Yellow petals, a brown center, and a small green leaf give this crochet sunflower keychain pattern its distinctive floral shape. The construction is divided into manageable sections: the center, the petals, a leaf, and a backing circle.
One detail deserves attention before you begin: the petals and the backing attach to different parts of the center. The petals use the front loops left exposed when you work a back-loop-only round. The backing is sewn to the final round, leaving the yellow petals outside the seam.
This separation makes the assembly easier to follow and keeps the hardware away from the individual petals.
Materials for the Crochet Sunflower Keychain Pattern
- Sport-weight cotton yarn in brown, yellow, and green.
- A 2.0 mm crochet hook as a starting point.
- A small amount of fiberfill, optional.
- A tapestry needle.
- A stitch marker.
- Scissors.
- A 20 mm lobster clasp with an attachment eye.
- A suitable jump ring.
- Small jewelry pliers for opening and closing the jump ring.
- A split keyring, optional.
Use the same yarn weight for the center, petals, and leaf.
The hook should produce a fabric you can work comfortably without large gaps between stitches. If inserting the hook or pulling through the yarn requires excessive force, reassess the hook size and your tension.
Finished dimensions and yarn quantities depend on your materials and tension. Measure the completed sample rather than relying on a fixed size estimate.
Skills and Crochet Abbreviations
This project uses a magic ring, continuous rounds, increases, stitches worked into a foundation chain, and simple sewing.
All instructions use US crochet terminology.
- MR: magic ring.
- ch: chain.
- sl st: slip stitch.
- sc: single crochet.
- hdc: half double crochet.
- dc: double crochet.
- st / sts: stitch / stitches.
- inc: work 2 sc into the same stitch.
- BLO: back loop only.
- FO: fasten off.
If you usually follow British crochet instructions, check the Craft Yarn Council’s crochet abbreviations and US–UK terminology comparison before beginning.
Crochet Sunflower Keychain Pattern: Construction Notes
Work the brown center and backing in continuous rounds. Do not join or turn between rounds.
Mark the first stitch of each round and move the marker as you progress.
Unless otherwise stated, work through both loops of each stitch.
The center finishes with 24 stitches. Working its final round in BLO leaves 24 unused front loops from the preceding round. Each of those exposed loops holds one yellow petal.
For the assembled keychain described here, make the backing circle. Fiberfill is optional and should only be added between the front and backing before the seam is closed.
Step 1: Make the Brown Center
Round 1
With brown, make an MR.
Work 6 sc into the ring. Tighten the ring and mark the first stitch.
Count: 6 sc.
Round 2
Work an inc into each stitch around.
Count: 12 sc.
Round 3
Repeat the following sequence 6 times:
- Work 1 sc into the next stitch.
- Work an inc into the following stitch.
Count: 18 sc.
Round 4
Repeat the following sequence 6 times:
- Work 1 sc into each of the next two stitches.
- Work an inc into the following stitch.
Count: 24 sc.
Round 5
Working in BLO, work 1 sc into each stitch around.
Count: 24 sc.
Work a sl st into the next stitch to finish. This finishing slip stitch is not included in the stitch count.
Fasten off, leaving enough yarn to weave in securely.
Locate the Petal Attachment Loops
Look just below the top edge of Round 5.
When you worked Round 5 into the back loops of Round 4, you left the front loops of Round 4 unused. These form the attachment line for the petals.
Count 24 exposed loops before joining yellow.
Do not use the top stitches of Round 5 for the petals; those stitches will be used when sewing on the backing.
Loop and Seam Map
| Location | Number | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Unused front loops of Round 4 | 24 | One yellow petal attaches to each loop. |
| Top stitches of Round 5 | 24 | Sew these to the backing, one stitch to one stitch. |
| Final backing round | 24 | Matches the center seam; it does not receive petals. |
Before adding yellow, use removable markers to divide the exposed front loops into four groups of six. Work six petals in each group. This makes it easier to find a missed loop without recounting the entire flower. The movement slip stitch positions the yarn at the next loop; it does not create a second petal in that loop.
Step 2: Add the Yellow Petals
With the front of the center facing you, join yellow with a sl st into any exposed front loop from Round 4.
Make One Petal
Ch 7.
Starting in the second chain from the hook, work back toward the brown center:
- Work 1 sc into the second chain from the hook.
- Work 1 hdc into the next chain.
- Work 1 dc into the next chain.
- Work 1 dc into the next chain.
- Work 1 hdc into the next chain.
- Work 1 sc into the final chain.
You have now worked six stitches across six chains.
Sl st into the same exposed brown loop where the petal began.
Sl st into the next unused exposed loop to move into position for the following petal.
Petal Chain Map
Number the seven foundation chains from the brown center outward: chain 1 is nearest the center and chain 7 is nearest the hook. Skip chain 7, then work back as follows.
| Chain position | Stitch |
|---|---|
| 6 | sc |
| 5 | hdc |
| 4 | dc |
| 3 | dc |
| 2 | hdc |
| 1 | sc, then return to the brown attachment loop |
Each chain receives one stitch. Check the first petal against this map before repeating it around the center.
Visual Guide: One Petal
Read the chain numbers from the brown center outward, then follow the return arrow toward the center. The two dc occupy separate chains.
Open this diagram at a larger size.
Repeat Around the Center
Repeat the petal instructions until each exposed loop holds one petal.
For the final petal, return with a sl st to its own attachment loop, then fasten off. There is no need to move into another loop.
Count: 24 petals.
Arrange the petals gently and check that no attachment loop was skipped or used twice. Because the petals sit close together, inspect their spacing before proceeding with assembly.
Step 3: Make the Green Leaf
Make one leaf, or repeat these instructions for a second leaf.
With green, ch 8.
First Side
Starting in the second chain from the hook, work:
- 1 sc.
