Amigurumi Intermediate 3-8 hours Sport/DK yarn

Worked on the glider, counted out loud —

Little Jellyfish Keychain in Warm Sunset Colors

A sport/DK jellyfish keychain for intermediate crocheters. About 3-8 hours, perfect for stash yarn and quick gifts.

Jump to the rounds

What this one is

This little jellyfish is for the person who likes a project that fits in a pocket and finishes in a weekend. Clip it to a bag, give it as a small gift, or just keep it on your desk where the tentacles can dangle and catch your eye. It's the kind of make that doesn't ask much of your evening but gives back a lot of charm.

Your hands will build a stuffed dome first, shape a frilly skirt around it, then make eight curling tentacles one by one. Expect three to five hours if amigurumi is already familiar to you, closer to five to eight if this is newer territory. Once the tentacle rhythm clicks, they go fast.

Try it another way

There's real satisfaction in watching a flat magic ring turn into a rounded little dome, round by round, until it holds its shape in your palm. The skirt is where this pattern gets its personality: working into a specific round to add that frilly, wavy edge is a small technical trick with a big visual payoff. Then come the eight tentacles, each one a tiny exercise in repetition that teaches your hands the motion until you're not even looking at your fingers anymore. By the time you thread the tail through those final six stitches and cinch the bottom closed, you've practiced invisible decreases, a color change, and spiral shaping, all in a piece small enough to finish between other chores.

The rounds, in full

Written out, round by round

Intermediate3-8 hours3.25 mmSport/DK

Bring to the porch

Everything this one takes, in the order you will reach for it.

  • Yarn (Sport weight or DK weight, CYCA 2 or 3):
  • You’ll need approximately 15 to 25 yards (14 to 23 meters) of each color. This is a perfect stash buster project.

Hook

  • US size D-3 (3.25 mm) crochet hook

Notions

  • Stitch marker
  • Yarn needle for weaving ends
  • Polyester fiberfill stuffing (small amount)
  • One keychain split ring, approximately 25 mm diameter
  • One small lobster clasp or short length of small link chain (approximately 1 to 1.5 inches)
  • Scissors

Yarn suggestions

  • Lion Brand Bonbons in Celebration work wonderfully because the small cakes give you exactly what you need. Paintbox Yarns Simply DK in Blush Pink, Melon Sorbet, Sherbet Orange, and Champagne White provides crisp stitch definition. Scheepjes Catona in Peach, Tangerine, Powder Pink, and Old Lace gives a slightly heavier cotton feel with beautiful clarity.
  • Avoid fuzzy or textured yarns here. You want smooth, tightly spun yarn so those pretty stitches in the ruffle and tentacles really show.

Part One: The Bell

The bell is worked from the top downward. This is where your keychain hardware will attach.

  1. Round 1Using Color A, make a MR. Work 6 sc into the ring. Pull ring closed. Place marker in last stitch. (6 sc)
  2. Round 2Work 2 sc in each st around. Move marker to last st. (12 sc)
  3. Round 3Work (sc in next st, inc in next st) 6 times. (18 sc)
  4. Round 4Work (sc in next 2 sts, inc in next st) 6 times. (24 sc)
  5. Round 5Work (sc in next 3 sts, inc in next st) 6 times. (30 sc)
  6. Round 6Work (sc in next 4 sts, inc in next st) 6 times. Place a locking stitch marker or safety pin into this round to mark the skirt attachment round. Do not remove this marker until the skirt is complete. (36 sc)Change to Color B at the end of Round 6.
  7. Round 7Working in Color B sc in each st around. (36 sc)
  8. Round 8Work (sc in next 5 sts, inc in next st) 6 times. (42 sc) Change to Color C at the end of Round 8.
  9. Round 9Working in Color C sc in each st around. (42 sc)
  10. Round 10Working in Color C sc in each st around. (42 sc)
  11. Round 11Work (sc in next 5 sts, dec over next 2 sts) 6 times. (36 sc)
  12. Round 12Work (sc in next 4 sts, dec over next 2 sts) 6 times. (30 sc) Change to Color B at the end of Round 12.
  13. Round 13Working in Color B work (sc in next 3 sts, dec over next 2 sts) 6 times. (24 sc)
  14. Round 14Working in Color B sc in each st around. (24 sc)
  15. Round 15Work (sc in next 2 sts, dec over next 2 sts) 6 times. (18 sc)

Checkpoint

After Round 15, your bell should look like a thick rounded dome. The top should be slightly more domed, and the piece should measure approximately 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) tall and 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) wide at its widest point. The bottom opening should still be wide enough to insert stuffing comfortably.

