This Blossom Initial G Keychain is a chunky, cushiony capital letter in warm coral, finished with a small spray of hand-sewn flowers and leaves. It clips onto a bag handle, a key set, or a zipper pull and makes a quick personal gift.
The palette is soft and summery: coral for the letter, peach and cream for the flowers, buttery yellow for the flower centers, and sage green for the leaves. A gold split ring and short chain finish it off.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished letter measures about 4 1/2 in (11.4 cm) tall and 4 in (10.2 cm) wide, with a stroke about 1 1/8 in (2.9 cm) wide.
Construction is simple and seamless. You crochet one foundation chain that follows the path of the G, work a round of half double crochet around both sides of it, and shape the curve by adding stitches on the outer edge and removing them on the inner edge. One round of single crochet forms the border. The flowers and leaves are made separately and sewn on.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: about 4 1/2 in (11.4 cm) tall x 4 in (10.2 cm) wide
- Length with hardware: about 6 1/2 in (16.5 cm)
- Skill level: Advanced beginner
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: worsted (#4) cotton for the letter; DK (#3) cotton for the appliqués
- Hooks: 4.0 mm (G-6) for the letter; 3.0 mm for the appliqués
- Number of pieces: 1 letter, plus 4 small flowers and 3 leaves sewn on
- Layout: single motif, no joining
- Stroke width: about 1 1/8 in (2.9 cm)
- Size before border: about 4 1/8 in (10.5 cm) tall x 3 5/8 in (9.2 cm) wide
- Border depth: 1 round of sc, about 3/16 in (0.5 cm) on every edge
Materials
Choose a smooth, mercerized or combed cotton. Cotton keeps stitch definition crisp, holds its shape on a keychain, and resists fuzzing from handling.
- Coral, worsted (#4) cotton: 10 g, about 18 m (letter)
- Peach, DK (#3) cotton: 3 g, about 8 m (2 flowers)
- Cream, DK (#3) cotton: 2 g, about 6 m (2 flowers)
- Yellow, DK (#3) cotton: 1 g, about 3 m (4 flower centers)
- Sage green, DK (#3) cotton: 2 g, about 6 m (3 leaves)
Tools:
- 4.0 mm (G-6) and 3.0 mm crochet hooks
- Tapestry needle
- Gold split key ring, 1 in (2.5 cm) across, with a short chain about 3/4 in (1.9 cm) long
- Gold jump ring, 3/8 in (1.0 cm), and two pairs of flat-nose pliers
- Rustproof pins, blocking mat, spray bottle
- Stitch marker
All quantities include a small margin for swatching and weaving in ends.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rep – repeat
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together: insert hook in next st, pull up a loop, insert hook in following st, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through all 3 loops
- hdc2tog – half double crochet 2 together (special stitch): yarn over, insert hook in next st, pull up a loop; yarn over, insert hook in following st, pull up a loop; yarn over and pull through all 5 loops on hook
- Magic ring – adjustable loop, tightened after the first round
Gauge and Checkpoints
Letter gauge: 18 sc and 20 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) with worsted cotton and a 4.0 mm hook. Each sc round adds about 3/16 in (0.5 cm).
Because this is a single small piece, the letter itself is your test piece. Check it at each stage:
- Foundation chain: the 40 working chains measure about 8 3/4 in (22.2 cm) when relaxed.
- After Round 1: the stroke is about 3/4 in (1.9 cm) wide, and the letter is about 4 1/8 in (10.5 cm) tall x 3 5/8 in (9.2 cm) wide.
- After Round 2 (border): the stroke is about 1 1/8 in (2.9 cm) wide, and the letter is about 4 1/2 in (11.4 cm) x 4 in (10.2 cm).
- Appliqués: a yellow center ring is about 3/8 in (1.0 cm); peach flowers are about 1 in (2.5 cm), cream flowers about 3/4 in (1.9 cm), and leaves about 5/8 in (1.6 cm) long.
If it’s too big: go down a hook size (3.75 mm). If it’s too small: go up to 4.5 mm. If the chain is right but the curve ripples, the outer edge has too many stitches for your tension; tighten your hdc slightly rather than changing the counts.
The Letter
Rounds are not turned. The front of Round 1 is the right side.
Chain map. The foundation has 40 working chains plus 2 skipped chains at the start. Number the working chains 1 to 40, starting from the hook end:
- Ch 1: top terminal (end of the top arm)
- Ch 2–4: top arm
- Ch 5–28: big curve (top, left side, and bottom)
- Ch 29–32: lower-right turn
- Ch 33–34: short upright on the right side
- Ch 35: corner where the crossbar turns inward
- Ch 36–39: crossbar
- Ch 40: crossbar tip
Side A (worked first, into the back bumps) becomes the outer edge. Side B (worked second, into the remaining loops) becomes the inner edge.