- 1 hdc into the next chain.
- 1 dc into the next chain.
- 1 dc into the next chain.
- 1 hdc into the next chain.
- 1 sc into the next chain.
- 3 sc into the final chain.
The three stitches in the final chain allow you to move around the end of the foundation chain.
Second Side
Rotate the work so you can crochet along the unused side of the foundation chain. Do not turn the piece over.
Skip the chain already holding the three end stitches. Working back along the opposite side of the remaining six chains, make:
- 1 sc.
- 1 hdc.
- 1 dc.
- 1 dc.
- 1 hdc.
- 1 sc.
Join with a sl st to the first sc.
Count: 15 stitches, excluding the joining slip stitch.
Fasten off, leaving a tail long enough to sew the leaf to the flower.
Step 4: Make the Brown Backing
With brown, work in continuous rounds.
Round 1
Work 6 sc into an MR.
Count: 6 sc.
Round 2
Work an inc into each stitch.
Count: 12 sc.
Round 3
Repeat 1 sc, inc 6 times.
Count: 18 sc.
Round 4
Repeat 1 sc in each of the next two stitches, inc in the following stitch 6 times.
Count: 24 sc.
Sl st into the next stitch to finish. Do not count this slip stitch as an additional stitch.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing the backing to the center.
Assembling the Crochet Sunflower Keychain Pattern
Attach the Leaf
Position the leaf behind the petals, with part of it extending beyond the flower.
Using the green tail, sew the leaf securely to the back of the brown center. Make several stitches through the attachment area rather than securing it at a single point.
Keep the sewing on the reverse side where possible.
Sew on the Backing
Place the backing against the rear of the center, with the wrong sides facing each other.
Align the 24 stitches of the backing’s final round with the 24 stitches of Round 5 on the center.
Using the brown sewing tail, whipstitch around the edge. For each sewing stitch, pass through both top loops of one center stitch and both top loops of the corresponding backing stitch.
Keep the yellow petals outside the seam.
If adding fiberfill, leave a small opening. Insert a small amount, distribute it evenly, and finish closing the seam. Leave the filling out if you prefer a flatter center.
Secure and weave in the remaining tails.
Visual Guide: Petal Line and Backing Seam
The layers are shown apart to identify the attachment lines. This is a construction schematic, not a scaled cross-section: the exposed Round 4 front loops hold the petals, while Round 5 stitches match the backing edge.
Open this diagram at a larger size.
Attach the Hardware
Choose the top of the flower according to the leaf placement.
Use pliers to twist the jump ring open sideways rather than pulling its ends directly apart.
Pass it through several adjacent brown stitches at the joined edge, catching fabric from both the center and backing. Do not attach it to a yellow petal or a single exposed yarn strand.
Add the attachment eye of the lobster clasp and close the jump ring completely.
Check that the ring has no gap that could catch or release the yarn. Gently check the attachment before use, and inspect it periodically for wear.
Practical Tips for This Crochet Sunflower Keychain Pattern
Identify the Exposed Loops Before Adding Yellow
The unused loops belong to Round 4. Finding and counting them first prevents confusing the petal attachment line with the upper edge reserved for sewing.
Work the Two Double Crochets Separately
Each petal contains two dc worked into two consecutive chains. They are not an increase worked into one chain.
Working both into the same chain changes the petal construction and leaves an unused chain at its base.
Keep the Foundation Chains Workable
Very tight chains make it difficult to insert the hook and can pull the petals out of shape. Keep the seven-chain foundations consistent without tightening them against the hook.
Count the Leaf Before Fastening Off
The leaf has six stitches on the first side, three at the far end, and six on the return side.
If your total differs from 15, check whether you worked into the end chain again when beginning the return side.
Keep Filling Away from the Seam
If using fiberfill, add only enough for the amount of shaping you want. Keep loose fibers away from the sewing edge so they do not become trapped between the stitches.
Finishing and Care
Arrange the petals with your fingers after assembly.
Follow the yarn label’s care instructions. Do not apply steam unless the fiber and any attached components are suitable for it.
Spot-clean when practical, keeping metal hardware out of prolonged contact with water. Allow the piece to dry completely before using it again.
Check the attachment area occasionally. Replace hardware that develops a gap or rough edge, and repair worn yarn before continuing to use the keychain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is This Crochet Sunflower Keychain Pattern Suitable for Beginners?
It is best approached after learning single crochet increases, half double crochet, double crochet, and working in continuous rounds. The petal attachment loops and the two-sided leaf require particular attention.
How Many Petals Should There Be?
There are 24 petals: one in each unused front loop of Round 4.
Round 5 is worked into the back loops of those same stitches, leaving the front loops available.
Do I Need to Add Stuffing?
No. Fiberfill is optional. If you use it, enclose it between the center and the backing before completing the seam.
Can I Leave Off the Backing?
The keychain assembly above uses the backing to cover the reverse side and provide two layers at the hardware attachment.
If you are making a decorative appliqué instead, you can omit the backing, fiberfill, and hardware, then sew the flower directly to your chosen surface.
Why Do My Petals Look Different from Each Other?
Check that every petal starts with seven chains and contains the same six return stitches. Also confirm that the two dc are worked into separate chains and that each petal returns to its own attachment loop.
More Crochet Projects to Explore
If you enjoy floral designs, take a look at our Lavender Bell Flower Doily for a different way to combine a circular center, leaves, and floral details.
For other small projects, browse our crochet accessories collection, which includes keychains, appliqués, and decorative motifs.
Share Your Sunflower
If you try this crochet sunflower keychain pattern, share the yarn and hook you used, whether you added a backing or filling, and any adjustments you made.
A close-up of the petals and leaf is useful too—those small construction details can help other crocheters understand your result.
