The Marigold Meadow Letter T Keychain is a small, puffy monogram charm with a cottage-garden feel. Rows of plump fan stitches give the mustard letter a textured, almost quilted look. A tidy single crochet border with a slip stitch edge finishes the outline cleanly.
The palette has three colors: warm mustard for the letter, soft cream for the flowers, and muted sage for the leaves. Three flowers and four leaves sit on top of the letter. Two flowers cluster on the right end of the crossbar and one sits low on the stem, so the charm looks balanced rather than busy.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished charm measures 3.9 in (9.9 cm) wide by 3.9 in (9.9 cm) tall, not counting the hardware.
The letter is one single piece. You crochet the crossbar first in three rows, then work the stem straight down from the center of the crossbar’s last row. One border round and one slip stitch round go around the whole letter. You make the flowers and leaves separately, sew them on, and attach the keyring last.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 3.9 in × 3.9 in (9.9 cm × 9.9 cm)
- Skill level: Easy+
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: DK (light worsted / #3)
- Hook: 3.5 mm (E-4)
- Number of pieces: 1 letter, plus 3 flower appliqués and 4 leaf appliqués
- Layout: Single “T” shape, crossbar on top, centered stem below
- Crossbar before border: 3.4 in × 0.8 in (8.6 cm × 2.0 cm)
- Stem before border: 1 in (2.5 cm) wide × 2.6 in (6.6 cm) long
- Size before border: 3.4 in × 3.4 in (8.6 cm × 8.6 cm)
- Border depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm) on every edge
Materials
Yarn: A smooth DK cotton or cotton blend works best. It shows the fan texture clearly and holds its shape on a keychain that gets handled a lot. Avoid fuzzy or very splitty yarns, because the fans lose their definition.
- Mustard (letter): 8 g, about 18 m
- Cream (flowers): 3 g, about 7 m
- Sage green (leaves): 2 g, about 4.5 m
All quantities include a margin for your gauge swatch and weaving in ends.
Tools:
- 3.5 mm (E-4) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Stitch markers (2)
- 1 in (2.5 cm) gold split keyring
- About 1 in (2.5 cm) of short gold chain
- One 8 mm gold jump ring and two pairs of flat-nose pliers
- Ruler or tape measure
- Pins and a small blocking surface
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
- sk – skip
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- BLO – back loop only
- RS – right side
Special stitch – Fan: Work 5 dc in the same stitch. Each fan is placed over a 3-stitch space (sk 1, fan in next, sk 1), so the 5 dc bunch up into a rounded, puffy shell.
Standing sc: With a slip knot on your hook, insert the hook into the stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through both loops.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Base gauge: 20 sc and 22 sc rows = 4 in (10.2 cm). That works out to 5 sc per inch, and each sc row is about 0.2 in (0.5 cm) tall.
Fan row height: About 0.4 in (1.0 cm). One fan row plus one sc row together measure about 0.6 in (1.5 cm).
Test piece first: The crossbar (Rows 1–3) is your gauge test. Before you start the stem, check these:
- After Row 1: 17 sc measure 3.4 in (8.6 cm).
- After Row 3: the crossbar measures 3.4 in × 0.8 in (8.6 cm × 2.0 cm).
- After Row 12: the stem measures 1 in (2.5 cm) wide, and the whole letter is 3.4 in (8.6 cm) tall.
- After Border Round 1: about 3.8 in × 3.8 in (9.7 cm × 9.7 cm).
- After Border Round 2: 3.9 in × 3.9 in (9.9 cm × 9.9 cm).
If your crossbar is too wide, go up a hook size or two, for example to 4 mm. If it is too narrow, go down to 3.25 mm. Tight fans curl the bar into a smile shape. If you see that, loosen your dc rather than changing the stitch count.
Letter T: Crossbar
Work with the mustard yarn.
Row 1: Ch 18. Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (17 sc)
Row 2 (fan row): Ch 1 (does not count as a st). Sc in first st, sk 1, fan in next st, sk 1, sc in next st. Repeat from * to * 3 more times. Turn. (4 fans and 5 sc = 25 sts)
Row 3: Ch 1. Sc in first sc, sc in 2nd, 3rd and 4th dc of the next fan, sc in next sc. Repeat from * to * 3 more times. (17 sc)
Each fan has 5 dc. You work into only its middle three, which keeps the count at 17 and pushes the outer dc forward into a rounded shell.
