You will crochet a flat bookmark that uses five basic stitches in a set order, so you can read a simple symbol chart and check your own stitch counts. It needs only beginner stitches and takes an estimated 1 to 2 hours.
Crochet Pattern Symbol Sampler Bookmark
Free crochet pattern · US terms
- Yarn
- 2 – Fine (sport) — suggested
- Hook
- 3.5 mm (E-4) — verify with a swatch
- Gauge
- 18 sts x 20 rows = 4 in (10 cm) in single crochet, unblocked. Gauge is calculated from the stated hook and yarn weight; measure your own swatch to confirm. (calculated, not measured)
- Size
- approx. Approximately 2 in (5 cm) wide by 7 in (18 cm) long, unblocked
- Level
- Beginner
- Time
- about 1 h 30 min (estimate)
Written and count-checked on paper, not yet physically tested. Make the gauge swatch and the checkpoint below before you commit all your yarn.
The finished piece is a narrow flat rectangle about 2 in (5 cm) wide and 7 in (18 cm) long, worked in rows with a small scalloped edge. Each row repeats one basic stitch, so the fabric shows what chain, slip stitch, single crochet, half double crochet and double crochet look like side by side.
It suits a new crocheter who has made a few practice swatches and wants to follow written rows and a symbol chart at the same time. The stitch counts are printed on every row so a mistake shows up before you go on.
Before You Start
Materials
Suggested materials. Any yarn of the same weight works if you match the gauge.
1 ball of 2 – Fine (sport) cotton or cotton-blend yarn, about 50 g
Cotton holds a flat bookmark shape and shows stitch texture clearly. A light color helps you see the stitches; smooth acrylic in the same weight is a workable substitute.
3.5 mm (E-4) crochet hook
Matched to fine yarn for a firm, non-floppy fabric. If your swatch feels loose, drop to 3.0 mm (D-3).
Tapestry needle
For weaving in the two ends. A blunt tip slides between stitches without splitting the yarn.
Tape measure or ruler
Needed for the gauge swatch and the early checkpoint.
Stitch marker (optional)
Useful for marking the first stitch of a row while you learn to read counts.
Yarn needed (estimate): Estimated about 30 yd (27 m), well under one 50 g ball
Gauge and Size
Gauge: 18 sts x 20 rows = 4 in (10 cm) in single crochet, unblocked. Gauge is calculated from the stated hook and yarn weight; measure your own swatch to confirm.. This gauge is calculated from the yarn and hook above, not measured on a finished sample. Make a 4 in (10 cm) swatch first; change the hook size, not your tension, until it matches.
Finished size (approximate): Approximately 2 in (5 cm) wide by 7 in (18 cm) long, unblocked. Your size depends on your gauge.
Abbreviations (US terms)
| Abbr. | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ch | chain |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| sc | single crochet |
| hdc | half double crochet |
| dc | double crochet |
| st | stitch |
| sts | stitches |
| tch | turning chain |
| FO | fasten off |
Special Stitches
Half double crochet (hdc)
Yarn over, insert the hook in the stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through all 3 loops at once.
Double crochet (dc)
Yarn over, insert the hook in the stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through 2 loops, yarn over and pull through the last 2 loops.
Scallop edge
A group of stitches worked into one stitch to make a rounded bump. Here each scallop is 3 dc worked into the same stitch, with a sl st between scallops to space them out.
How This Pattern Is Written
- All instructions are in US crochet terms.
- The bookmark is worked flat in rows, turning at the end of every row. The right side faces you on odd-numbered rows.
- The turning chain at the start of a row does not count as a stitch on sc rows (ch 1). On hdc rows the ch 2 counts as the first hdc, and on dc rows the ch 3 counts as the first dc; in those rows the first actual stitch is worked into the next stitch of the row below.
- Every row lists the stitch count at the start and at the end so you can check as you go. A row's starting count equals the previous row's ending count.
- The piece is designed as a symbol-reading exercise: each block of rows repeats one stitch type so you can match the written row to the symbol chart you are learning from.
- Finished size and yarn amount are estimates based on the stated gauge, not measured on a completed piece.
The Pattern
Bookmark Body
Scallop Edge
Finishing and Assembly
Sizes and Variations
Wider bookmark
begin with ch 46 instead of 36 to add about 1 in (2.5 cm) of width. Every row then carries 45 sts instead of 35; the scallop edge gives about 6 scallops.
Longer bookmark
repeat Rows 2-7 a second time before Row 15. The stitch count stays 35 on every row.
Two-color version
change color after Row 8 and again after Row 14, carrying the old color up the side edge. Counts do not change.
No-scallop version
end after Row 15 and skip the Scallop Edge section for a plain rectangle.
Troubleshooting
| What you see | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The bookmark gets narrower row by row. | The first or last stitch of the row is being skipped, often because the turning chain was mistaken for a stitch. | The turning chain does not count as a stitch in sc rows. Work the first sc into the stitch directly below the hook, and the last sc into the final stitch of the row below. Recount at the end of each row. |
| The edges look wavy or the piece curls into a tube. | Tension is tight in the middle rows, or the turning chain is too long for the stitch used. | Use ch 1 for sc rows, ch 2 for hdc rows and ch 3 for dc rows, and keep the chain loose. Block the finished piece flat to relax the curl. |
| The scallop edge looks uneven or crowded. | The skip-one-stitch spacing was not followed exactly, so scallops overlap. | Count out loud: skip 1, 3 dc in one stitch, skip 1, sl st. Each scallop uses 4 stitches of the edge, so 35 edge stitches give about 5 full scallops with a little left over. |
| The stitch count is right but the rows look slanted. | Each new row is started in the same direction without turning, or the work was turned the same way twice. | Turn the work at the end of every row so the right side faces you on odd rows. Check that the yarn tail stays at the same corner after turning. |
Care
Hand wash in cool water with a little mild soap, squeeze gently without wringing, and roll in a towel to remove water. Lay flat to dry and press lightly under a cloth if needed. Do not tumble dry.
Questions Makers Ask
Can I make this bookmark if I only know single crochet?
Yes, if you learn hdc and dc first. Both are shown in the special stitches section and each takes one practice row. The rest of the bookmark is single crochet rows.
How do I use this bookmark to practice reading a symbol chart?
Draw or find a chart of the same stitches and match each row to its symbol: a small circle for chain, a dot for slip stitch, a plus for single crochet, a T for half double crochet and a T with a slash for double crochet. Work the row, then compare the fabric to the symbol.
Will one 50 g ball be enough?
Yes, with plenty left over. The estimate is about 30 yd (27 m) for one bookmark, and a 50 g ball of fine cotton usually holds well over 100 yd (90 m). The figure is an estimate, not a measured amount.
Next: Try a small cotton washcloth in the round to practice joined rounds and a stitch marker.