Monkeys were made for keychains. Curly tails, grabby little arms, and faces that read as happy from across the room — a crochet monkey on a bag strap or set of keys just works. Below you’ll find 10 genuinely free monkey keychain patterns: three that were designed as keychains from the start, plus amigurumi monkeys that convert beautifully with a keyring and a size tweak. Every pattern is free online, linked to its original source, with honest notes on skill level and what you’ll need to adapt.
Quick Picks: All 10 Free Monkey Keychain Patterns
| Pattern | Designer / Source | Best for | Skill level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monkey Keychain | Crochet at Teri’s Designs | A purpose-built keychain pattern | Not specified |
| Crochet Monkey Keychain | FS Pattern Studio | A micro monkey in embroidery floss | Not specified |
| Mock Sock Monkey Head Key Chain | Chickabee Studio | A classic sock-monkey look | Not specified |
| Cute Crochet Monkey | Red Ted Art (Craft Alotl) | A clinging monkey for bag straps | Beginner-friendly |
| Small Crochet Monkey | Chai Coffee Crochet | An easy 4-inch keychain-size mini | Easy |
| Derek the Monkey | Elisa’s Crochet | A monkey with his own banana | Intermediate |
| Daikichi Monkey | Craft Passion | A sweet baby fortune monkey | Not specified |
| Little Monkey | Cutie Pie Crochet | A soft beginner plush, downsized | Beginner-friendly |
| Free Crochet Monkey | Cuddly Stitches Craft | A one-piece head-and-body design | Intermediate |
| Milo the Monkey | The Friendly Red Fox | A detailed make, shrunk to keychain size | Advanced beginner |
The 10 Best Free Crochet Monkey Keychain Patterns
1. Monkey Keychain by Crochet at Teri’s Designs
A true keychain-first pattern: this free PDF from Teri Hamilton includes sew-on keyring instructions, so there’s nothing to adapt. It works up in DK yarn and has the classic monkey look — round head, muzzle, and curled tail. Note that the designer asks for permission before selling finished items made from this pattern, so it’s best treated as a gift-and-personal-use pattern. Get the free Monkey Keychain pattern on Ravelry.
2. Crochet Monkey Keychain by FS Pattern Studio
If you like truly tiny makes, this free online pattern works up a micro monkey in embroidery floss with a felt face — and the keychain ring and jump ring are right there in the materials list, so it was designed as a keychain. Thread crochet is fiddly compared to yarn, so expect a careful make rather than a quick one. Get the free pattern at FS Pattern Studio.
3. Mock Sock Monkey Head Key Chain by Chickabee Studio
Lori Bokavich’s classic sock-monkey head is one of the oldest free monkey keychain patterns on the internet (2011) and it still works perfectly — the charm of sock monkeys never dates. The pattern shows how to attach a metal keychain or clip to the top of the head. Simple shapes and a familiar look make this a dependable choice. Get the free Mock Sock Monkey Head Key Chain pattern.
4. Cute Crochet Monkey by Red Ted Art (Craft Alotl design)
This beginner-friendly Craft Alotl design, hosted by Red Ted Art, is nearly keychain-ready as written: extra-long arms and legs make it a natural clinger that can wrap around a bag strap, and you can swap in a velcro or snap fastener so the arms grip properly. Work it in thin cotton with a smaller hook to bring it down to keychain size. Get the free pattern at Red Ted Art.
5. Small Crochet Monkey by Chai Coffee Crochet (Kozu Palm Pets)
At just 4 inches tall in DK yarn, this low-sew mini from Chai Coffee Crochet is already keychain-sized — the only thing missing is the ring itself. It’s rated Easy and uses basic amigurumi shaping, making it one of the most straightforward monkeys on this list to convert. Add a jump ring through the top of the head and you’re done. Get the free Small Crochet Monkey pattern.
6. Derek the Monkey by Elisa’s Crochet
Elisa Sartori’s Derek is an Intermediate-level monkey, about 6 by 4.5 inches, and he comes with his own little crocheted banana — an irresistible detail for a bag charm. You’ll need to add a keyring and consider working him slightly smaller, but the payoff is a characterful finished piece that stands out from generic minis. Get the free Derek the Monkey pattern.
7. Daikichi Monkey by Craft Passion (AmiguruMEI design)
This sweet baby fortune monkey by AmiguruMEI comes with a red bow tie and has a soft, gift-ready look — lovely as a keychain for someone’s backpack or purse. It’s a standard amigurumi rather than a keychain pattern, so plan to add a split ring and keep your yarn weight modest so the finished piece stays light. Get the free Daikichi Monkey pattern at Craft Passion.