Foundation: With coral and the 4.0 mm hook, ch 42.
Round 1 (Shaping Round)
Side A, outer edge, working into back bumps:
- 2 hdc in 3rd ch from hook (ch 1). The skipped 2 chains do not count as a stitch.
- Hdc in each of ch 2–4 (3 hdc).
- Big curve, ch 5–28: [hdc in next 3 ch, 2 hdc in next ch] 6 times (30 hdc).
- Lower-right turn, ch 29–32: [hdc in next ch, 2 hdc in next ch] 2 times (6 hdc).
- Hdc in ch 33 and 34 (2 hdc).
- Corner, ch 35: 3 hdc in same ch (3 hdc).
- Crossbar, ch 36–39: hdc in each (4 hdc).
Crossbar tip: 5 hdc in ch 40.
Side B, inner edge, rotate and work into remaining loops of the chain:
- Hdc in each of ch 39–36 (4 hdc).
- Hdc2tog over ch 35 and 34 (1 st).
- Hdc in ch 33 (1 hdc).
- Lower-right turn, ch 32–29: hdc in next ch, hdc2tog, hdc in next ch (3 sts).
- Big curve, ch 28–5: [hdc in next 2 ch, hdc2tog] 6 times (18 sts).
- Hdc in each of ch 4–2 (3 hdc).
- 3 hdc in ch 1 (the same chain that holds the first 2 hdc).
Join with sl st to the first hdc. (88 sts)
Count by edge: top terminal 5 (2 on side A + 3 on side B), outer edge 48, crossbar tip 5, inner edge 30. 5 + 48 + 5 + 30 = 88.
Lay the piece flat. It should curl into a C with a short inward crossbar at the lower right. If the letter reads backward, turn it over. The fabric looks the same on both sides, so whichever side reads correctly becomes the front.
Checkpoint: about 4 1/8 in (10.5 cm) x 3 5/8 in (9.2 cm), stroke about 3/4 in (1.9 cm).
Border
The border is Round 2, one round of sc in coral. Border gauge: 18 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm) along the edge, depth about 3/16 in (0.5 cm).
Round 2
Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch). Work in Round 1 stitches in order, starting in the joining stitch:
Top terminal, start (2 sts on side A): sc in first st, 2 sc in next st (3 sc).
Outer edge (48 sts):
- Top arm: sc in next 3 sts (3 sc).
- Big curve (30 sts): [sc in next 9 sts, 2 sc in next st] 3 times (33 sc).
- Lower-right turn (6 sts): sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts (7 sc).
- Upright: sc in next 2 sts (2 sc).
- Corner (3 sts): sc in next st, 3 sc in center st, sc in next st (5 sc).
- Crossbar top: sc in next 4 sts (4 sc).
Outer edge total: 3 + 33 + 7 + 2 + 5 + 4 = 54 sc.
Crossbar tip (5 sts): 2 sc in first st, sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in last st (7 sc).
Inner edge (30 sts):
- Crossbar underside: sc in next 4 sts (4 sc).
- Inner corner: sc2tog over next 2 sts (1 st).
- Lower-right turn (3 sts): sc in next st, sc2tog (2 sts).
- Big curve (18 sts): [sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog] 3 times (15 sts).
- Top arm: sc in next 3 sts (3 sc).
Inner edge total: 4 + 1 + 2 + 15 + 3 = 25 sts.
Top terminal, finish (3 sts on side B): 2 sc in next st, sc in last 2 sts (4 sc).
Join with sl st to first sc. (93 sts)
Count by edge: top terminal 7 (3 + 4), outer edge 54, crossbar tip 7, inner edge 25. 7 + 54 + 7 + 25 = 93.
Fasten off and leave a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail for weaving in.
Why the Math Works
A curved strip needs a longer outer edge and a shorter inner edge. Along a full turn, the extra length on the outside is about 2 x 3.14 x the depth of the new round. For a 3/16 in (0.5 cm) sc round, that’s about 1 1/4 in (3.2 cm), or 5–6 sc at gauge.
The outer path of the G turns through roughly one full circle (big curve, lower-right turn, and corner). That’s why Round 2 adds 3 + 1 + 2 = 6 stitches on the outer edge and removes 1 + 1 + 3 = 5 on the inner edge. Round 1 is taller (hdc on each side of the chain), so it needs about twice as much shaping: +10 outside (6 + 2 + 2) and −8 inside (6 + 1 + 1).
