Easy Crochet Bookmark Pattern (Quick Beginner Make)
If you want proof that you can finish a crochet project in one sitting, this is it. A bookmark uses just a few yards of yarn, a small handful of stitches…
If you want proof that you can finish a crochet project in one sitting, this is it. A bookmark uses just a few yards of yarn, a small handful of stitches you likely already know, and comes together in well under an hour. It is also one of the most appreciated handmade gifts you can give, since every reader in your life can actually use one. We will make a simple, narrow lacy strip finished with a soft tassel at the bottom. Let’s make one.
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Materials
– Cotton yarn (worsted weight #4, or a lighter cotton or crochet thread if you want an even more delicate bookmark), a small amount – a few yards is genuinely enough – 3.0 to 4.0mm crochet hook (use a hook on the smaller end of that range with thread or fine cotton, and the larger end with worsted cotton) – Yarn needle, for weaving in ends and making the tassel – Scissors – A small piece of cardboard or a book, for wrapping the tassel
Quick abbreviation key before we start: ch (chain), sc (single crochet), dc (double crochet), sl st (slip stitch), and st (stitch). You will see all of these below.
Gauge and Finished Size
This pattern makes a bookmark about 6.5 in long (not counting the tassel) and about 1.25 in wide, using worsted cotton on a 4.0mm hook at a gauge of about 5 dc and 2.5 rows per inch. If you switch to a finer crochet thread and a smaller hook, your bookmark will come out narrower and a little shorter for the same stitch counts below – that is completely fine for a bookmark, and it will just look more delicate.
The Pattern
Foundation: Chain 35.
Row 1: Dc in the 4th ch from the hook (the first 3 skipped chains count as your first dc) and in each ch across. Turn. (33 dc, counting the starting ch-3 as the first dc)
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc throughout), skip the first st, dc in each st across. Turn. (33 dc)
Row 3: Repeat Row 2. (33 dc)
Fasten off after Row 3, leaving a 6 in tail at the top for now.
This simple three-row strip in dc already gives a lovely open, lacy drape, since dc stitches are tall and leave small gaps between them that let light through – perfect for a bookmark that should lie flat and thin between pages.
Adding the Point
For a prettier finished shape, we will taper the bottom edge (the foundation chain edge) to a soft point instead of leaving it a plain straight edge.
With the wrong side of your foundation chain edge facing you, join yarn with a sl st in the first unused loop of that edge (the loop sitting directly below your first Row 1 dc, not the 3 skipped chains at the very start). Work as follows across the remaining 32 unused loops along that edge:
Row A: Ch 1, *sc2tog (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 on the hook – this turns 2 sts into 1)* repeat across. Turn. (16 sts)
Row B: Ch 1, *sc2tog* repeat across. Turn. (8 sts)
Row C: Ch 1, *sc2tog* repeat across. (4 sts) Fasten off, leaving a 6 in tail.
Pairing up stitches this way three times in a row tapers the straight bottom edge down into a small, soft point instead of a plain flat edge – the last 4 stitches form a neat little tip rather than a sharp single point, which is exactly what you want here.
Finishing the Body
Weave in the tail from the point into the nearby stitches. At the top of the strip (the last dc row, Row 3), weave in that tail as well, or leave it in place if you plan to attach a tassel through that same spot, since the tassel will cover it.
Adding the Tassel
Wrap your yarn around a piece of cardboard or the width of a book about 20 to 25 times for a full, fluffy tassel (fewer wraps for a thinner one). Slide the wraps carefully off the cardboard, keeping the loop shape intact.
Cut a separate 8 in length of yarn and slide it between the top of the loops, then tie it snugly around all the strands at the top to gather them together – this same tie also becomes what attaches the tassel to your bookmark, so leave both ends long enough to work with. Cut through the bottom of the looped strands so the tassel hangs loose and even.
Tie the top ties of your tassel securely around the very top edge of your bookmark strip (through Row 3), then trim those ends short and tuck them up into the tassel itself so they disappear. Wrap another separate short length of yarn tightly around the tassel about 0.5 in below the top tie, knot it, and tuck those ends in too, to create the classic cinched tassel neck. Trim the bottom ends of the tassel evenly with your scissors so they all hang the same length.
Variations to Try
A striped bookmark. Switch colors at the start of any dc row for a simple striped look – just carry your first color loosely up the side or cut and rejoin, whichever you find tidier.
Skip the point. If tapering feels fussy for a first try, you can leave the bottom edge straight and simply add the tassel directly to that plain edge instead – it still looks lovely and saves you a step.
A button or bead accent. Sew a small button or bead to the top of the strip, just above where the tassel attaches, for a little extra sparkle.
Tips for Success
Keep your dc rows even. Since this bookmark is narrow, an uneven dc row shows more obviously than it would on a wider project, so take an extra moment to keep your turning chain height and stitch tension consistent.
Count before you fasten off. A quick stitch count at the end of Row 3 (aiming for 33 dc) confirms your strip is straight before you move on to the point and tassel.
Use what you have. This project is an excellent way to use up a small leftover ball of cotton that is not quite enough for anything bigger – keep a few colors on hand and you will always have a bookmark ready to give.
Trim the tassel last. Wait until the tassel is fully tied and attached to the bookmark before doing your final trim, so you can even it up all at once rather than guessing at length beforehand.
The Payoff
In less time than it takes to finish a chapter, you will have a genuinely useful little handmade object that turns any book into something a bit more special. Keep a small stash of cotton scraps by your reading chair, and you will find yourself whipping up a new bookmark every time you start a new book, or every time a friend mentions they are looking for a gift for the reader in their life.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use embroidery floss or crochet thread instead of worsted cotton?
Yes, thread makes a more delicate, lace-like bookmark. Size down to a hook in the 1.5 to 2.5mm range for standard floss, and expect the finished strip to come out narrower and a bit shorter than the 6.5 inches given here.
Does sc2tog leave a hole where the two stitches used to be?
No — sc2tog draws two stitches together into one, so it creates smooth, gradual shaping rather than a gap. That’s exactly why working it across three rows tapers the bottom edge into a soft point instead of an abrupt cut-off.
Is there a quicker finish than the wrapped tassel if I want to skip that step?
Yes — cut several 4 to 5 inch lengths of yarn, fold each in half, and pull the folded loop through the bottom point with your hook to make a simple knotted fringe instead. It takes a fraction of the time of wrapping a full tassel.
My dc row came out with more or fewer than 33 stitches — what went wrong?
Miscounting the turning chain is the most common cause. The starting ch-3 counts as your first dc, so double check you’re not accidentally working an extra stitch into it or skipping past it entirely.
Could I turn this into a keychain or bag charm instead of a bookmark?
Definitely — the same lacy strip with a tapered point works well as a fob. Just attach a jump ring or clasp at the top instead of weaving in that tail, and consider skipping the tassel for something slimmer in a pocket or on a keyring.
— NoraEvery pattern hand-tested
