This little keychain is a capital letter R in dense sage-green single crochet. A crisp raised edge outlines it, and a small spray of crocheted flowers runs down its left side. Two tiny cream buds sit near the top. Below them is a cream five-petal flower with a golden-yellow center, then a terracotta five-petal flower with a cream center, all tucked among soft green leaves.
The colors are calm and earthy: sage, cream, terracotta, and a touch of yellow, finished with a gold split ring and a short chain. It works well on a handbag or a set of keys, or as a personalized gift tag.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished letter measures about 2.7 in (6.9 cm) wide and 3.3 in (8.4 cm) tall, not counting the hardware.
The letter is one flat piece worked in rows from the bottom up. You make the stem and the diagonal leg separately and join them with a chain bridge. Then you split the work around the opening in the bowl and close it at the top. A two-round border finishes the outline, a separate edging finishes the inner opening, and the flowers, buds, and leaves are sewn on last.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: about 2.7 in (6.9 cm) wide x 3.3 in (8.4 cm) tall
- Skill level: Advanced beginner to intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Sport weight (#2) cotton
- Hook: 2.75 mm (US C/2)
- Number of pieces: 1 letter, plus 2 flowers, 2 buds, and 4 leaves sewn on as appliqués
- Layout: Single letter, with the appliqués stacked down the left stem
- Letter grid: 14 sts wide x 21 rows tall
- Size before border: about 2.3 in (5.8 cm) wide x 3 in (7.6 cm) tall
- Border depth: about 0.2 in (0.5 cm) at the sides and 0.15 in (0.4 cm) at the top and bottom
Materials
Choose a smooth, tightly plied mercerized cotton or cotton blend. Cotton holds the letter shape, shows the stitches clearly, and stands up to life on a keyring. Avoid fuzzy or stretchy yarns, because the letter will lose its crisp edges.
- Sage green: 8 g, about 25 m (letter, border, inner edging)
- Cream: 3 g, about 9 m (cream flower petals, buds, center of the terracotta flower)
- Terracotta: 2 g, about 6 m (terracotta flower petals)
- Golden yellow: 1 g, about 3 m (center of the cream flower)
- Leaf green: 2 g, about 6 m (leaves; use a slightly deeper green, or sage)
These amounts include a generous margin for swatching and sewing tails.
Tools:
- 2.75 mm (US C/2) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle with a sharp point
- 4 locking stitch markers
- Gold split key ring, 1 in (2.5 cm) across
- Gold jump ring, 0.3 in (0.8 cm), and 0.6 in (1.5 cm) of gold chain
- 2 pairs of flat-nose pliers
- Blocking mat, rust-proof pins, spray bottle
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- dc: double crochet
- sc2tog: single crochet 2 together
- blo: back loop only
- MR: magic ring
- st(s): stitch(es)
- rnd: round
Special stitch: Shift row. Sc2tog, sc in next st, 2 sc in last st (4 sts). The strip loses a stitch at the start of the row and gains one at the end. This moves it one stitch sideways while it stays 4 sts wide, which creates the diagonal leg of the R.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 6 sc and 7 rows = 1 in (2.5 cm) in rows of sc.
Work a swatch of 12 sc for 14 rows. It should measure 2 in (5.1 cm) square. Then make the stem (Rows 1–10) as your real test piece and measure it before you go on.
Checkpoints:
- Stem after Row 10: about 0.7 in (1.8 cm) wide x 1.4 in (3.6 cm) tall
- After Row 12: about 2.3 in (5.8 cm) wide x 1.7 in (4.3 cm) tall
- Bowl opening after Row 19: about 1 in (2.5 cm) wide x 0.9 in (2.3 cm) tall
- After Row 21: about 2.3 in (5.8 cm) wide x 3 in (7.6 cm) tall
- After border: about 2.7 in (6.9 cm) x 3.3 in (8.4 cm)
If your stem is wider than 0.7 in (1.8 cm), go down a hook size. If it’s narrower, go up one size. The fabric should be firm with no visible gaps, because a keychain needs stiffer fabric than a garment does.
The Letter
Unless a row says otherwise, ch 1 and turn at the start of every row. The ch 1 never counts as a stitch. Looking at the front, odd rows travel from right to left and even rows travel from left to right.
Stem (Rows 1–10)
With sage, ch 5.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 3 ch. (4 sts)
Rows 2–10: Sc in each st across. (4 sts)
Fasten off and set the stem aside. It forms columns 1–4 of the grid.
