Bring an irresistible wave of cozy charm and vibrant handmade style to your accessory lineup with this cute crochet stepping Christmas tree keychain pattern! Designed as a quick-stitch, multi-textured festive charm, this free pattern crafts a chubby evergreen pine featuring tiered layers of fluffy bobble stitches that step outward to mimic full, snowy branches.
It is an ideal DIY craft project for fast scrap yarn busting and an absolute top-seller for Christmas market stalls, winter pop-up shops, stocking stuffers, and holiday gift counters. For sweet handmade gifts, attach a split key ring or festive ribbon to transform your plushies into aesthetic bag charms, backpack accessories, car mirror ornaments, or Christmas tree decorations!
Materials & Tools
Yarn: 4-ply / sport-weight milk cotton yarn in:
Forest Green or Sage Green (main tree body)
Bright Yellow (star topper)
Brown (tree trunk)
Red and White (mini Santa hat)
Small scraps of colorful yarn or mini pompoms/beads (for ornaments)
Crochet Hook: 2.5 mm (or 2.0 mm)
Notions & Accessories:
Polyester fiberfill stuffing
Tapestry / yarn needle
Stitch marker
Scissors
Craft glue / hot glue gun
Keychain ring with jump ring (and optional mini jingle bell)
Abbreviations (US Terms)
ch – chain
sl st – slip stitch
sc – single crochet
hdc – half double crochet
dc – double crochet
inc – increase (work 2 single crochets into the same stitch)
dec – decrease (sc 2 together)
FLO – front loop only
BLO – back loop only
MR – magic ring
st(s) – stitch(es)
Special Stitch
5-Unfinished-Double-Crochet Puff Stitch:
Yarn over, insert hook into the specified front loop, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook).
Yarn over and pull through the first 2 loops (1 unfinished dc made; 2 loops remain on hook).
Work 4 more unfinished double crochets into that exact same loop. You will have 6 loops on your hook.
Yarn over and pull through all 6 loops at once.
Ch 1 to lock and secure the puff stitch firmly.
Part 1: Stepping Christmas Tree Body
Using green yarn and a 2.5 mm hook. Work in joined rounds (sl st to the first stitch to close, then ch 1 or ch 3 as turning chain).
Round 1: Start with a magic ring. Ch 1 (turning chain, does not count as a stitch here and throughout), work 6 sc into the ring. Place a stitch marker on the first sc. Pull the center ring tail tight. Sl st into the first marked sc to join. (6 sts)
Round 2: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each stitch around. (6 sts)
Gently push the piece so the right side (clear textured side) faces outward. Sl st to the first sc to join.Round 3: Ch 1. repeat 2 times. Sl st to join. (8 sts)
- Round 4: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each stitch around. Sl st to join. (8 sts)
Tier 1 Puffs:
Round 5 (Puff Round): Ch 3 (turning chain).
Note: Work the puff stitches in the Front Loops Only (FLO).In the first front loop, work a 5-unfinished-double-crochet puff stitch, then ch 1 to lock.
In the next stitch (through both loops), work 1 sc.
Repeat this set 4 times in total around. Sl st into the top of the first puff stitch to join. (4 puffs, 4 sc; 8 base sts)
Expansion 1:
Round 6: Ch 1. Work repeat 4 times around. Sl st to join. (12 sts)
Tier 2 Puffs:
Round 7 (Puff Round): Ch 3. Working in FLO for the puffs:
Work repeat 6 times around. Sl st into the first puff to join. (6 puffs, 6 sc; 12 base sts)
Expansion 2:
Round 8: Ch 1. Work repeat 4 times around. Sl st to join. (16 sts)
