Koalas may be the sleepiest animals in Australia — wild koalas can sleep up to 18 hours a day — but these little crochet koalas are wide awake and ready for your keyring. I rounded up 10 genuinely free koala keychain patterns, and to keep things honest, I split them into two groups: patterns designed as keychains from the start, and mini koala amigurumi that turn into keychains the moment you add a split ring or lobster clasp.
Every pattern below is free to access on the designer’s own page — no paid PDFs hiding behind a “free” label. Pick your favorite and let’s make a koala.
The 10 patterns at a glance
| Pattern | Style | Best for | Skill level |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Loopy Lamb koala keychain | Faux-fur head keychain | A first project with fur yarn | Confident beginner |
| Crochet Spot neon koala | Flat paneled keychain | Bright, modern colors | Beginner |
| Penguin Hobbies koala + leaf | Detailed keepsake charm | Gift-worthy makes | Intermediate |
| Lovely Craft koala keychain | Full-body amigurumi + PDF | A printable pattern | Beginner |
| Grace & Yarn Kenny | One-piece mini koala | Minimal sewing | Beginner |
| Cutiepie Crochet Kenny | Lower-sew mini koala | Quick, photo-guided make | Beginner |
| Supergurumi Mini Noso koala | 5 cm no-sew mini | Tiny keychains | Beginner |
| Supergurumi koala | 4.5 cm easy mini | First amigurumi | Beginner |
| Little Crochet Farm koala | Mini koala with video | Learning by watching | Beginner |
| Mominastitch gummy koala | Chunky mini koala | A soft, squishy charm | Beginner |
Keychain-first koala patterns
These four were designed as keychains, so the hardware, proportions, and finishing are already figured out for you.
1. Crochet Koala Keychain — The Loopy Lamb
This is the only pattern on the list made with faux-fur yarn, and honestly it’s a great reason to try it. Ashley designed it specifically as a starter project for crocheters nervous about fur yarn: it’s small (about 2.5 inches), quick, and you get five koalas out of one skein of Fable Fur. She even made a video with tips for working with faux fur. The head is worked with the wrong side facing out to show the fluffier side of the yarn.
Free koala keychain pattern at The Loopy Lamb
2. Neon Koala Plushie Keychain — Crochet Spot
Instead of round amigurumi, this one is built from two flat panels crocheted together — which makes it an excellent pick if sewing separate limbs sounds tedious. The pattern is written for bright neon yarn, but it works just as well in classic koala gray. The face is embroidered, so it’s a good choice for gifts for small kids where you’d rather skip safety eyes.
Free neon koala keychain pattern at Crochet Spot
3. Koala Keychain with Leaf Charm — Penguin Hobbies
The most detailed make on this list: a tiny koala sitting on a wire-supported eucalyptus leaf, with a little branch, a side leaf, and a tiny flower. The pattern walks through the reinforced hanging loop and secure metal hardware, so the finished piece is sturdy enough for daily bag use. This is the one I’d pick for a gift — it looks like something from a boutique.
Free koala keychain pattern at Penguin Hobbies
4. Koala Keychain Amigurumi — Lovely Craft
A classic full-body amigurumi koala — head, ears, arms, legs — with a free PDF download if you like printing your patterns. Everything is worked in simple single crochet rounds, and the pattern spells out every round with stitch counts, so there’s no guesswork.
Free koala keychain PDF at Lovely Craft
Mini koalas that make perfect keychains
The next six patterns are mini koala amigurumi rather than dedicated keychains. To convert any of them, just crochet a short chain loop at the top of the head (or sew on a small metal loop) and thread on a split ring or lobster clasp. Jump rings from any craft store cost pennies and make the attachment look professional.
5. Kenny the Mini Koala — Grace & Yarn
Kenny’s head, body, and legs are worked as one piece, so sewing is kept to a minimum — just the arms and ears. The free version is right on the blog (an ad-free PDF is sold separately, but you don’t need it). Made in worsted weight he comes out around 10 inches tall, which is big for a keychain — drop to DK or sport weight with a smaller hook for a proper keyring size.
Free Kenny koala pattern at Grace & Yarn
6. Lower-Sew Kenny the Koala — Cutiepie Crochet
An updated version of the classic Kenny mini koala with less sewing and step-by-step photos throughout. It’s beginner-friendly, works up quickly in worsted weight with a 3.75 mm hook, and the pattern is free on the blog. Add a keyring to the top of the head and you have a chunky backpack charm.
Free lower-sew koala pattern at Cutiepie Crochet
7. Mini Noso Koala — Supergurumi
At just 5 cm tall, this is the smallest koala on the list and my top pick for an actual keychain conversion — it’s already keychain-sized with no resizing needed. It’s part of Supergurumi’s “Noso” series, where the body is crocheted in one piece with no sewing on the arms and legs. Less sewing, more fun, as they put it.
