This little letter D is a quick, personal accessory: a firm terracotta initial with a soft cream-and-sage flower cluster tucked into its lower left corner. It hangs from a gold split ring and short chain, so you can use it as a keychain, a bag charm, or a gift tag that stays in use long after the gift is opened.
The colors are warm and muted. The letter is terracotta, the two five-petal flowers are cream with black centers ringed in mustard, the two round buds are cream, and the three leaves are sage green. The style is cottage-inspired and tidy, with clean edges and crisp texture.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished letter measures 3.6 in (9.1 cm) tall and 2.8 in (7.1 cm) wide, not counting the hardware.
Construction is simple. You work the straight stem of the D in short rows, then build the rounded bowl in curved rows that join to the side of the stem as you go. A two-round border and a slip-stitch rim around the inner hole finish the edges. The small appliqués are made separately and sewn on.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 3.6 in (9.1 cm) tall x 2.8 in (7.1 cm) wide
- Skill level: Easy-intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: DK (category 3) cotton
- Hook: 3.0 mm (C/2 or D/3)
- Number of pieces: 1 letter body, plus 7 small sewn-on appliqués (2 flowers, 2 buds, 3 leaves)
- Layout: Single letter, with the appliqué cluster in the lower left corner
- Stem size: 0.8 in (2.0 cm) wide x 3.2 in (8.1 cm) tall
- Size before border: 3.2 in (8.1 cm) tall x 2.4 in (6.1 cm) wide
- Border depth: 0.2 in (0.5 cm) on each outer edge
Materials
Choose a smooth, tightly plied DK cotton or cotton blend. Cotton holds its shape on a keychain and shows the stitches clearly. Avoid fuzzy or very soft acrylics, because they pill quickly with handling.
- Terracotta: 10 g, about 23 m
- Cream: 3 g, about 7 m
- Sage green: 2 g, about 4.5 m
- Black: 1 g, about 2 m
- Mustard: 1 g, about 2 m
All quantities include extra yarn for gauge swatching and weaving in ends.
Tools:
- 3.0 mm crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Stitch markers (2)
- 1 in (2.5 cm) gold split key ring with a short chain, about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) of hanging hardware in total
- 1 small gold jump ring and two pairs of flat-nose pliers
- Blocking mat and rustproof pins
- Spray bottle
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- inc – 2 sc in the same stitch
- BLO – back loop only
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- RS / WS – right side / wrong side
Special stitch – 4-dc cluster: *Yarn over, insert hook in ring, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops; repeat from * 3 more times (5 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through all 5 loops.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 10 sc and 10 rows = 2 in (5.1 cm) in sc worked firmly. That is 5 sts and 5 rows per 1 in (2.5 cm).
A tight, square gauge matters here. Firm fabric keeps the letter flat and stops it from flopping. If your rows are taller than your stitches are wide, go down a hook size or tighten your yarn-over.
Make the stem first and use it as your swatch. Check your work against these measurements:
- After the stem (Row 16): 0.8 in (2.0 cm) wide x 3.2 in (8.1 cm) tall
- After the bowl foundation chain: the inner hole is 1.6 in (4.1 cm) tall
- After bowl Row 4: 2.4 in (6.1 cm) wide x 3.2 in (8.1 cm) tall
- After the border: 2.8 in (7.1 cm) wide x 3.6 in (9.1 cm) tall
If the stem is too big, switch to a 2.75 mm hook and start again. If it is too small, try a 3.25 mm hook. Don’t fix gauge by changing stitch counts, because the bowl increases are calculated for 5 sts per inch.
Letter Body
Stem
With terracotta, ch 5.
Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (4 sc)
Rows 2–16: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (4 sc)
Fasten off, leaving a 4 in (10.2 cm) tail.
The stem now measures 0.8 in (2.0 cm) x 3.2 in (8.1 cm). The sc columns run vertically, which gives the stem its fine grid texture. Number the stem rows 1 to 16 from bottom to top. The bowl attaches to the row-ends on the right edge.
