crochet Turkey Keychain – Free Thanksgiving Pattern
Quick Facts
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Skill level | Easy / Beginner-Friendly Amigurumi |
| Finished size | Approx. 2.5 inches (6 cm) tall |
| Yarn | Sport or light DK scrap yarn in brown, dark brown, rust, mustard, cream, and red |
| Hook | 2.5 mm crochet hook |
| Stitches used | US terminology (see Abbreviations) |
| Time to make | Under 1 hour |
Size tips are included further down in the pattern.
What Makes This Turkey Keychain Special
This mini turkey is designed with clean construction and minimal sewing. The round body is worked in continuous spiral rounds from the bottom up, creating a neat sphere without awkward seams. The tail feathers are worked as a continuous flat fan with scalloped edging, eliminating the need to weave in ends for separate petals. The beak, wattle, and safety eyes add character, while the keyring clasp is securely attached right through the top loop of the body.
Skill Level
- Working in the round in a spiral
- Basic increases and invisible decreases
- Changing yarn colors
- Simple sewing and embroidery
Don’t worry if you are new to amigurumi; the step-by-step instructions and photos will guide you through every single piece.
Finished Measurements
| Dimension | Inches | Centimeters |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 2.5 in | 6 cm |
| Width (Body) | 2.0 in | 5 cm |
| Tail Fan Width | 3.0 in | 7.5 cm |
Materials You Will Need
| Material | Color Name | Yarn Weight | Yards | Meters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yarn A | Brown (Body & Head) | Sport / DK | 15 yds | 14 m |
| Yarn B | Dark Brown (Tail base) | Sport / DK | 5 yds | 4.5 m |
| Yarn C | Rust (Feathers outer) | Sport / DK | 5 yds | 4.5 m |
| Yarn D | Mustard (Feathers middle) | Sport / DK | 5 yds | 4.5 m |
| Yarn E | Cream (Feathers inner) | Sport / DK | 5 yds | 4.5 m |
| Yarn F | Red (Wattle) | Sport / DK | 2 yds | 2 m |
| Yarn G | Orange (Beak) | Sport / DK | 2 yds | 2 m |
- Hook: 2.5 mm crochet hook
- Notions: 2 black safety eyes (6 mm) or black embroidery floss, fiberfill stuffing, stitch marker, yarn needle, scissors, metal keychain clasp with swivel hook
Yarn Suggestions
| Yarn Line | Weight | Skein Yardage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schachenmayr Catania | Sport (Fine 2) | 137 yds (125 m) per 50g | 100% mercerized cotton, holds shape well for amigurumi |
| Hobbico Rainbow Cotton 8/4 | Fingering / Sport | 185 yds (170 m) per 50g | Great stitch definition and rich autumn color palette |
| Drops Safran | Sport (Fine 2) | 175 yds (160 m) per 50g | Smooth finish with no fuzz, perfect for mini toys |
⚠️ Note: Avoid fuzzy eyelash yarns or novelty yarns for this project, as they obscure the tiny stitch definition and make it difficult to place the facial features and tail fan.
Gauge
- Amigurumi Gauge: Rnds 1 to 6 of the body flat circle = 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) across using a 2.5 mm hook. Exact gauge is not critical for amigurumi, but use a hook size small enough that your stuffing does not peek through the stitches.
Abbreviations (US Terminology)
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| ch | chain |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| sc | single crochet |
| hdc | half double crochet |
| dc | double crochet |
| inc | increase (work 2 sc in the same st) |
| invdec | invisible decrease (insert front loops of next 2 sts, yarn over, pull through both loops, yarn over, pull through remaining 2 loops) |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
| rnd(s) | round(s) |
| row(s) | row(s) |
| rep | repeat |
| FO | fasten off |
UK / Australia terms note: UK: sc = dc, hdc = htr, dc = tr.
Special Stitches Explained
- Magic Ring: Wrap yarn around your left index finger twice to create a loop. Insert hook under both strands, pull up a loop, chain 1 to secure, and work your starting stitches into the ring. Pull the tail end to close tightly.
- Invisible Decrease (invdec): Insert your hook into the front loop only of the next stitch, then immediately insert your hook into the front loop only of the following stitch. Yarn over and pull through both front loops, yarn over and pull through remaining two loops on hook.
