Looking for a quick crochet bookmark pattern? Here are 24 free ones, from a daisy bookmark you can make in about seven minutes to a vintage lace bookmark in fine thread. There are hearts and flowers for beginners, a cat, a mouse and a gnome, Christmas trees, snowflakes and gingerbread men, and corner bookmarks that slip over the page. Every full written pattern is free on the designer's own site, with no sign-up. Bookmarks use only a few yards of yarn, so they're the perfect scrap-busting stocking stuffer for every reader on your list.
For each pattern I've noted the yarn, hook and finished size where the designer gives them. Many designers also sell an ad-free PDF, but the version linked here is free to read on the page.
A quick guide to choosing: if you're new to crochet, start with the Boxed Block or the Crescent bookmark, which are simple rows. If you want a gift that looks fancy but goes fast, try a heart or flower bookmark in #3 cotton. If you love thread work, the lace section is for you. And if you have kids on your list, the corner bookmarks and the gingerbread man are big hits.
Easy bookmarks for beginners
Boxed Block Crochet Bookmark — Crochet 'n' Create. A neat open-block bookmark about 10 by 1.5 inches (without the tassel) on a 4mm hook. It's rated easy, and the pattern is written in both UK and US terms, so it's a great first bookmark wherever you learned to crochet.
Heart Bookmark — Jo to the World Creations. A long strap with a 3-inch heart at the end, about 12 inches long in total. It takes about 15 yards of light (size 3) yarn and an F/3.75mm hook, and the designer says it takes under 30 minutes.
Flower Bookmark — Jo to the World Creations. The flower version of the heart bookmark, about 12 inches long with a 2.5-inch flower. Use light yarn on a G/4.5mm hook or worsted yarn on an F/3.75mm hook. Make a heart and a flower as a matching pair.
Dainty Daisy Bookmark — Daisy Cottage Designs. A little daisy and leaf on a chain, in scraps of worsted yarn on an H hook. The designer makes one in about seven minutes, which makes it the fastest bookmark here. Perfect for tucking into a card.
Little Hearts Bookmark — Rich Textures Crochet. A flat bookmark about 2 by 7 inches with a row of tiny hearts worked in single crochet colour changes. It uses light cotton (Patons Grace) on a 3.5mm hook and is rated easy. A sweet first try at colorwork.
Heart Bookmark — GoldenLucyCrafts. A heart on a long strap, about 11 inches, in #3 cotton yarn or thread on 2.75mm and 3.75mm hooks. It's rated easy and takes just under 30 minutes. Make a few in red and pink for Valentine's Day too.
Tapestry Crochet Bookmark with Hearts — Nordic Hook. A Scandinavian-style bookmark about 18 by 4 cm in thin cotton on a 2mm hook. The rows are written out with step photos, and the heart colorwork follows a chart. A nice next step once you've tried simple colour changes.
Lace and thread bookmarks
Vintage Crochet Lace Bookmark — Kirsten Holloway Designs. A dainty heirloom bookmark about 6 inches long, with a picot edge and a twisted cord. It uses 15–20 yards of size 30 thread on a 1.15mm steel hook. Small, delicate and very special.
Pretty Lace Crochet Bookmark — Petals to Picots. A lacy bookmark about 8¼ by 1½ inches, worked in just three joined rounds of size 10 thread on a 2mm steel hook, with stitch counts for every round. A ribbon is threaded through one end. Rated experienced beginner to advanced.
Floral Crochet Bookmark — Nourish and Nestle. A pretty floral bookmark in embroidery floss on a 2.75mm (B/2) hook. The designer calls it easy enough for beginners and says it takes about thirty minutes. Floss comes in every color, so you can match anyone's favorite.
Bleeding Heart Bookmark — GoldenLucyCrafts. A botanical bookmark about 12 inches long with dangling bleeding heart flowers, in #3 cotton on 2.75mm and 3.75mm hooks. It's rated intermediate and is a lovely gift for a gardener who reads.
Animal and character bookmarks
Crochet Cat Bookmark — Nicki's Homemade Crafts. A cat bookmark worked mostly in linked stitches in cotton yarn on a 4mm hook. There's a video, and the designer says it's easy for beginners. Ideal for the cat lover who always has a book open.
Book-Mouse Bookmark — Supergurumi. A tiny amigurumi mouse with a long tail that marks your page. It's 12 cm long, or 31 cm to the tip of the tail, in fine cotton on a 2.5mm hook. The full rounds are free on the page.
Gnome Bookmark — GoldenLucyCrafts. A gnome bookmark about 10 inches long, in #3 cotton thread on 2.75mm and 1.8mm hooks. Rated intermediate. It works for Christmas too, so pair it with our gnome patterns.