Bowl
The bowl is a curved band of four rows, worked back and forth around the inner hole. Sl sts anchor each row to the right edge of the stem at both ends. These joining sl sts are not included in the stitch totals.
Each sc row stacks directly on the one below, so the stitches line up in columns that fan out from the hole. This creates the ribbed look of the bowl.
Foundation: With RS facing, join terracotta with a sl st in the right row-end of stem Row 12. Ch 13. Sl st in the right row-end of stem Row 5. (13 ch)
The chain curves to the right and closes off the hole. The hole is edged by 13 ch and 8 stem row-ends (Rows 5–12) and measures 1.6 in (4.1 cm) tall.
Row 1: Sl st in the row-end of stem Row 4, turn. Working into the 13 ch, sc 6, inc, sc 6. Sl st in the row-end of stem Row 13. (14 sc)
This is a growth row: working once into each of the 13 chains plus 1 increase gives 14 sc.
Row 2: Sl st in the row-end of stem Row 14, turn. Sc 2, inc, [sc 3, inc] twice, sc 3. Sl st in the row-end of stem Row 3. (17 sc)
Row 3: Sl st in the row-end of stem Row 2, turn. Sc 3, inc, [sc 4, inc] twice, sc 3. Sl st in the row-end of stem Row 15. (20 sc)
Row 4: Sl st in the row-end of stem Row 16, turn. Sc 3, inc, [sc 5, inc] twice, sc 4. Sl st in the row-end of stem Row 1. (23 sc)
Fasten off and weave in.
Why these counts work: Each row sits 0.2 in (0.5 cm) farther from the center of the curve. At 5 sts per inch, a half circle gains about 3.1 stitches for each step that size, so adding 3 sts per row keeps the bowl flat. The outer edge has a 1.6 in (4.1 cm) radius, exactly half the 3.2 in (8.1 cm) stem height.
Checkpoint: The piece measures 2.4 in (6.1 cm) wide x 3.2 in (8.1 cm) tall.
Appliqués
Flowers (make 2)
Round 1: With black, make a magic ring, ch 1, work 10 sc in the ring. Pull the ring closed and sl st to the first sc. Fasten off. (10 sc)
Round 2: Join cream in any st. *(Hdc, 2 dc, hdc) in the next st, sl st in the next st; repeat from * 4 more times. The last sl st lands in the joining st. (5 petals)
Fasten off, leaving a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail for sewing.
With mustard, sew 5 short straight stitches around the black center, one at the base of each petal, to make the gold ring. Each flower measures about 0.9 in (2.3 cm) across.
Buds (make 2)
With cream, make a magic ring, ch 2, work a 4-dc cluster in the ring, ch 1. Pull the ring closed tightly and fasten off, leaving an 8 in (20.3 cm) tail. Each bud is about 0.3 in (0.8 cm) across.
Leaves (make 3)
With sage green, ch 6.
Round 1: 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 foundation chain, hdc in next ch, dc in next ch, hdc in next ch, sc in next ch. Ch 2, sl st in 2nd ch from hook to make the pointed tip, sl st in first sc. (10 sts plus tip)
Fasten off, leaving an 8 in (20.3 cm) tail. Each leaf is about 0.75 in (1.9 cm) long.
Border
The border uses the same gauge as the body: 5 sts per 1 in (2.5 cm). It wraps the outer edge in one round of sc, then adds a round of sl sts for a smooth rolled rim.
The outer edge has four sections:
- Side A is the top of the stem (4 sts).
- Side B is the outer curve of the bowl (the 23 sts of bowl Row 4).
- Side C is the bottom of the stem (4 foundation loops).
- Side D is the left edge of the stem (16 row-ends).
The top-left corner is counted in Side A and the bottom-left corner in Side C, so no corner is counted twice.
Round 1: With RS facing, join terracotta in the top-left corner st of the stem.
- Side A: 3 sc in the corner st, sc in the next 3 sts. (6 sc)
- Side B: Along bowl Row 4: sc 4, inc, [sc 6, inc] twice, sc 4. (26 sc: 23 worked 1-per-stitch + 3 increases)
- Side C: Sc in the first 3 foundation loops, 3 sc in the last loop. (6 sc)
- Side D: Sc in each of the 16 row-ends up the left edge. (16 sc)
Sl st to first sc. (54 sc total: 6 + 26 + 6 + 16)
Round 2: Ch 1, sl st in BLO of each st around. Join to first sl st. (54 sl st)
Fasten off and weave in.
