Crochet Jellyfish Keychain

The Crochet Jellyfish Keychain is a beginner-friendly design that takes very little yarn to create. It looks adorable in solid, variegated, or mixed combinations of color. The spherical body is decorated with a scalloped edge, cascading lengths of tentacles, and a cute Kawaii face, giving it an overall joyful and whimsical look.

Optionally attach a keyring or lobster clasp to the top of the jellyfish to create an adorable keychain that can accompany you wherever you go. Whether dangling from your keys, adorning a backpack, or hanging as a decorative charm, this crochet jellyfish keychain is sure to delight anyone who beholds its unique and enchanting design.

The Crochet Jellyfish Keychain is excellent for gifts, decor, ocean and jellyfish lovers, imaginative play, and more.

Read on to learn more about the inspiration and yarn choice for the Crochet Jellyfish Keychain or scroll down to the bottom to find the free pattern.

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The Inspiration

After making the Crochet Octopus Keychain I knew that I wanted to add several more ocean-themed items to the website. I have always been a collector at heart and this seems to be the way my brain works with designs as well. What other items would pair with this and be fun to make?

That said, I now have a list that, in time, I plan to design and share. For now, I’ve decided to make them in a smaller format, which makes them cute, quick to make, and easy to turn into keychains to tag around and sport your art, but I also have grand ideas running through my head for larger versions. Unfortunately, I don’t have more arms, like these ocean friends or I’d be designing all day long with at least two of them. All the same, let’s seize the time we do have and make cute things!

Some Fun Jellyfish Facts

On a side note, I have a few cool facts about jellyfish that you might like to know as you’re making and sharing your own new friends.

• Jellyfish are the oldest multi-organ animal. Yes, they are older than dinosaurs! There’s even a certain species of jellyfish that are biologically immortal.
• Jellyfish have no brains, blood, bones, eyes, or heart. Instead, they have an elementary nervous system with receptors that detect light, vibrations, and chemicals in the water. These abilities and a sense of gravity allow them to orient and navigate in the water.
• Jellyfish are found worldwide, from the coldest Arctic oceans to warm, tropical climates. They can even be found in some freshwater lakes and ponds.
• An estimated 150 million people are stung by jellyfish each year. While some stings cause relatively minor reactions others can cause paralysis, cardiac arrest, and death within a few minutes. They don’t go directly after humans but if you touch them, even a dead one, it can sting you.
• Some jellyfish glow in the dark. This serves various purposes including attracting prey and startling predators.
• Not all jellyfish have tentacles.
• Jellyfish reproduce both sexually and asexually (by cloning themselves) during different parts of their life. Also, if a jellyfish is sliced in half, the two pieces can regenerate and create two new organisms.
• The lion’s mane jellyfish is the largest known jellyfish species. The largest known specimen stretches 120 feet (36.5 meters) from the top to the bottom of its tentacles. That equates to roughly 12 stories in a residential building or 10 stories in an office tower.

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The Yarn

The Crochet Jellyfish Keychain was made using Yarnspirations Caron Simply Soft, a lighter worsted weight, size 4, acrylic yarn that comes in a wide range of colors and styles. Honestly, you can’t go wrong with whatever color or colors you’d like your jellyfish to be.

I went with a combination of colors that were both vibrant and reminded me of ocean colors, especially those you might see at sunset on the ocean. Go ahead and Google that for some gorgeous color inspiration! There are so many color possibilities.

In the images, you’ll find that some are made in a solid color throughout while others are made in three colors, with the body in one color and then switching for each tentacle style.

For the solid yarn colors, you’ll see Fucsia, Grape, Mango, Orchid, Robins Egg, Strawberry, and Sunshine. For one of them, I also used a speckled yarn option in the color Abyss. This one might just be my favorite. I’m excited to see what colors you’ll choose! Happy Crocheting!

Substitutions

Any brand of worsted-weight acrylic yarn should work well for making the Crochet Jellyfish Keychain but note that due to variations among brands, the finished size may vary slightly. Also note, if mixing yarn brands, that it’s important to ensure that the thickness of the yarns are the same to ensure consistency in stitching.

If cotton yarn is preferred, this too should work fine. You can see the miniature version of Crochet Jellyfish Keychain in some of the images. It was made using the same pattern, a 1.50 mm hook, and size 10 cotton crochet thread.