Christmas and holiday bookmarks
Christmas Tree Bookmark — GoldenLucyCrafts. A Christmas tree on a strap with a tassel, about 10 inches long, in #3 cotton on a 2.75mm hook, with a 3.75mm hook for the tassel. Rated easy. Tuck one into a holiday book for a perfect gift.
Snowflake Bookmark — GoldenLucyCrafts. A snowflake on a long strap, about 11 inches, in light cotton on 2.75mm and 3.75mm hooks. Rated easy. It stays pretty all winter, not just at Christmas.
Gingerbread Man Bookmark — Nicki's Homemade Crafts. A long, skinny gingerbread man in worsted cotton on a 4.5mm hook. The body is 30 simple rows of 5 single crochet, then the arms and legs are added. Kids love these, and they fit right in with our gingerbread patterns.
Christmas Buddy Bookmarks — Repeat Crafter Me. A set of Christmas character bookmarks in worsted yarn on an H hook, about 8 inches long, or 13 inches with the tassels. Every row has a stitch count. Make the whole set for a class of kids or a book club.
Halloween Witch Hat Bookmark — GoldenLucyCrafts. A witch hat bookmark about 10 inches long, in cotton on 2.75mm and 3.75mm hooks. Rated easy. It's a fun one for October readers before the Christmas rush.
Corner and tassel bookmarks
C2C Corner Bookmark — Juniper and Oakes. A corner bookmark about 4 inches square that slips over the corner of the page. It takes about 20 yards of DK yarn on an E/3.5mm hook and is rated beginner. A gentle way to learn corner-to-corner crochet.
Lotte Lace Corner Bookmark — Blue Star Crochet. A right-angle lace triangle with a picot edge, in 4-ply cotton on a 3mm hook. It takes 30–40 meters of yarn and is aimed at advanced beginners.
Halloween Corner Bookmarks — A Crocheted Simplicity. Three corner bookmarks: a pumpkin, a ghost and a cat, in worsted cotton on a G/4mm hook. The cat face is about 2 inches across. A fun pick for kids' books.
Crescent Bookmark — Rich Textures Crochet. A slim, simple bookmark about ½ by 10½ inches without the tassel, in about 20 yards of light cotton on an F/3.75mm hook. Rated easy. It lies flat in a book without adding bulk.
"Book" Bookmark with Tassel — A Box of Twine. A little single crochet rectangle folded into a tiny book, with a 4-inch tassel, in cotton on an H/5mm hook. Gauge isn't critical, so it's very forgiving. A charming gift for a librarian or teacher.
Tips for crocheting a bookmark that lies flat
- Use cotton. Cotton yarn and thread hold their shape and don't stretch out in a book the way acrylic can. Size 10 thread or light #3 cotton gives the neatest look.
- Block it. Pin the finished bookmark to size, spritz it with water, and let it dry. Lace bookmarks look much crisper after blocking.
- Stiffen lace if you like. A light spray of fabric stiffener keeps a thread bookmark straight. Skip it for bookmarks that will be handled a lot by kids.
- Keep it thin. Avoid bulky yarn and big 3D parts on the part that sits inside the book, or it will crack the spine. Save the chunky bits for the top or the tassel.
- Make a batch. Bookmarks take minutes, so chain a few at once in different colors and you have stocking stuffers for the whole family.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best yarn for a crochet bookmark?
Cotton is best. Size 10 crochet thread makes a delicate, lacy bookmark, and light #3 cotton like Patons Grace makes a sturdier one that's quicker to work. Cotton embroidery floss works well for tiny flower bookmarks too.
How long does it take to crochet a bookmark?
Most of these take 10 to 30 minutes. The Dainty Daisy is about seven minutes, the heart and flower bookmarks are under 30, and the thread lace bookmarks can take an hour or two.
How do you make a crochet bookmark stiff?
Block it first, then use a fabric stiffener, a spray starch, or a mix of white glue and water. Pin it flat on a blocking mat and let it dry completely before you use it.
Are crochet bookmarks good gifts?
Yes. They use only scrap yarn, they're quick, and they fit in a card or a stocking. Tuck one into a new book for an extra-thoughtful gift.
More quick crochet gifts
Bookmarks are one of the best cheap stocking stuffers you can crochet. Want something a little bigger? Try the easy crochet gifts you can finish in one weekend, a crochet gift card holder, a crochet bracelet, a pair of crochet earrings, or a dishcloth gift set. Making a bookmark for a teacher? Our free crochet teacher gift patterns add apple coasters, pencil pouches and lanyards to go with it. Wrapping it all up? See our crochet gift bag and wrapping patterns. And for the tree, our new free crochet Christmas star patterns and Christmas ornament patterns use the same cotton and the same quick evenings.