Pattern Instructions
💡 Designer Tip: Use a stitch marker at the start of every round for the body and move it up as you go so you never lose your place.
Section 1: Body (Brown, make 1)
Working in continuous spiral rounds. Do not join with a slip stitch unless instructed.
Rnd 1: With Brown, start 6 sc in a magic ring (6 sc)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around (12 sc)
Rnd 3: (1 sc, inc) x 6 (18 sc)
Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) x 6 (24 sc)
Rnd 5: (3 sc, inc) x 6 (30 sc)
Rnds 6 to 11: Sc in each st around (30 sc)
Rnd 12: (3 sc, invdec) x 6 (24 sc)
Rnd 13: (2 sc, invdec) x 6 (18 sc)
✅ Checkpoint: Insert your safety eyes between Rnds 8 and 9, about 5 stitches apart, and embroider the beak and wattle before stuffing completely.
Stuff the body firmly with fiberfill.
Rnd 14: (1 sc, invdec) x 6 (12 sc)
Rnd 15: Invdec x 6 (6 sc)
FO, leaving a short tail. Thread tail through front loops of remaining 6 stitches and pull tight to close the hole. Weave in ends.
Section 2: Tail Feather Fan
The tail is worked in rows, changing colors for each band of feathers, finishing with a scalloped edge.
Row 1 (Dark Brown): Ch 16, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn (15 sc)
Row 2 (Cream): Ch 1, sc in first st, *skip 1 st, 5 dc in next st, skip 1 st, sc in next st* rep from * to * across, turn *(20 sts)*
Row 3 (Mustard): Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc in same first sc, *sc in top center dc of the 5-dc shell below, 5 dc in the sc between shells* rep from * to * across, ending with 3 dc in the last sc, turn *(19 sts)*
Row 4 (Rust): Ch 1, sc in first st, *skip 2 sts, 5 dc in next st, skip 2 sts, sc in next st* rep from * to * across. FO, leave a long tail for sewing *(20 sts)*.
Section 3: Beak and Wattle
- Beak (Orange): Ch 3, sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in last ch. FO, leaving a tail to sew between the eyes.
- Wattle (Red): Ch 4, starting in 2nd ch from hook work 3 sl st down the chain. FO, leaving a tail to sew just below the beak.
Assembly
- Tail Attachment: Position the straight bottom edge of the Dark Brown tail base against the back of the brown body (centered behind the face, spanning Rnds 5 through 11). Use the long Rust yarn tail to whip-stitch the tail securely to the back of the body.
- Beak & Wattle: Sew the orange beak centrally between the safety eyes on Rnd 8. Sew the red wattle right underneath the left side of the beak so it dangles down naturally.
- Keychain Clasp: Using a length of Brown yarn, securely anchor the metal swivel clasp through the top-center stitches of the body (around Rnd 15), knotting securely and hiding the ends inside the stuffing.
Size Customization Tips
- To make a larger turkey keychain, use DK or Worsted weight yarn with a 3.5 mm hook and add an extra increase round to the body (
(4 sc, inc) x 6= 36 sc). - To make a mini pocket charm without the keychain, simply omit the metal clasp and close the top of the body completely.
Care Instructions
Spot clean gently with a damp cloth and mild soap. Do not submerge in water or machine wash to protect the metal keychain hardware and fiberfill stuffing.
FAQ
Can I use scrap yarn for this project?
Yes! This pattern is designed specifically for scrap yarn. Each color uses only a few yards, making it a fantastic stash-buster for autumn colors.
Can I make this pattern bigger?
You can scale this up by using a heavier yarn weight (like worsted weight) and a 4.0 mm hook, which will result in a chunkier turkey about twice the size.
Are safety eyes safe for young children?
Safety eyes have small parts that can be a choking hazard for children under 3 years old. For a baby-safe version, embroider the eyes using black embroidery floss with French knots or simple straight stitches.
Happy Crocheting!
I hope you love making your mini turkey keychain! Be sure to save this pin on Pinterest and share your colorful creations in the comments below. Happy Thanksgiving and happy crocheting!
📄 Your free PDF pattern