Making the Crochet Jellyfish Keychain with different-sized yarns has not been tested, but should also likely work well, just make sure that any necessary hook size adjustments are made to accommodate the chosen yarn.

As always, I’d love to see/hear about your experiences with making the design and the products you chose to use. Tag me on social media @jenhayescreation

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The Pattern

Difficulty

Advanced Beginner

Materials

• Crochet Hook, Size E/4 (3.5 mm) (I use mostly Clover Amour hooks)
• Stitch Marker(s)
• Scissors
• Stuffing
• Tapestry Needle
• Safety eyes, 8 mm
• Embroidery Floss, Black (DMC 310) and Pink (DMC 776 or DMC 956) 
• Embroidery Needle
• Dritz Disc Needle Pullers (optional)
• Chopstick, dowel, or something similar to help with stuffing small parts
• Keychain (optional)
• Yarnspirations Caron Simply Soft (worsted 4-Medium, 100% acrylic, 315 yds/288 m, 6 oz/170 g), used approx. 50 yds/46 m – Colors shown: Fucsia, Grape, Mango, Orchid, Robins Egg, Strawberry, Sunshine
• Yarnspirations Caron Simply Soft Speckle (worsted 4-Medium, 100% acrylic, 235 yds/215 m, 5 oz/141 g), used approx. 50 yds/46 m – Color shown: Abyss

Gauge

Using hook size E/4 (3.5 mm) the first 5 Rnds of the body measure approx. 1 7/8 inches (4.8 cm) in diameter.

Finished Measurements

Using hook size E/4 (3.5 mm) the Crochet Jellyfish Keychain measures approx. 3 inches (7.6 cm) tall.

The miniature Crochet Jellyfish in the images was made using Size 10 crochet thread and a 1.50 mm hook. The same pattern is used with a minor change: use 4 mm eyes. It measures approx. 1.5 inches (3.8 cm).

Design Notes

• The pattern is written in English using US crochet terminology.
• The pattern is written in continuous rounds, it will be helpful to place a stitch marker at the beginning stitch of the round and move it up at the start of each additional round. 
• At the end of each round, the number of stitches for completion is noted in parentheses.
• Further design notes and tips will be provided throughout the pattern to help aid in construction.
• The yarn under method was used when designing this piece, the yarn over method can also be used and will likely create a slightly larger jellyfish.
• For reference when placing eyes and other facial features the starting stitch is at the back of the work.
• Caution! If using safety eyes, consider who will be using the item. Safety eyes are not recommended for children under three or those prone to putting things in their mouths as they may cause a choking hazard. Crocheted or hand-embroidered eyes are a great alternative!

Abbreviations/Stitches Used

• back bar of the ch/back ridge – horizontal bar on the backside of a ch
• BLO – work in the back loop only
• ch – chain
• dc – double crochet
• FLO – work in the front loop only
• MR – magic ring (AKA magic circle, adjustable ring)
• Rnd(s) – round(s)
• sc – single crochet 
• sc2tog – single crochet 2 stitches together (use the invisible decrease unless directed otherwise)
• sk – skip
• sl st – slip stitch
• standing sc
• st(s) – stitch(s)
• [ ] / ( ) – work instructions between brackets/parenthesis as many times as directed
• Some hand embroidery

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Let’s Make Our Crochet Jellyfish Keychain!

>Design Note: The Crochet Jellyfish Keychain is great for scrap yarn in any color and can be made in one solid color or multiple colors (switch when indicated in the pattern). Specific colors used for Colors A, B, and C are noted under some of the images, in the section above about the yarn, to show what was used, but the possibilities are endless. The materials list also has all the colors shown in the images.

Body

>Design Note: The Crochet Jellyfish Keychain is created from the top down.

Using Color (A)

• Rnd 1: 6sc in MR. (6sts)
• Rnd 1 alternative: If preferred, ch2 and then 6sc in 2nd chain from hook. (6sts)
• Rnd 2: 2sc in each st around. (12sts)
• Rnd 3: [Sc in the next st, 2sc in next st] 6 times. (18sts)
• Rnd 4: Sc in the next st, 2sc in the next st, [sc in the next 2sts, 2sc in the next st] 5 times, sc in the next st. (24sts)
• Rnd 5: [Sc in the next 3sts, 2sc in the next st] 6 times. (30sts)
• Rnds 6-10: Sc in each st around. (30sts for 5 Rnds)

>Design Tip: In the remaining Rnds the pattern will be worked BLO. Use a regular sc decrease when working in the BLO.