Inner rim: With RS facing, join terracotta at the bottom of the hole. Sl st into the 13 free loops of the foundation chain and the 8 stem row-ends (Rows 5–12). Join to first sl st. (21 sl st) Fasten off.
Why the math works: On Side D, the 16 sc match the 16 stem rows exactly. On the curve, the border sits at a radius of about 1.7 in (4.3 cm), which calls for about 26.7 sts. 26 sc plus a little stretch during blocking fits that curve without ruffling. The two 3-sc corners add the extra fabric needed to turn the left corners crisply. One round of sc adds 0.2 in (0.5 cm) to every outer edge. That takes the height from 3.2 in (8.1 cm) to 3.6 in (9.1 cm) and the width from 2.4 in (6.1 cm) to 2.8 in (7.1 cm). The sl st rounds outline the edges without changing the size.
Assembly
- Pin the upper flower first. Center it on the stem over Rows 5–9, with its right petals just overlapping the inner rim.
- Place the second flower below and to the right of the first, overlapping the bottom of the bowl and the lower edge of the first flower.
- Tuck one leaf behind the left side of the upper flower, one behind the lower right of the second flower, and one small leaf on the stem above the upper flower.
- Place the two buds on the stem above the upper flower, around Rows 11–13, with one slightly higher than the other.
- With sage green, backstitch a short stem about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) long from each bud down to the upper flower.
- Sew each piece down with its own tail, using small stitches through the back loops of its edges. Also stitch through the center of each flower so the petals stay raised.
- Open the jump ring with pliers and pass it through the top-left corner of the border. Add the key ring’s chain and close the jump ring fully.
Final Blocking
- Lightly mist the letter with water. Don’t soak the appliqués.
- Lay it flat, RS up, on a blocking mat.
- Pin the left edge straight at 3.6 in (9.1 cm).
- Pin the top and bottom of the stem square to the left edge.
- Ease the bowl into a smooth curve. Pin it at the top, bottom, and widest point so the width measures 2.8 in (7.1 cm).
- Shape the hole into a clean half-oval, 1.6 in (4.1 cm) tall.
- Fluff the flower petals. Let everything dry completely before removing the pins.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- The letter measures 3.6 in (9.1 cm) x 2.8 in (7.1 cm).
- The stem has 16 rows of 4 sc.
- The bowl rows have 14, 17, 20, and 23 sc.
- Border Round 1 has 54 sc, and the inner rim has 21 sl st.
- The bowl lies flat, with no cupping or ruffling.
- Each flower has 5 even petals and a visible mustard ring.
- All ends are woven in on the WS and trimmed.
- The jump ring is fully closed with no gap.
Troubleshooting
The bowl cups upward: The increases are too tight or one was skipped. Recount each row; it should grow by exactly 3 sts.
The bowl ruffles: Your tension loosened on the curve. Rework the row with firmer tension or a smaller hook.
The hole is too wide: The 13-ch foundation is loose. Chain more tightly, or redo it with a smaller hook.
There are gaps where the bowl meets the stem: Work the joining sl sts through both strands of each row-end and pull them snug.
The letter feels floppy: Go down a hook size. Firm fabric is what lets a keychain keep its shape.
The petals look uneven: Make sure each petal sits in its own stitch, with a sl st between petals.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, press out the water in a towel, and dry flat. Reshape while damp.
Final Notes
The measurements build in three steps. The stem is 0.8 in (2.0 cm) x 3.2 in (8.1 cm). A 0.8 in (2.0 cm) bowl band brings the piece to 2.4 in (6.1 cm) x 3.2 in (8.1 cm). A 0.2 in (0.5 cm) border finishes it at 2.8 in (7.1 cm) x 3.6 in (9.1 cm). If your stem matches the gauge, every count after it will work out.
Happy crocheting!