Fasten off.
Checkpoint: The crossbar should be 3.4 in × 0.8 in (8.6 cm × 2.0 cm). The fans sit on the bottom edge, below the straight foundation edge. The foundation edge becomes the top of the T.
Letter T: Stem
The stem is the center 5 stitches of Row 3. That leaves 6 stitches unworked on each side, so the stem is exactly centered: 6 + 5 + 6 = 17.
Row 4: Turn the crossbar as if starting a new row. Skip the first 6 sts of Row 3. Join mustard with a standing sc in the 7th st, then sc in each of the next 4 sts. Turn and leave the remaining 6 sts unworked. (5 sc)
Row 5 (fan row): Ch 1. Sc in first st, sk 1, fan in next st, sk 1, sc in last st. Turn. (1 fan and 2 sc = 7 sts)
Row 6: Ch 1. Sc in first sc, sc in 2nd, 3rd and 4th dc of the fan, sc in last sc. Turn. (5 sc)
Rows 7–12: Repeat Rows 5–6 three more times. Every fan row has 7 sts and every sc row has 5 sc.
Do not fasten off. Keep the loop live for the border.
Checkpoint: The stem has 4 stacked fans. It measures 1 in (2.5 cm) wide and 2.6 in (6.6 cm) long: 0.2 in (0.5 cm) for Row 4 plus 4 × 0.6 in (1.5 cm). The full letter is now 3.4 in × 3.4 in (8.6 cm × 8.6 cm).
Border
Border gauge: Work 1 sc into each stitch, 1 sc into each sc row-end, and 2 sc into each fan row-end. One sc covers about 0.2 in (0.5 cm). That matches an sc row’s height exactly, and a fan row’s 0.4 in (1.0 cm) needs two sc. This is what keeps the edges flat.
Round 1 (RS): Ch 1 and rotate to work up the left side of the stem. For a clean start, work the round in this order beginning at the top-left corner. Join with a sl st to the first sc when done.
- Top edge (free loops of the foundation chain): 3 sc in first st, sc in next 15, 3 sc in last st. (21)
- Right end of the bar: 1 sc in Row 3 end, 2 sc in Row 2 end, 1 sc in Row 1 end. (4)
- Bar underside, right: 3 sc in the outer corner st, sc in next 4. Then sc2tog over the 6th st and the Row 4 end of the stem. (8)
- Right side of stem: Rows 5–12: 2 sc in each fan row-end and 1 sc in each sc row-end. (12)
- Stem bottom: 3 sc in first st, sc in next 3, 3 sc in last st. (9)
- Left side of stem: Rows 12–5. (12)
- Bar underside, left: sc2tog over the Row 4 end and the innermost unworked bar st. Sc in next 4, then 3 sc in the outer corner st. (8)
- Left end of the bar: 1 sc in each sc row-end and 2 sc in the fan row-end. (4)
Sl st to the first sc. Total: 21 + 4 + 8 + 12 + 9 + 12 + 8 + 4 = 78 sc.
Why the math works:
- Base stitches: The edges hold 17 + 4 + 6 + 13 + 5 + 13 + 6 + 4 = 68 stitches. The 13s count each full stem side: 5 sc rows at 1 and 4 fan rows at 2.
- Outer corners: There are 6 of them. Each gets 3 sc in the corner stitch, which adds 2, so +12 in total.
- Inner corners: There are 2. Each sc2tog combines two positions into one, so −2 in total.
- Result: 68 + 12 − 2 = 78. The outer corners get enough stitches to curve smoothly, and the inner corners pull in without puckering.
Round 2: Ch 1. Sl st in BLO of each st around. Do not add stitches at the corners. Join to the first sl st. (78 sl sts)
Fasten off and weave in all ends.
Checkpoint: The letter measures 3.9 in × 3.9 in (9.9 cm × 9.9 cm). The stem is 1.5 in (3.8 cm) wide, and the border is 0.25 in (0.6 cm) deep all around.
Flower and Leaf Appliqués
Large flower (make 2, cream): Make a magic ring.
- Round 1: Work 5 sc in the ring. Pull the ring closed and sl st to the first sc. (5 sc)
- Round 2: In each sc, work (sl st, ch 2, 3 dc, ch 2, sl st). (5 petals)
Fasten off and leave a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail. The finished flower is about 1.1 in (2.8 cm) across.
