I am always on the lookout for a quick project that actually feels worth making, and this Striped Bookmark Crochet Pattern really does check every box. It's small, it works up fast, and it makes the most thoughtful little handmade gift. Perfect for book lovers, teachers, or honestly just yourself.
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The Inspiration
I made this one because I wanted something I could finish in a single sitting without sacrificing the feeling of a real, considered design. There's something satisfying about a project this small that still has actual structure to it: a repeating stitch pattern down the center, a tidy little loop at one end, a tassel at the other. It doesn't feel like a throwaway craft. It feels intentional.
This is the kind of thing I'd tuck into a birthday card or pair with a new book as a gift. It suits anyone who reads, which is pretty much everyone I want to make something for.
Why You'll Love This Pattern
This bookmark works up in one sitting and makes a genuinely lovely handmade gift.
- Beginner Friendly: The easy skill level means you can pick this up even if you're fairly new to crochet.
- Fast to Finish: The small size makes this a no-commitment project you can actually complete in one afternoon.
- Great for Gifting: Bookmarks are one of those gifts people genuinely use, which makes this a really practical make to have in your back pocket.
- Yarn Stash Friendly: This uses very little yarn, so it's a perfect way to use up small leftovers you've been holding onto.
- Tassel Detail Included: The finished tassel gives it a polished, put-together look without any extra effort.
Gather Your Supplies
Two colors and about 30 yards each is genuinely all the yarn you need for this one.
- DK Weight Mercerized Cotton: Mercerized cotton is the right call here because it holds the stripe definition cleanly and doesn't get fuzzy at the color change edges. It's got a slight sheen and a smooth, firm hand that keeps the stitch structure crisp in rows. You'll need approximately 30 yards each of two different colors, so this is a perfect project for small balls or leftover DK cotton sitting around.
- Size E/4 (3.5 mm) Crochet Hook: A 3.5 mm hook pairs well with DK cotton because it keeps the fabric from getting too loose or floppy. Cotton doesn't have much give, so this size gives you a tidy, even fabric without fighting the yarn.
- Also needed: yarn needle, scissors
Color Sequence & Yarn Changes
Color A handles the foundation chain, the edging, and the joining, while both colors alternate through Row 1 as stripes. Cut and join as needed at each color change rather than carrying the unused color across, since the yardage is small enough that long floats aren't worth the trouble.
Quick Details
A slim two-color cotton bookmark worked in rows, finished with a tassel.
| Skill Level | Easy |
| Pattern Gauge | Gauge is not critical for this project. Use the stated hook size and yarn, and adjust the foundation chain (multiple of 3 + 2) to change the size as desired. |
| Finished Size | Approximately 0.5 x 8 inches, excluding tassel |
| Yarn Weight | 3 Light / DK |
| Fiber | 100% Mercerized Cotton |
| Terminology | US |
Customizing the Size
To make the bookmark longer or shorter, just adjust your starting chain. The stitch count needs to be a multiple of 3, plus 2. So a chain of 5, 8, 11, 14, and so on will all work. Keep the same hook and yarn and the width stays consistent.
Abbreviations & Stitches Used
Short list — all standard stitches you've probably used before.
- ch = chain
- hdc = half double crochet
- rep = repeat
- rnd = round
- sc = single crochet
- sk = skip
- sl st = slip stitch
- st(s) = stitch(es)
- yo = yarn over
Important Notes
This pattern is worked flat in rows. The ch 1 at the beginning of each row does not count as a stitch, so don't work into it when you come back around. Gauge isn't something to stress over here. The finished size will naturally vary a little depending on your tension, but with a size E/4 (3.5 mm) hook and a light weight cotton like Patons Grace, you'll land close to the stated dimensions. Weave in ends as you go or at the end, whichever you prefer. All instructions are written in US crochet terms.
The Pattern
This striped bookmark works up in two parts: the main body in rows, then a simple edging to finish the edges cleanly.
Building the Bookmark
The bookmark is worked flat in rows, and the color switching happens right in the fabric as you go. You'll be carrying the unused color loosely or dropping and picking it up as needed — just keep your tension even so the back doesn't pucker.
Foundation: With Color A, ch 41. (41)
Row 1: hdc in 2nd ch from hook. *Switch to Color B, hdc in each of next 2 sts. Switch to Color A, hdc in next st. Rep from * across. (40) The color switches happen mid-row, so make sure you're completing each hdc with the new color — meaning you pull the new color through on the final pull-through of the stitch before it.
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Adding the Edging
The edging is worked in the round around the entire bookmark, giving it a tidy border and stabilizing those color-change edges along the sides.
Round 0: With Color A, join yarn with a sl st in any st.
Round 1: ch 1, sc in each st across the long edge. Work 3 sc in each of the corner sts and 1 sc along each of the shorter ends. Join with a sl st in 1st st. Fasten off and weave in ends. The 3 sc in each corner keeps the fabric from pulling inward at the tips — don't skip those extra stitches even if it feels like a lot.
Care Instructions
Mercerized cotton holds up really well to washing, so I toss mine in the machine on a gentle cold cycle without a second thought. Lay it flat to dry so the edging stays nice and even. If you added a tassel, give it a gentle tug after washing to straighten the strands back out before it dries completely. Storage is simple: just tuck it inside your book or stack a few together in a drawer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, and it's straightforward to do. The foundation chain is built on a multiple of 3 plus 2 stitches, so just add or subtract in increments of 3 to change the length. Width isn't really adjustable with this construction since it's worked in a single row of hdc plus an edging round, but going up a hook size or yarn weight would give you something a little chunkier.
The stripes happen all in Row 1. You start with Color A, work one hdc, then switch to Color B for two hdc, then back to Color A for one hdc, and repeat that sequence across the whole row. It sounds fiddly but it moves fast. You're not carrying yarn up between rows since there's only the one stripe row.
About 30 yards total across both colors. Since the stripe pattern uses Color A more heavily (foundation chain, the alternating single stitches, and the full edging round), I'd put a bit more of those 30 yards toward Color A. Either way, this is a great use for small scraps of DK cotton you already have sitting around.
No. For this pattern, the ch 1 at the beginning of a row is just a turning chain and does not count as a stitch. Don't work into it at the end of the next pass. This keeps your stitch count clean and your edges straight.
It finishes all four sides in one round of single crochet, including three sc in each corner to help the corners lie flat. The edging is worked in Color A, so it frames the stripe design and gives the whole thing a tidy, polished border. It also adds just a little bit of structure to the narrow edges at each end.
Happy Crocheting
I hope you have a great time making this one. It's the kind of project you can knock out in a single sitting, and once you make a few you'll start seeing every scrap of DK cotton as a potential bookmark. If you make one, I'd love to see your color combinations: drop a photo in the comments or tag me on social media. And if you're saving this for later, pinning it to your crochet board is the best way to find it again when you need a quick last-minute gift idea.
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