Handmade Crochet Neo Keychain: A Matrix Fan Essential

This pattern will guide you in creating an amigurumi keychain resembling Neo from The Matrix. It's designed for an intermediate crocheter.

**Finished Size:** Approximately 4.5 - 5 inches tall (excluding keyring), depending on yarn and hook size.

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**Abbreviations:**

*   **MR:** Magic Ring
*   **ch:** Chain
*   **sl st:** Slip Stitch
*   **sc:** Single Crochet
*   **inc:** Increase (2 sc in one stitch)
*   **dec:** Decrease (sc 2 together)
*   **BLO:** Back Loop Only
*   **FO:** Fasten Off
*   **st(s):** Stitch(es)
*   **[...]**: Repeat instructions within brackets the specified number of times
*   **(...)**: Total number of stitches at the end of the round

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**Materials:**

*   Worsted weight yarn:
    *   Black (for hair, body, coat, sleeves)
    *   Skin Tone (for head, hands)
*   Crochet hook: 2.5mm or 2.75mm (or size suitable for your yarn to create tight stitches)
*   Small black plastic sunglasses (approx. 1.5 - 2 cm wide, often found in doll accessories or toy sets)
*   Keyring with a small chain or jump ring
*   Stuffing (polyester fiberfill)
*   Yarn needle
*   Stitch marker
*   Scissors

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**Instructions:**

Work in continuous rounds unless otherwise specified. Use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round.

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**1. Head (Skin Tone Yarn)**

*   **R1:** MR, 6 sc (6)
*   **R2:** [inc] x6 (12)
*   **R3:** [sc, inc] x6 (18)
*   **R4:** [2 sc, inc] x6 (24)
*   **R5:** [3 sc, inc] x6 (30)
*   **R6:** [4 sc, inc] x6 (36)
*   **R7-R13:** sc in each st around (7 rounds) (36)
*   **R14:** [4 sc, dec] x6 (30)
*   **R15:** [3 sc, dec] x6 (24)
*   **R16:** [2 sc, dec] x6 (18)
    *   Start stuffing the head firmly.
*   **R17:** [sc, dec] x6 (12)
*   **R18:** [dec] x6 (6)
    *   FO, leaving a long tail for sewing. Finish stuffing and close the hole.

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**2. Hair (Black Yarn)**

*   **R1:** MR, 6 sc (6)
*   **R2:** [inc] x6 (12)
*   **R3:** [sc, inc] x6 (18)
*   **R4:** [2 sc, inc] x6 (24)
*   **R5:** [3 sc, inc] x6 (30)
*   **R6:** [4 sc, inc] x6 (36)
*   **R7-R9:** sc in each st around (3 rounds) (36)
*   **R10:** Working into BLO for shaping the hairline: [4 sc, dec] x6 (30)
    *   **Hair Strands (work these directly from the BLO stitches of R9 before R10, or after R10 by going back into the FLO of R9):**
    *   For the front and sides: [ch 3, sl st into the same st, skip next st] repeat along the front and sides (approx. 15-20 sl sts in FLO of R9, adjust as desired to create fringe).
    *   For the back: ch 4, sl st into the same st, then sl st along the remaining FLO stitches to create shorter, less prominent strands.
*   FO, leaving a long tail for sewing.

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**3. Body (Skin Tone Yarn, then Black Yarn)**

*   **R1:** MR, 6 sc (6)
*   **R2:** [inc] x6 (12)
*   **R3:** [sc, inc] x6 (18)
*   **R4:** [2 sc, inc] x6 (24)
*   **R5-R6:** sc in each st around (2 rounds) (24)
*   **R7:** [2 sc, dec] x6 (18)
    *   Stuff the body lightly.
*   **R8:** sc in each st around (18)
    *   Change to **Black Yarn**.
*   **R9:** Working in BLO for a clean color transition: sc in each st around (18)
*   **R10-R12:** sc in each st around (3 rounds) (18)
*   **R13:** [sc, dec] x6 (12)
    *   Finish stuffing the body firmly.
*   **R14:** [dec] x6 (6)
    *   FO, leaving a long tail for sewing. Close the hole.

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**4. Arms (Make 2 - Skin Tone, then Black Yarn)**

*   **R1:** MR, 6 sc (6) (Skin Tone)
*   **R2:** sc in each st around (6)
    *   Change to **Black Yarn**.
*   **R3-R8:** sc in each st around (6 rounds) (6)
    *   Do not stuff the arms.
*   FO, leaving a long tail for sewing. Flatten the open end and sc through both sides to close, or simply stitch closed later.

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**5. Trench Coat (Black Yarn)**

The coat is worked in rows, then joined for shaping.

*   **Ch 19.**
*   **R1:** sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 17 ch. (18 sc)
*   **R2:** ch 1, turn, [2 sc, inc] x6 (24)
*   **R3:** ch 1, turn, [3 sc, inc] x6 (30)
*   **R4-R10:** ch 1, turn, sc in each st across (7 rounds) (30)
*   **R11 (Collar Row):** ch 1, turn.
    *   **Right Collar:** ch 4, sl st into the 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, hdc in last ch. sl st into the first st of R10.
    *   sc in next 28 sts.
    *   **Left Collar:** ch 4, sl st into the 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, hdc in last ch. sl st into the last st of R10.
*   FO. Reattach yarn to the first stitch of R10 (under the right collar piece) and work sc down the side of the coat, around the bottom, and up the other side to create a neat edge. Join with sl st and FO.
    *   *Alternatively, you can skip the specific collar row and simply fold down the top edges of the coat to form a collar during assembly.*

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**Assembly:**

1.  **Attach Hair to Head:** Position the hair piece onto the head, ensuring the fringe is at the front. Stitch securely around the edges.
2.  **Attach Head to Body:** Stitch the bottom of the head to the top of the body. Ensure it's centered and upright.
3.  **Attach Arms:** Sew the arms to the sides of the body, just below the neck, so they hang naturally.
4.  **Put on the Coat:** Drape the trench coat over the body. You can lightly stitch the collar pieces down or just shape them. The front of the coat should remain open as seen in the reference image. Stitch the coat to the body lightly at the shoulders or back to keep it in place.
5.  **Attach Sunglasses:** Gently place the small plastic sunglasses on the face, positioning them over where eyes would typically be. A tiny dab of fabric glue (or hot glue for a more secure, but less removable, attachment) can be used to fix them in place, or you can carefully stitch them with a thin black thread.
6.  **Attach Keyring:** Thread the keyring's jump ring through the top center of the hair (or into a stitch near the top of the head). Use pliers to close the jump ring securely.

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Your Neo keychain is complete!