Free Pattern: Shell Scallop Crochet Keychain Charm in Denim Blue and Cream

Shell Scallop Crochet Keychain Charm: A Beginner-Friendly Little Treasure

If you have ever wanted to make something beautiful with your own hands but felt intimidated by big blankets and sweaters, this is the project for you. This chunky round medallion is worked in soft cream wool with bold shell stitches, then framed by a denim blue scalloped edge that gives it a sweet, vintage feel. It is small enough to finish in a single cozy evening, sturdy enough to live on your car keys, and pretty enough to clip onto a bag as a charm. The finished piece is flat, firm, and about three inches across, with raised shell texture you will love running your fingers over. Best of all, it teaches you the magic ring, the double crochet, the shell stitch, and the slip stitch all in one tiny, satisfying project.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Bulky weight (category 5) wool yarn. You will need approximately 12 yd (11 m) cream and 8 yd (7.3 m) denim blue. The sample used a smooth single-ply bulky wool.
• Crochet hook: Size J/10 (6.0 mm), or whatever size gets you the gauge below.
• Stitch marker (one, optional but helpful) to mark the first stitch of each round.
• Tapestry needle (a big-eyed, blunt-tipped needle) for weaving in ends.
• Scissors for cutting yarn.
• Hardware: One 1 in (2.5 cm) split ring or lobster clasp.
• Finished size: Medallion is 3 in (7.6 cm) in diameter. Total charm length including hardware is approximately 5 in (12.7 cm).

Abbreviations and Beginner Glossary

Do not worry if these look like a secret code. Here is every abbreviation used in this pattern, explained in plain English.

• ch – chain. Wrap the yarn over your hook and pull it through the loop on your hook. That makes one chain.
• st / sts – stitch / stitches. A "stitch" is one completed loop of yarn in your fabric.
• sl st – slip stitch. Insert your hook into the stitch, wrap yarn over, and pull it through both the stitch and the loop on your hook at the same time. It makes a nearly invisible joining stitch.
• sc – single crochet. Insert hook into stitch, wrap yarn over, pull up a loop (two loops on hook), wrap yarn over again, pull through both loops. One loop remains.
• dc – double crochet. Wrap yarn over hook first, insert hook into stitch, wrap yarn over, pull up a loop (three loops on hook), wrap yarn over, pull through two loops, wrap yarn over, pull through the last two loops.
• sp / sps – space / spaces. The little gap created by a chain, which you work into on the next round.
• shell – a group of stitches worked into the same stitch or space. In this pattern a shell is (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) all in one place.
• magic ring – an adjustable loop of yarn you crochet into, then pull tight so there is no hole in the center.
• join – connect the end of a round to its beginning with a slip stitch.
• fasten off – cut the yarn a few inches from your work, then pull the tail all the way through the last loop to lock it.
• rep from * – repeat the instructions after the asterisk as many times as told.
• beg – beginning.

Gauge

Gauge: The first 2 rounds of the medallion measure 1.75 in (4.5 cm) across after blocking. The finished medallion measures 3 in (7.6 cm) in diameter.

Why gauge matters: Gauge is simply how big your stitches turn out. If your stitches are looser than the pattern writer's, your medallion will be too big and floppy; if tighter, it will be too small and stiff. Because this is a keychain that hangs and gets handled, a firm, flat result matters.

How to check: Work Rounds 1 and 2 of the medallion exactly as written. Lay the circle flat and measure straight across the middle. If it is bigger than 1.75 in, try a smaller hook (size I/9, 5.5 mm). If smaller, try a larger hook (size K/10.5, 6.5 mm).