Small flower (make 1, cream): Make a magic ring. Work ch 2, 2 dc in ring, ch 2, sl st in ring 5 times. (5 petals) Pull the ring closed and fasten off. The finished flower is about 0.75 in (1.9 cm) across.
Flower centers: Use mustard yarn to work one French knot in the center of each flower. Wrap the yarn twice around the needle.
Leaf (make 4, sage):
- Ch 6. Sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next, dc in next, hdc in next.
- In the last ch, work (sc, ch 2, sc) to form the pointed tip.
- Working along the other side of the chain: hdc in next, dc in next, hdc in next, sc in last.
- Sl st to the first sc.
Fasten off and leave a tail. Each leaf is about 0.8 in (2.0 cm) long.
Assembly and Hardware
- Pin the large and small flowers side by side on the right half of the crossbar. The large flower sits nearer the center, overlapping the top of the stem slightly. The small flower goes to its left and a little lower.
- Tuck one leaf behind the upper right of the large flower and one behind its lower right edge, then pin them.
- Pin the second large flower on the lower left of the stem, about 0.6 in (1.5 cm) above the bottom border. Tuck one leaf above it to the right and one below it to the right.
- Sew each leaf first, then each flower. Use small stitches through the flower center and between the petals so the petals stay raised.
- Open the jump ring with pliers. Slip it through the border at the 11th st of the top edge, which is the center of the 21-stitch top segment. Add the chain and close the ring.
- Attach the split ring to the other end of the chain.
Final Blocking
- Lightly mist the letter with water, or steam it from 1 in (2.5 cm) above. Keep the steam away from the appliqués if you’re using acrylic.
- Lay it flat on your blocking surface.
- Pin it to 3.9 in × 3.9 in (9.9 cm × 9.9 cm). Check that the stem is centered: the crossbar should overhang 1.2 in (3.0 cm) on each side.
- Use your fingertip to push each fan up from behind so the shells stay puffy.
- Let it dry completely before attaching the hardware, if you haven’t already.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- [ ] The crossbar has 4 fans and the stem has 4 fans.
- [ ] Rows 1, 3, 4 and every even stem row have the correct sc count (17 or 5).
- [ ] The stem is centered, with 6 unworked stitches on each side.
- [ ] Border Round 1 has 78 sc, and Round 2 has 78 sl sts.
- [ ] Outer corners are rounded, and inner corners lie flat.
- [ ] Finished size is 3.9 in × 3.9 in (9.9 cm × 9.9 cm).
- [ ] Flowers and leaves are sewn on securely, with no loose petals.
- [ ] The jump ring is closed tightly, with no gap.
- [ ] All ends are woven in and trimmed.
Troubleshooting
The crossbar curls into a smile. Your dc are tighter than your sc. Work the fans more loosely, or use a hook one size larger for the fan rows only.
The fans look flat. Make sure you skip 1 stitch on each side of every fan. Also check that the next row works into only the middle 3 dc, not all 5.
The stem is off-center. Count again: skip exactly 6 stitches before joining for Row 4.
The border ripples along the stem. Your row-ends are getting too many stitches. Use 1 sc for each sc row-end and 2 sc for each fan row-end, and no more.
The border cups along the stem. You’ve used too few stitches. Make sure every fan row-end gets 2 sc.
The inner corners gap. Work the sc2tog firmly, inserting the hook through both the bar stitch and the stem row-end.
The flowers droop. Add one tacking stitch at the base of each petal.
Care
Hand wash in cool water and lay flat to dry. Remove the metal hardware first if you can, so it doesn’t tarnish.
Final Notes
The whole charm depends on a simple chain of measurements:
- 17 sc make a 3.4 in (8.6 cm) crossbar.
- Three bar rows give it 0.8 in (2.0 cm) of height.
- Nine stem rows add 2.6 in (6.6 cm), bringing the letter to 3.4 in × 3.4 in (8.6 cm × 8.6 cm).
- A 78-stitch border plus a slip stitch round adds 0.25 in (0.6 cm) on every edge.
- The finished size is 3.9 in × 3.9 in (9.9 cm × 9.9 cm).
If each checkpoint matches, the finished letter will match too.
Happy crocheting!