Leg (Rows 1–10)
With sage, ch 5.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 3 ch. (4 sts; columns 11–14)
Row 2: Sc in each st across. (4 sts)
Row 3: Shift row. (4 sts; columns 10–13)
Row 4: Sc in each st across. (4 sts)
Row 5: Shift row. (4 sts; columns 9–12)
Row 6: Sc in each st across. (4 sts)
Row 7: Shift row. (4 sts; columns 8–11)
Row 8: Sc in each st across. (4 sts)
Row 9: Shift row. (4 sts; columns 7–10)
Row 10: Sc in each st across. (4 sts)
Don’t fasten off. Row 10 ends at the outer, right-hand edge of the leg. Lay the stem to the left of the leg, with both pieces front side up. The leg leans toward the stem at the top and leaves a 2-st gap between them.
Bowl Base (Rows 11–12)
Row 11: Ch 5, turn (this replaces the usual ch 1). Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 3 ch (columns 14–11). Sc in each of the 4 leg sts (columns 10–7). Ch 2 (columns 6–5). Starting at the stem’s top-right st, sc in each of the 4 stem sts (columns 4–1). (14 sts: 12 sc + 2 ch)
Row 12: Sc in each st across, including each ch. (14 sts)
It should measure about 2.3 in (5.8 cm) wide.
Bowl Sides (Rows 13–18)
Right column:
Row 13: Sc in each of the first 4 sts. Leave the other 10 sts unworked. (4 sts)
Rows 14–18: Sc in each st across. (4 sts)
Don’t fasten off. Row 18 ends at the outer right edge. Take the hook out and put the live loop on a stitch marker.
Left column: With the front facing you, count 4 sts in from the left edge of Row 12 and join sage in that 4th st.
Row 13: Ch 1, sc in same st and in each of next 3 sts. (4 sts) The 6 center sts of Row 12 stay unworked and form the bottom of the opening.
Rows 14–18: Sc in each st across. (4 sts)
Fasten off.
Top (Rows 19–21)
Put the live loop from the right column back on your hook.
Row 19: Sc in each of the 4 right-column sts, ch 6, sc in each of the 4 left-column sts. (14 sts: 8 sc + 6 ch)
The opening is now closed. It measures 6 sts x 6 rows, about 1 in (2.5 cm) x 0.9 in (2.3 cm).
Row 20: Sc in each of first 12 sts, sc2tog. (13 sts)
Row 21: Sc2tog, sc in each remaining st. (12 sts)
The two decreases round off the top-right corner of the bowl. Don’t fasten off. You’re now at the top-left corner, ready for the border.
Flowers, Buds, and Leaves
Cream Flower (make 1)
Rnd 1: With yellow, MR, 5 sc in ring, join with sl st to first sc. (5 sts) Pull the ring closed and fasten off.
Rnd 2: Join cream in any st. *(Sl st, ch 2, 2 dc, ch 2, sl st) in same st, then move to the next st; repeat from * around. (5 petals)
Fasten off. The flower is about 1 in (2.5 cm) across. Add 3 small yellow French knots to the center to give it a clustered look.
Terracotta Flower (make 1)
Rnd 1: With cream, MR, 5 sc in ring, join. (5 sts) Fasten off.
Rnd 2: Join terracotta in any st. *(Sl st, ch 2, 3 dc, ch 2, sl st) in same st, then move to the next st; repeat from * around. (5 petals)
Fasten off. The flower is about 1.1 in (2.8 cm) across. Add 3 cream French knots to the center.
Buds (make 2)
Rnd 1: With cream, MR, 6 sc in ring. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Sc2tog 3 times. (3 sts)
Push the starting tail inside, fasten off, and close the hole. Each bud is a small ball about 0.3 in (0.8 cm) across.
Leaves (make 4)
With leaf green, ch 6.
Leaf: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in next ch, hdc in next ch, (sc, ch 1, sc) in last ch. Working along the other side of the chain: hdc in next ch, dc in next ch, hdc in next ch, sl st in last ch. (10 sts + 1 sl st + ch-1 tip)
Fasten off. Each leaf is about 0.8 in (2 cm) long.