8. Little Monkey by Cutie Pie Crochet
A beginner-friendly plush monkey that converts well: the shapes are simple and the construction is forgiving. Work it in DK or lighter yarn with a smaller hook than you normally would and the proportions land right in keychain territory. A good pick if you want your first amigurumi keychain to be low-stress. Get the free Little Monkey pattern.
9. Free Crochet Monkey by Cuddly Stitches Craft
An Intermediate-level pattern where the head and body are worked in one piece — less sewing, which is always welcome on small makes. As written it sits about 8 inches tall seated, so this one definitely needs downsizing: drop to fingering or sport weight yarn and a 2mm hook. The one-piece construction keeps it sturdy once the keyring goes on. Get the free pattern at Cuddly Stitches Craft.
10. Milo the Monkey by The Friendly Red Fox (Amigurumi A to Z)
Faith’s Milo is the most detailed monkey on this list — an advanced-beginner pattern from her Amigurumi A to Z series, about 12 inches tall as written. That’s far too big for a keychain, but the “shrink it” trick works beautifully here: fingering yarn with a 2mm hook turns Milo into a pocket-sized charm while keeping all the character. Get the free Milo the Monkey pattern.
How to Turn Any Monkey Amigurumi Into a Keychain
Most monkey patterns weren’t designed as keychains, but the conversion takes five minutes once the crochet is done. Thread a small split ring through the top of the head: work a short crocheted loop (6–8 chains joined into a ring) and sew it firmly to the head first — it’s far stronger than threading through single stitches. Add a jump ring between the loop and the split ring with jewelry pliers, and the charm will hang straight. For clinging designs like the Red Ted Art monkey, you can skip the ring entirely and let the long arms wrap around a bag strap.
How to Make a Full-Size Monkey Pattern Keychain-Sized
Patterns 7–10 above were written as toys, not charms. The simplest way to shrink one is to change materials, not the pattern: switch to fingering or sport weight yarn and drop 1–1.5mm below the hook size the pattern calls for. A monkey written at 8–12 inches in worsted yarn typically lands around 3–4 inches in fingering — right in keychain range. Keep your tension firm so stuffing doesn’t show through at the smaller scale.
A Safety Note for Monkey Keychains
Safety eyes look great, but they’re not safe for children under three — the posts can work loose and become a choking hazard. If the monkey is for a toddler, embroider the eyes with yarn instead; it takes a few extra minutes and keeps the charm fully kid-safe. Also check that your split ring closes completely: a ring that gapes will catch on fabric and eventually pull stitches open.
More Free Keychain Patterns to Try
- 25 Easy Crochet Keychain Patterns Beginners Will Love — the general keychain roundup, with attachment basics
- 10 Free Crochet Lion Keychain Patterns — another safari favorite for the same gift crowd
- 10 Free Crochet Giraffe Keychain Patterns — pairs beautifully with a monkey for a safari set
- 10 Free Crochet Frog Keychain Patterns — includes no-sew options if you want a faster make
- 10 Free Crochet Butterfly Keychain Patterns — a flat-fold construction contrast to amigurumi
- 10 Free Crochet Heart Patterns — quick classics that sit well next to any animal charm
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn any crochet monkey amigurumi into a keychain?
Almost always, yes. Crochet a short loop at the top of the head, sew it on firmly, and attach a split ring with a jump ring. The main constraint is size and weight: a 12-inch worsted-weight monkey is too heavy to hang from keys, so shrink it with thinner yarn and a smaller hook first.
What size should a crochet monkey keychain be?
Aim for 2 to 4 inches tall. Anything bigger gets bulky on a keyring and snags in pockets and bags. If your chosen pattern is written as a toy, dropping to fingering or sport weight yarn with a hook 1–1.5mm smaller than stated usually lands a full-size monkey in keychain range.
What hardware do I need to attach a keychain ring?
A split keyring, a small jump ring to connect it, and a pair of jewelry pliers to open and close the jump ring cleanly. Sew a short crocheted loop to the top of the monkey’s head rather than threading hardware through single stitches — the loop distributes the pulling force and won’t distort the head over time.
Are crochet monkey keychains safe for kids?
For children under three, no — not with safety eyes or small hardware attached. Embroider the eyes with yarn and use the charm as a bag decoration kept out of reach of toddlers instead. For older kids and adults, make sure the split ring closes fully and the sewn loop is anchored through several rounds of stitches.
How long does a mini crochet monkey take to make?
It depends on the pattern and your speed. Smaller monkeys of 2 to 4 inches use little yarn and fewer rounds, so they sit among the quickest amigurumi projects — good weekend makes. The micro floss monkey on this list will take longer than it looks; thread crochet is slow, careful work.