• Rnd 11: In BLO: [Sc in the next 3sts, sc2tog] 6 times. (24sts) Mark the unused front loop of the first st with an additional st marker for later reference.

Insert the safety eyes. The suggested placement is between Rnds 7 and 8 approx. 5sts apart. 

>Design Option: If preferred, the mouth and other facial features can be added now while the bottom of the Crochet Jellyfish Keychain is open. Alternatively, it can be done after the tentacles have been added as noted below under “Add Facial Features.”

• Rnd 12: In BLO: Sc in the next st, sc2tog, [sc in the next 2sts, sc2tog] 5 times, sc in the next st. (18sts)
• Rnd 13: In BLO: [Sc in the next 7sts, sc2tog] 2 times. (16sts)

Firmly stuff and shape the body and continue to do so as the pattern progresses.

• Rnd 14: In BLO: [Sc2tog] 8 times. (8sts)
• Fasten off leaving a long tail to close up the hole. Close the hole with a tapestry needle stitching only through the front loops until the hole pulls nicely closed, secure, and weave in the end.

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Adding the Scalloped Edge and Tentacles

The 88 unused spiraling front loops will now be used to add the scalloped edge and two types of tentacles. Sts 1-29 will be used for Rnd 1 to make the scalloped edge, sts 30-54 will be used for Rnd 2 to make the straighter tentacles, and sts 55-88 will be used for Rnd 3 to make the curly tentacles. It may be helpful to mark the 1st (already marked in Rnd 11), 30th, and 55th st to make sure the project stays on track.

>Design Note: If making a solid-colored jellyfish there is no need to fasten off as noted at the end of Rnds 1-3 when making the scalloped edge and different tentacles. Instead, follow the directions as stated without fastening off.

Scalloped Edge

Using Color (A)

• Rnd 1: Working in the front loops not used in Rnd 11 of the body: Sc into the previously marked st, sk the next st, 5dc in the next st, sk the next st, [sc in the next st, sk the next st, 5dc in the next st, sk the next st] 6 times, sc in the next st, sl st to the same st as the first st to join. (7 scallops + 7sc)
• Fasten off and weave in the ends. 

Straighter Tentacles

>Design Note: These tentacles are still likely to curl a bit but not as much as the curly tentacles.

Using Color (B)

• Rnd 2: Fasten on with a sl st into the next unworked st of the spiral (next to the final sc made in Rnd 1), [ch 15, working in the back bars of the ch: sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across (14sts total), sl st in the next 4sts] 6 times, sl st to the same st as the first st to join. (6 tentacles + 24 sl sts)
• Fasten off and weave in the ends. 

Curly Tentacles

Using Color (C)

• Rnd 3 (completes the last 2 Rnds of the spiral): Fasten on with a sl st into the next unworked st of the spiral, [ch 25, working in the back bars of the ch: 2sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across (48sts total), sl st in the next 4sts] 8 times, ch 25, working in the back bars of the ch: 2sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across, sl st in the next st. (9 tentacles + 33sl sts)

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Add Facial Features 

>Design Tip: For thicker lines use 6 strands and 3 strands for thinner lines.

• Using embroidery floss in desired colors and an embroidery needle, stitch a mouth, cheeks, eyebrows, and other desired facial features. Pictured, the mouth is centered between the eyes, the top points between Rnds 10-11 and the bottom point between Rnd 11-12. 

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Add a Keyring

• If using, attach a keyring to the top center of the jellyfish’s body.

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Reach Out, Share, and Follow Along!

As always, I’d love to see your creation if you’re willing to share! Comment below or tag me on social media. You can find me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram (tag @jenhayescreations and use the hashtag #jenhayescreations to show off your work and have a chance to be featured), and stay tuned to find me in the future on YouTube!

Also, remember that the best way to always be in the loop about new patterns, techniques, tutorials, giveaways, and crafty fun is to subscribe to the newsletter! Thanks for your support!

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Copyright and Use Policy

This pattern and its photos are copyright of Jennifer Hayes (Jen Hayes Creations) and are for personal, non-commercial use only. You may not copy, sell, republish, distribute, or translate my patterns, photos, or tutorials in part or whole. Share this pattern on social media by using the social sharing buttons or a link to the pattern. You are welcome to sell any finished items produced from this pattern. Please credit Jen Hayes Creations as the designer and include a link to the pattern listing if selling the finished piece online. Thank you!