Free Crochet Rice Ball Charm & Keychain Pattern

For anybody who is obsessed with Japanese Food, crochet a cute seaweed rice cake keychain with a free written pattern that I will provide you with. You can crochet this miniature seaweed ball in either of two variations of the face. If you don’t have safety beads yet, you can choose the embroidered kawaii eyes. That’s the only difference.

Both ways, it will look oh-so cute. There is also blush added to the cheeks. For the seaweed, we will be using the black felt. That is really awesome and a must-have thing to crochet. I will share both the US and UK patterns for this.

Crochet Rice Ball Charm

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The designer behind this food amigurumi is @NITKA_KZ – she has quite a good grasp on kawaii amigurumi designing with added cuteness and surprises. More food tutorials:

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Crochet Rice Ball Pattern (US Terminology)

This pattern is for a cute crochet Onigiri (Seaweed Rice Ball) amigurumi. It is worked from the bottom up, starting with a flat base and tapering toward the top to create a rounded triangular shape.

Materials Needed

1. Milk Cotton Yarn (White)
2. Crochet Hook (1.0 mm or 2.5 mm, depending on yarn weight)
3. Black Felt (for the seaweed)
4. Stuffing (Fiberfill)
5. Glue Gun (to attach the felt)
6. Safety Eyes or Black Thread/Beads (for the eyes)
7. Blush and Cotton Swab (optional, for the cheeks)

The Rice Ball Base

1. Start: Ch 9.
2. R1: Starting in the 2nd ch from hook, 7 sc. Work 3 sc in the last ch. Rotate to work along the opposite side of the chain: 6 sc, 1 inc in the final st. (18 sts)
3. R2: 1 inc, 6 sc, 3 inc, 6 sc, 2 inc. (24 sts)
4. R3: 2 inc, 8 sc, 4 inc, 8 sc, 2 inc. (32 sts)

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The Body

1. R4–7: 32 sc around (4 rounds total). (32 sts)
2. R8: (1 dec, 14 sc) repeat twice. (30 sts)
3. R9: (1 dec, 13 sc) repeat twice. (28 sts)
4. R10: (1 dec, 12 sc) repeat twice. (26 sts)
5. R11: (1 dec, 11 sc) repeat twice. (24 sts)
6. R12: (1 dec, 10 sc) repeat twice. (22 sts)
7. R13: (1 dec, 9 sc) repeat twice. (20 sts)

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Closing the Top

Stuffing: Firmly stuff the piece with fiberfill at this point, shaping it into a rounded triangle.

1. R14: 10 Dec around. (10 sts)

Finish: Fasten off, leaving a tail. Use a tapestry needle to weave the tail through the front loops of the remaining 10 stitches and pull tight to close.

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Finishing Details

1. Seaweed: Cut a small rectangle of black felt. Glue or sew it around the bottom center of the rice ball.
2. Face: Sew two small black beads for eyes or embroider two small black dots. Add a tiny “v” shape for the mouth if desired.
3. Blush: Use a cotton swab to apply a small amount of pink blush just under the eyes for a “kawaii” look.
4. Keychain: Attach a keychain ring to the top center of the rice ball.

Pattern (UK Terminology)

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The Rice Ball Base

1. Start: Ch 9.
2. R1: Starting in the 2nd ch from hook, 7 dc. Work 3 dc in the last ch. Rotate to work along the opposite side of the chain: 6 dc, 1 inc in the final st. (18 sts)
3. R2: 1 inc, 6 dc, 3 inc, 6 dc, 2 inc. (24 sts)
4. R3: 2 inc, 8 dc, 4 inc, 8 dc, 2 inc. (32 sts)

The Body

1. R4–7: 32 dc around (4 rounds total). (32 sts)
2. R8: (1 dec, 14 dc) repeat twice. (30 sts)
3. R9: (1 dec, 13 dc) repeat twice. (28 sts)
4. R10: (1 dec, 12 dc) repeat twice. (26 sts)
5. R11: (1 dec, 11 dc) repeat twice. (24 sts)
6. R12: (1 dec, 10 dc) repeat twice. (22 sts)
7. R13: (1 dec, 9 dc) repeat twice. (20 sts)

Closing the Top

Stuffing: Firmly stuff with fiberfill, shaping as you go.

1. R14: 10 Dec around. (10 sts)

Finish: Fasten off. Use a needle to weave through the front loops of the 10 stitches and pull to close.