Border
The border keeps the letter’s gauge. Work 1 sc per stitch along tops and bottoms, 1 sc per row-end along the sides, and 3 sc in each outer corner stitch. The inward corners (where the bowl meets the leg, and the gap between stem and leg) get no extra stitches.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, then work 2 sc in the corner st you just finished (top-left corner). Work around the outline counterclockwise:
- Left edge: 21 sc, one in each row-end, from Row 21 down to Row 1
- Stem bottom: 3 sc in first foundation st, sc in next 2, 3 sc in last st (8 sc)
- Stem inner edge: 10 sc, from Row 1 up to Row 10
- Gap between stem and leg: 2 sc in the underside of the ch-2 from Row 11
- Leg inner edge: 10 sc, from Row 10 down to Row 1
- Leg bottom: 3 sc in first foundation st, sc in next 2, 3 sc in last st (8 sc)
- Leg outer edge: 10 sc, from Row 1 up to Row 10
- Bowl underside: 4 sc in the underside of the 4 ch from Row 11
- Right edge: 11 sc, from Row 11 up to Row 21
- Top edge: 3 sc in top-right corner st, sc in next 10 sts, 1 sc in the top-left corner st (completing its 3 sc)
Join with sl st to first sc. (100 sts)
Count check: top 16 + left 21 + stem bottom 8 + stem inner 10 + gap 2 + leg inner 10 + leg bottom 8 + leg outer 10 + bowl underside 4 + right 11 = 100.
Rnd 2: Sl st in blo of each st around. (100 sl sts) Fasten off.
Inner opening: Join sage at any corner of the opening.
Rnd 1: Sc in each of the 6 unworked sts of Row 12. Work 6 sc up the left column’s inner row-ends, 6 sc in the underside of the ch-6 from Row 19, and 6 sc down the right column’s inner row-ends. Join. (24 sts)
Rnd 2: Sl st in blo of each st around. (24 sl sts) Fasten off.
Why the math works: Around the outside, the letter has 12 top stitches, 4 foundation stitches under each leg, 2 gap chains, 4 bowl-underside chains, and one row-end per row on every side, for 88 edge units in total. Working one sc into each unit, plus 2 extra at each of the 6 outer corners (88 + 12 = 100), adds stitches only at true corners, so the edges stay flat. The opening gets 1 sc per edge unit with no corner increases. This gathers its corners a little into the soft, rounded shape shown.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends on the letter.
- Spray the letter with water until it’s damp, not soaked.
- Pin it face up on the mat to 2.7 in (6.9 cm) x 3.3 in (8.4 cm).
- Pin the bottom corners of the stem and leg so they’re square.
- Pin the inner opening into a neat rounded rectangle about 0.7 in (1.8 cm) wide.
- Let it dry completely, for at least 6 hours.
- Lightly steam the flowers and leaves, shaping the petals with your fingertips.
- Sew on the appliqués. Stack the 2 buds near the top of the stem with a leaf behind them. Place the cream flower over the stem just above where the leg joins, and the terracotta flower below it. Tuck the other leaves under the left and right sides of the terracotta flower. Let each flower hang about 0.2 in (0.5 cm) past the left border.
- Open the jump ring with the pliers. Pass it through Row 21 and the border, centered over columns 3–4. Add the chain and split ring, then close the jump ring firmly.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- The letter measures 2.7 in (6.9 cm) x 3.3 in (8.4 cm).
- Border Rnd 1 has exactly 100 sts.
- The inner opening edging has 24 sts and lies flat.
- The leg slants evenly, with no steps or holes at the shift rows.
- The bottoms of the stem and leg are square and level.
- The appliqué stitches don’t show on the back.
- The jump ring is fully closed.
- All ends are woven in and trimmed.
Troubleshooting
Leg looks stepped: Work each shift row firmly and keep the 2 sc in the last st snug.
Border ruffles: Your tension is loose. Use a hook one size smaller for the border only.
Corners cup or pull in: Check that each outer corner got 3 sc.
Hole in the gap between stem and leg: Pull the ch-2 tight and close any hole with the sage tail.
Letter feels floppy: Go down a hook size, or back the letter with felt cut to its outline.
Jump ring pulls through: Pass it through two rows plus the border, not just the border.
Care
Spot clean with mild soap and cool water, then reshape and dry flat. Take off the hardware before any deeper wash.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is simple. A gauge of 6 sc and 7 rows per 1 in (2.5 cm) gives a 14 x 21 grid of 2.3 in (5.8 cm) x 3 in (7.6 cm). The 100-stitch border adds about 0.2 in (0.5 cm) per side and 0.15 in (0.4 cm) at the top and bottom. That gives a finished letter of 2.7 in (6.9 cm) x 3.3 in (8.4 cm). Check the stem first, and everything else follows.
Happy crocheting!