Beginner Tips Before You Start

• Keep your tension firm. This charm needs to hold a flat, sturdy shape. Gently snug each stitch without yanking it tight.
• Use a stitch marker. Place it in the first stitch of each round so you always know where the round began and ends.
• Count every round. The stitch counts in parentheses tell you exactly how many stitches you should have. Check before moving on.
• Do not pull the magic ring too hard at first. Wait until you have finished Round 1, then pull the tail snug to close the center hole.
• Work into the chain spaces, not the chains. On Rounds 4 and 5 you will place stitches into the little gaps (spaces), which is much easier than hunting for individual chain stitches.
• Keep your beginning chain-3 loose. It counts as your first double crochet, and a tight one makes the round pull in.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Notes Before You Begin

• The medallion is worked in joined rounds. You do not turn your work at the end of each round.
• Each round begins with the stated chain and ends with a slip stitch into the top of the beginning chain or the first stitch, as noted.
• Shell = (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) worked into the same stitch or space.
• The cream center is worked first. The denim blue scalloped edge is then worked directly into the final cream round.

Part 1: Cream Center

With cream, make a magic ring.

• Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), work 11 dc into the ring, join with sl st to top of beginning ch-3. (12 dc)
• Round 2: Ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around, join with sl st to top of beginning ch-3. (24 dc)
• Round 3: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next st; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of beginning ch-3. (36 dc)
• Round 4 (shell round): Ch 3, skip next 2 sts, shell in next st, *ch 1, skip next 2 sts, shell in next st; rep from * around, ch 1, join with sl st to top of beginning ch-3. (12 shells, 12 ch-1 sps)

Fasten off cream. Do not weave in the tail yet; use it to reinforce the center on the wrong side.

Part 2: Denim Blue Scalloped Shell Edge

Join denim blue with a sl st in any ch-1 sp of Round 4.

• Round 5: Ch 1, sc in same ch-1 sp, *ch 3, shell in next ch-1 sp, ch 3, sc in next ch-1 sp; rep from * around, ending with ch 3, join with sl st to first sc. (6 large scallops)
• Round 6: Sl st into first ch-3 sp, ch 1, sc in same sp, *5 dc in next shell ch-1 sp, sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp; rep from * around, join with sl st to first sc. (6 scallops with picot-style points)

Fasten off denim blue, leaving a 6 in (15 cm) tail.

Part 3: Hanging Loop and Hardware

• Cut a 4 in (10 cm) length of denim blue yarn. Fold it in half to form a loop.
• Insert the folded end through the top edge of the medallion between two scallops.
• Pass the two yarn tails through the folded loop and pull tight to secure.
• Knot the tails firmly on the wrong side and weave in.
• Attach a 1 in (2.5 cm) split ring or lobster clasp to the yarn loop. Gently tug to test security.

Assembly and Finishing

There is no seaming in this project, but finishing is what makes it look professional.

• Weave in ends: Thread each tail onto your tapestry needle. On the wrong side (the back), run the needle through the backs of several stitches, then reverse direction and run through a few more. This locks the tail so it will not work loose. Trim the yarn close to the fabric.
• Reinforce the center: Use the cream tail to run a few small stitches around the magic ring on the wrong side, then weave it in.
• Blocking: Lightly steam-block the medallion. Pin the scallops flat on a padded surface, hold a steam iron just above the fabric (do not press the iron onto the wool), let the steam settle in, and allow it to dry completely. This flattens the scallops and evens out the shell stitches.
• Final check: Trim any loose fibers and give the hardware a gentle tug to confirm it is secure.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Change the colors: Try a charcoal center with a mustard edge, or a soft pink center with a cream scallop for a sweet gift. Any two bulky yarns that contrast will work beautifully.
• Adjust the size: For a smaller charm, stop the cream center after Round 3 and work the blue edge directly into that round. For a larger bag charm, add one more cream increase round before the shell round.
• Substitute yarn: A single strand of worsted weight (category 4) yarn held double will match bulky gauge. Always swatch first, since fiber content changes how firm the finished charm feels.
• Make it a set: Work the same medallion in three color combos and attach them to a key ring together, or add a small bead to the hanging loop for extra sparkle.