Now stuff your jellyfish. Insert polyester fiberfill through the open bottom. Fill firmly but not so tight that it distorts the rounded shape. The dome should hold its shape when squeezed lightly and released.

Change to Color A at the end of Round 15.

  1. Round 16Working in Color A, work (sc in next st, dec over next 2 sts) 6 times. (12 sc)
  2. Round 17Working in Color A, work dec 6 times around. (6 sc) Fasten off, leaving a 12 inch (30 cm) tail. Thread tail onto yarn needle and draw through all 6 remaining stitches. Pull snug to close the bottom of the bell. Weave the tail to the inside but do not trim yet.

Putting it together

Step 1

Weave all remaining yarn ends through the inside of the bell or through the back loops of the skirt. Pass each tail through at least 4 stitches in two directions before trimming close.

Step 2

Light blocking is optional but can help the skirt lay evenly. Mist the skirt lightly with water and gently spread the ruffles with your fingers into an even circular arrangement. Let dry completely before handling.

Step 3

Do not block the tentacles. The natural curl comes from tension and extra stitches, and you want to preserve that springy spiral.

Step 4

Check that your keychain hardware is secure before gifting or using.

Marlene's notes

Note 01

Use a US size D-3 (3.25 mm) hook and keep your tension on the tighter side; loose stitches will let the fiberfill peek through, especially around the dome.

Note 02

The color change happens at the end of Round 15, right before the two-round checkpoint section that closes the bottom of the bell, so have Color A ready before you reach that point.

Note 03

Stuff the dome through the open bottom before you work Rounds 16 and 17. Fill it firmly enough to hold its shape when squeezed lightly, but stop before the fabric looks stretched.

Before you sit down

  • Check your yarn stash for 15 to 25 yards of each color you plan to use; this pattern is genuinely built for leftover cakes and mini skeins.
  • Work the tension swatch suggested in the notes (6, 12, 18, 24 sc) and confirm it lands between 1.75 and 2 inches across before committing to the full bell.
  • Have your stitch marker ready from round one. You'll move it at the end of nearly every round of the bell, so keep it within reach rather than digging for it later.
  • Read through Round 15 and the checkpoint notes before you start stuffing. Knowing the dome should measure about 1.5 inches tall and 2.5 inches wide helps you judge your own progress as you go.

How the hours go

Part One: The Bell
about 1 to 1.5 hours because it's 15 rounds of steady single crochet increases, plus stuffing partway through
Checkpoint and bottom closure
about 15 to 20 minutes because the two rounds are short but the color change and final cinch need a careful hand
Tentacles and assembly
about 1.5 to 4 hours because eight tentacles repeat the same steps, slow at first and quicker once the pattern sets in

Looking after it

  • Hand wash gently in cool water if needed, since both the acrylic and cotton yarns named in the materials list hold up fine to a light rinse; avoid wringing the tentacles, which can distort their curl.
  • Lay flat to dry away from direct heat, and reshape the skirt ruffles with your fingers while damp. Store the finished keychain somewhere the tentacles can hang freely rather than curled under something heavy.
FAQs

Asked on the glider

the ones that come up on the glider

Can I make this without a magic ring?

Yes, the pattern notes that you can chain 2 and work your 6 stitches into the first chain instead if magic rings feel tricky. The stitch count and following rounds stay the same either way.

How much yarn do I actually need?

Plan on roughly 15 to 25 yards per color you use, which covers the bell, skirt, and all eight tentacles. This is exactly why the pattern works so well with small leftover cakes or mini skeins.

What size hook should I use?

A US size D-3 (3.25 mm) hook is listed in the materials and matches the tight gauge this pattern needs to keep the stuffing from showing through.

My gauge swatch came out too loose. What should I do?

Go down a hook size and try the swatch again until your circle measures close to 1.75 to 2 inches across. A looser fabric will let fiberfill peek through the dome once it's stuffed.

When do I stuff the piece?

Stuff the dome through the open bottom right after the checkpoint following Round 15, before you work the final two decrease rounds that close it up. Fill firmly enough to hold shape when squeezed, but not so tight it distorts the dome.

Should I block the whole piece?

Light blocking on just the skirt is optional and can help the ruffles lay evenly if you mist it and spread the waves with your fingers. Skip blocking on the tentacles entirely, since their curl comes from stitch tension and is meant to stay bouncy.