Each squared end grows from 5 to 7 stitches in Round 2: 1 extra stitch at each of its 2 corners, so the end stays flat instead of cupping.
Appliqués
Use DK cotton and the 3.0 mm hook. Leave 8 in (20.3 cm) tails for sewing.
Peach Flower (make 2)
Round 1: With yellow, make a magic ring, ch 1, 5 sc in ring, pull the ring closed, join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off. (5 sc)
Round 2: Join peach in any sc. (Sl st, ch 2, 3 dc, ch 2, sl st) in same sc, move to next sc; rep from * 4 more times. Join to the first sl st. (5 petals)*
Fasten off. The flower should be about 1 in (2.5 cm) across.
Cream Flower (make 2)
Round 1: Work as for the peach flower with yellow. (5 sc)
Round 2: Join cream in any sc. (Sl st, ch 1, 3 hdc, ch 1, sl st) in same sc, move to next sc; rep from * 4 more times. Join. (5 petals)*
Fasten off. The flower should be about 3/4 in (1.9 cm) across.
Leaf (make 3)
With green, ch 5. Sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, hdc in next ch, (sc, ch 2, sc) in last ch for the tip. Rotate and work along the other side of the chain: hdc in next ch, hdc in next ch, sc in the same ch as the first sc. Join with sl st to the first sc. (9 sts + ch-2 tip)
Fasten off. Each leaf is about 5/8 in (1.6 cm) long.
Placement
Picture the G as a clock face.
- Upper cluster: center a peach flower on the stroke at 10 o’clock. Tuck a leaf at its upper right, pointing toward 12 o’clock. Place a cream flower just below the peach flower at 9 o’clock, letting it slightly overlap the outer edge. Tuck the second leaf beneath the cream flower, pointing toward 8 o’clock.
- Lower cluster: place a peach flower on the bottom stroke at 5 o’clock, a cream flower touching it on the left at 6 o’clock, and the last leaf to the left of the cream flower at 7 o’clock.
Pin everything first, then sew around each flower center and between the petals with small stitches through the coral fabric only. Tack each leaf at its base and tip. Weave ends into the back.
Hardware
Count Round 2 stitches from the joining point. Open the jump ring with two pliers (twist sideways, never pull apart) and pass it through the 9th sc of Round 2, catching the hdc of Round 1 beneath it so it holds two rows of stitches. This sits at the top of the left curve. Add the end link of the chain, then close the ring tightly. The split ring hangs from the other end of the chain.
Final Blocking
- Mist the letter (before sewing on the appliqués, if possible) until it’s evenly damp, not soaked.
- Lay it right side up on the blocking mat.
- Pin the two squared ends first, then ease the curve into a smooth C.
- Check the size: 4 1/2 in (11.4 cm) tall, 4 in (10.2 cm) wide, stroke 1 1/8 in (2.9 cm).
- Press the flowers flat with your fingertips, opening the petals evenly.
- Let everything dry completely, about 4–6 hours, then unpin and attach the appliqués and hardware.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Round 1 has 88 sts; Round 2 has 93 sts.
- The letter lies flat with no cupping on the inner curve and no ruffling on the outer curve.
- Both ends are squared, with 7 sc each.
- The letter reads correctly from the front.
- Size is 4 1/2 in (11.4 cm) x 4 in (10.2 cm).
- There are 2 peach flowers, 2 cream flowers, and 3 leaves, all firmly stitched.
- The jump ring is fully closed and anchored through two rows.
- All ends are woven in on the back.
Troubleshooting
- The outer edge ruffles: your hdc is loose. Redo Round 1 with slightly tighter tension, or go down half a hook size.
- The inner curve buckles upward: the decreases are too tight. Work the hdc2tog loosely, or swap the last hdc2tog on the big curve for 2 plain hdc.
- The corner looks pinched: make sure the 3 hdc (Round 1) and 3 sc (Round 2) all go into the single center stitch.
- The letter is backward: turn it over; both sides look alike.
- The flowers look flat: pull the magic ring tighter and keep the dc petals snug.
- The jump ring pulls out: move it one stitch over and catch two rows of stitches.
Care
Spot clean or hand wash in cool water with mild soap, then reshape and dry flat. Remove the hardware first if you’re soaking the piece.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is simple. Forty working chains of about 8 3/4 in (22.2 cm) become an 88-stitch hdc round, giving a letter of about 4 1/8 in (10.5 cm) x 3 5/8 in (9.2 cm). One 93-stitch sc border adds 3/16 in (0.5 cm) on every edge, for a finished size of 4 1/2 in (11.4 cm) x 4 in (10.2 cm). Check each step and your little G will lie flat, curve smoothly, and wear its flowers beautifully.
Happy crocheting!