Free Mini Noso koala pattern at Supergurumi
8. Mini Koala Amigurumi — Supergurumi
Another tiny one from Supergurumi at 4.5 cm, crocheted in fine cotton with a 2.5 mm hook. The pattern uses only chain, slip stitch, single crochet, and half-double crochet in spiral rounds, so it’s genuinely easy — a good first amigurumi if you’ve only made flat things before. Add a loop and a split ring and it goes straight onto your keys.
Free mini koala pattern at Supergurumi
9. Little Koala — Little Crochet Farm
This one comes with a full video tutorial in two parts, which makes it ideal if you learn better by watching than by reading. The pattern itself is free on the blog with written rounds for the head, body, paws, and ears. Sew on a hanging loop and it converts to a keychain in minutes.
Free little koala pattern at Little Crochet Farm
10. Mini Koala Gummy Bear — Mominastitch
A soft, squishy mini koala in a gummy-bear style with rounded limbs — the cutest silhouette on this list, in my opinion. The pattern includes assembly instructions with a safety note: embroider the eyes instead of using safety eyes if the keychain is for a child under three.
Free mini koala pattern at Mominastitch
How to turn any mini koala into a keychain
If you picked one of the mini amigurumi patterns, the conversion takes about two minutes. Here is the method I use:
- Crochet a hanging loop: with the same yarn, chain 8–10, slip stitch back into the top of the head, and fasten off. Weave the tail in securely.
- Or sew on hardware: thread a small metal jump ring or screw eye through the top stitches and close it tightly with pliers.
- Attach the keyring: thread a split ring or lobster clasp through the loop. A lobster clasp is easier to clip onto bags and zippers.
- Test the join: give it a firm tug. Keychains get yanked around — if the loop moves, reinforce it with a few extra whip stitches.
For a cleaner look, work the loop in the same round as the final decreases of the head so it’s anchored into the stuffing, not just the surface stitches.
Best yarn and hook for koala keychains
Koalas are gray, and gray yarn hides tension inconsistencies better than almost any other color — one reason this is such a forgiving project. For keychains specifically:
- Worsted or DK acrylic/cotton with a hook one size smaller than the ball band suggests gives you tight, gap-free stitches that won’t show stuffing.
- Fine cotton (like the Supergurumi patterns) with a 2.5 mm hook makes genuinely tiny keychains — perfect if you want something delicate.
- Faux fur (The Loopy Lamb pattern) looks incredibly realistic but is harder to see your stitches in — save it until you’re comfortable counting by feel.
For the nose, black embroidery thread or a small crocheted oval both work. Safety eyes in 6–10 mm suit most of these patterns; embroider the eyes for anything destined for a toddler’s backpack.
Frequently asked questions
Are these koala keychain patterns really free?
Yes. Every pattern on this list is free to access on the designer’s own website — the full instructions are on the page, not locked behind a paywall. A few designers also sell an optional ad-free PDF, but the free version is complete.
How long does a crochet koala keychain take to make?
Most of these are one-sitting projects. The mini patterns (Supergurumi, Mominastitch) typically take 1–2 hours once you’re comfortable with amigurumi basics; the more detailed Penguin Hobbies leaf charm is more like an afternoon project.
What size should a koala keychain be?
Somewhere between 2 and 4 inches is the sweet spot — big enough to find in your bag, small enough not to be annoying. If a mini amigurumi pattern comes out too large in worsted weight, remake it in DK or sport weight with a smaller hook rather than changing the pattern.
Can I sell koala keychains I make from these patterns?
Most of these designers allow selling finished items with credit — Grace & Yarn and Cutiepie Crochet both say so explicitly in their pattern terms. Always check the individual pattern’s usage note before selling, and never sell or redistribute the pattern itself.
What’s the best way to attach a keychain to amigurumi?
A short crocheted loop or a metal screw eye anchored into the top of the head, finished with a split ring or lobster clasp. Tug-test the join before gifting — keychains take more abuse than shelf toys.
More keychain patterns to try
If koalas put you in the mood for more tiny animals, these roundups follow the same format — 10 verified-free patterns each:
- 10 Free Crochet Panda Keychain Patterns — another monochrome cutie, with no-sew options
- 10 Free Crochet Giraffe Keychain Patterns — safari-cluster companion to this article
- 10 Free Crochet Lion Keychain Patterns — the rest of the safari set
- 25 Easy Crochet Keychain Patterns for Beginners — the beginner hub for the whole keychain collection
- 13 Free Crochet Bag Charm Patterns — for bigger statement charms
