Complete Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners (Long & Detailed)

Crocheted mini bag keychains are small, adorable, and highly customizable accessories. Even though they look intricate, they’re actually one of the easiest projects for beginners. A mini bag keychain takes only a small amount of yarn, and it teaches you many essential crochet skills like crocheting in rounds, making simple shapes, and attaching hardware.

This long article will walk you through every step—from materials to finishing—so you can confidently create your own mini crochet bag keychain.

🌼 Why Mini Bag Keychains Are Perfect for Beginners

✔ Quick project (20–40 minutes)
✔ Uses very little yarn
✔ You practice basic stitches
✔ Great for gifts or selling at craft markets
✔ Many shapes possible: round, square, tote, purse, backpack
✔ Beginner-friendly and customizable

🧵 Materials You Will Need

Yarn

Small amount of cotton yarn, milk cotton, or macramé cord (2–3 mm)
You may choose one color or a two-tone combination

Crochet Hook

3.0 mm – 4.0 mm (depending on yarn thickness)

Tools

Yarn needle
Scissors
Stitch marker
Metal jump ring
Keychain ring or lobster clasp

Optional Items

Small button
Snap closure
Tiny leather label
Decorative charm
Glue gun (if adding felt lining)

🧶 Basic Stitches Used

You only need these 5 beginner stitches:

Magic Ring (MR)
Chain (ch)
Slip Stitch (sl st)
Single Crochet (sc)
Increase (inc = 2 sc in one stitch)

If you know these, you can easily follow this tutorial.

✨ SECTION 1 — Start the Mini Bag Base

Mini bag keychains usually start with either an oval or a circle.
For this tutorial, we will make a round mini handbag, which is the easiest for beginners.

🪢 Step 1: Make a Magic Ring

Create a magic ring.
Crochet 6 single crochets (6 sc) into the ring.
Pull the ring tight to close the hole.

This forms the center of your mini bag.

🪢 Step 2: Increase the Circle

You will now crochet in continuous rounds.

Use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch.

Round 2:

2 sc in each stitch → 12 stitches

Round 3:

1 sc, inc repeat around → 18 stitches

Round 4:

2 sc, inc repeat around → 24 stitches

This is enough for a palm-sized mini bag.
If you want a larger keychain, add:

Round 5 (optional):

3 sc, inc repeat → 30 stitches

✨ SECTION 2 — Build the Sides of the Bag

Once your base is complete, you will begin forming the height.

🪢 Step 3: Form the Wall

To help the sides stand up neatly:

Crochet 1 round of BLO (Back Loop Only) sc

This creates a small ridge and helps cleanly separate the base from the body.

🪢 Step 4: Crochet the Bag Height

Now work:

5–8 rounds of sc

No increases.
This builds the vertical walls of the mini bag.

You can adjust:

Fewer rounds → short mini purse
More rounds → taller mini pouch

✨ SECTION 3 — Create the Top Edge & Opening

Once the height is ready:

🪢 Step 5: Finish with a Neat Top Border

A clean border gives your mini bag a professional finish.

Options:

Option A: Simple edge

1 round of slip stitches

Option B: Stronger edge

1 round of sc in a contrasting color

Option C: Decorative edge

Crab stitch (reverse single crochet)

Choose whichever style you prefer.

✨ SECTION 4 — Crochet the Mini Flap

A flap makes the mini bag cute and functional-looking.

🪢 Step 6: Start the Flap

Reattach yarn at the back top edge, center of the bag opening.

Chain 8–10 (depending on bag width)
Sc in 2nd chain from hook and across
Ch 1, turn

🪢 Step 7: Build the Flap Rows

Work 3–6 rows of sc.

To shape into a semicircle:

In the middle stitch of each row, add 1 increase (2 sc in same stitch)

This creates a gently curved flap.

🪢 Step 8: Add Border to the Flap

Switch to a contrasting color.

Sc around the edge of the flap
Slip stitch to finish

This adds structure and visual detail.

Optional: sew a tiny button or charm to the flap.

✨ SECTION 5 — Make the Keychain Attachment Loop

Your mini bag needs a loop for the key ring.

🪢 Step 9: Crochet the Loop

At the back top edge:

Chain 6–8
Slip stitch back into the same stitch to form a loop

This loop will hold the jump ring.

🪢 Step 10: Add Metal Hardware

Use pliers if needed.

Open jump ring
Insert through yarn loop
Attach key ring or lobster clasp
Close jump ring tightly

Now your mini bag can clip onto keys, zippers, backpacks, handbags, etc.

✨ SECTION 6 — Optional Cute Add-Ons

Customize your mini bag:

Mini Handle

Chain 12
Sc across
Sew onto top front

Mini Front Pocket

Chain 5
Sc for 2–3 rows
Sew on front of bag

Two-tone Design

Switch colors halfway through the body or the flap.

Decorative Charm

Attach a bead or mini pom-pom to the keychain ring.

Mini Lining

Cut a small piece of felt and glue inside for stiffness.

✨ SECTION 7 — Finishing Touches

🪢 Step 11: Weave in Yarn Ends

Use a yarn needle to hide all tails neatly inside the bag.

🪢 Step 12: Shape Your Mini Bag

Use your fingers to smooth and shape:

Flatten bottom
Round the sides
Fold flap naturally

Your mini bag should now look adorable and polished.

🎉 Your Mini Bag Keychain Is Done!

You now have a cute handcrafted accessory that you can:

Hang on your keys
Attach to a purse
Gift to friends
Sell at craft fairs
Use as decoration

This project taught you essential skills:

✔ Magic ring
✔ Increasing in rounds
✔ Building walls
✔ Shaping a flap
✔ Attaching a keychain ring
✔ Finishing edges