July 13, 2025

How to Crochet a Flip-Flop Keychain: A Detailed Tutorial🧶✨✨🩰🩰🔑🔑

A crochet flip-flop keychain is an adorable and quick project, perfect for summer vibes or as a cute little gift! It’s also a fantastic stash-buster for those small bits of yarn you have left over.

For a keychain, 100% cotton yarn is an excellent choice, especially given Phnom Penh’s warm climate. Cotton is durable, holds its shape well (important for a tiny item that gets tossed around), has good stitch definition, and comes in a vibrant array of colors. Acrylic yarn would also work well and is often softer, but cotton can offer a crisper look.


How to Crochet a Flip-Flop Keychain: A Detailed Tutorial

This tutorial will guide you through creating a miniature flip-flop, complete with a tiny strap, perfect for attaching to keys, bags, or even as a cute zipper pull. It’s a quick project that even beginners can master.

1. Essential Materials You’ll Need

  • Yarn:
    • Sole Color (SC): For the main part of the flip-flop. Worsted Weight (Aran / Medium / Category 4) is a good standard.
    • Strap Color (StrapC): For the tiny straps. Can be a contrasting color or matching. Worsted Weight, matching SC in thickness.
    • Quantity: Very small amounts – a few grams of each color will be more than enough for one keychain.
  • Crochet Hook:
    • A 3.5mm (US E/4) or 4.0mm (US G/6) hook. Choose a hook size that makes a dense, firm fabric to help the flip-flop hold its shape.
  • Scissors: For cutting yarn.
  • Yarn Needle (Tapestry Needle): Essential for weaving in ends and attaching the strap.
  • Key Ring/Split Ring: For attaching your finished flip-flop to keys.
  • Pliers (Optional): Helpful for opening the split ring to attach the keychain.

2. Basic Crochet Stitches You’ll Use

This project primarily uses fundamental crochet stitches, often worked in an oval shape.

  • Chain (ch): Used for the foundation and strap.
  • Slip Stitch (sl st): For joining and neatening.
  • Single Crochet (sc): Creates a dense, sturdy fabric, ideal for this small project.
  • Half Double Crochet (hdc): A medium-height stitch, used for shaping the toe/heel.
  • Fasten Off: Securely ending your work.
  • Weaving in Ends: Hiding yarn tails for a neat finish.
High quality

Crochet Flip-Flop Keychain Pattern

This pattern creates a miniature flip-flop, approximately 2-2.5 inches (5-6 cm) long.

Abbreviations (US Crochet Terms):

  • SC: Sole Color
  • StrapC: Strap Color
  • ch: chain
  • sl st: slip stitch
  • sc: single crochet
  • hdc: half double crochet
  • st(s): stitch(es)
  • (...): work stitches into the same stitch
  • [...]: repeat instructions in brackets
  • FO: Fasten off

Part 1: The Sole of the Flip-Flop (Sole Color – SC)

You’ll start with a small foundation chain and work around it to create an oval shape.

  1. Foundation Chain: With SC, Ch 10.
  2. Round 1:
    • Work 2 hdc into the 2nd ch from hook. (This forms the heel end curve).
    • Work 1 hdc in each of the next 7 chains.
    • In the last chain, work 5 hdc. (This forms the toe end curve).
    • Now, working down the opposite side of the foundation chain (into the unused loops): Work 1 hdc in each of the next 7 chains.
    • In the very last chain (which is also the first chain you worked into), work 3 hdc.
    • Join with a sl st to the top of the first hdc. (24 hdc total)
  3. Round 2:
    • Ch 1 (does not count as st).
    • Work 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts.
    • Work 2 sc in the next st (increase).
    • Work 1 sc in each of the next 8 sts.
    • Work 2 sc in the next st (increase).
    • Work 1 sc in each of the next 5 sts.
    • Work 2 sc in the next st (increase).
    • Work 1 sc in each of the remaining sts.
    • Join with a sl st to the first sc. (Approx. 27-28 sc, the exact count isn’t critical as long as it’s a neat oval).
  4. Round 3 (Creating the Defined Edge):
    • Ch 1.
    • Work 1 sc in the back loop only (BLO) of each stitch around. This creates a clear ridge, making the sole stand up slightly and giving it a more defined edge.
    • Join with a sl st to the first sc.
    • FO SC, leaving a tail for weaving in.
High quality

Part 2: The Flip-Flop Straps (Strap Color – StrapC)

You’ll crochet a tiny strap and then attach it.

  1. Crochet the Strap:
    • With StrapC, Ch 15. (Adjust chain length slightly for a longer/shorter strap).
    • Sl st in the 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (14 sl sts).
    • FO StrapC, leaving a long tail (approx. 8-10 inches / 20-25 cm) on both ends for sewing.
  2. Attach the Strap to the Sole:
    • Lay your sole flat. Identify the “toe” end (where the curve is tighter with more stitches).
    • Using your yarn needle and one tail of the strap, thread the strap through a central stitch at the very tip of the toe end of the sole (approx. 2-3 stitches from the front edge).
    • Pull the strap through so it’s centered, with equal length on both sides.
    • Now, identify where the strap should attach on the sides. Count back about 5-6 stitches from the toe on each side of the sole. Thread one side of the strap down through the sole at that point.
    • Repeat for the other side of the strap.
    • Once both sides are threaded through, flip the sole over. Use your yarn needle to weave in the strap tails very securely on the underside of the sole. You can knot them together before weaving in for extra security.
High quality

Part 3: Finishing and Attaching Keychain

  1. Weave in ALL Remaining Ends NEATLY: This is crucial for a polished, professional-looking keychain. Use your yarn needle to carefully weave in every single yarn tail securely.
  2. Attach the Key Ring:
    • Locate the center back (heel end) of your flip-flop.
    • Using your yarn needle, carefully push the split ring or key ring through a few stitches at the very back of the flip-flop, ensuring it’s secure. You might need pliers to open the split ring.

Tips for Customizing Your Flip-Flop Keychain

  • Colors: Use bright, contrasting colors for a fun, summery look. You can even make a striped sole by changing colors every round.
  • Embellishments:
    • Tiny Bead: Sew a tiny bead onto the center of the strap (where it meets the sole at the toe) for a decorative touch.
    • Small Flower: Crochet a tiny flower and sew it onto the strap.
    • Rhinestone: Glue a small rhinestone for some sparkle.
  • Size Adjustment:
    • Larger: Start with a longer foundation chain and/or add more rounds to the sole.
    • Smaller: Start with a shorter foundation chain (e.g., Ch 8) and reduce the number of increases.
  • Different Stitches: You could use all sc for a very dense sole, or use dc for a slightly larger, quicker sole. Just be mindful of the fabric density for a small item.
  • Double Sole (for extra thickness): Make two identical soles (Part 1). Instead of the BLO round on the second sole, simply work a regular sc round. Then, place the two soles together (wrong sides facing) and sc around the entire edge, joining them together. This creates a thicker, sturdier flip-flop.

You’re now ready to crochet adorable flip-flop keychains! These make fantastic quick gifts or additions to your own accessories.

Video tutorial:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *