How to Crochet a Simple Flower Bookmark (Beginner-Friendly Pattern)
Looking for a quick crochet project that’s both beautiful and useful? This simple flower bookmark is the perfect choice. It’s easy enough for a beginner, comes together in very little time, and uses a small amount of yarn, which makes it a great stash-busting project too.
Whether you want to make a thoughtful handmade gift for a book lover, put together something special for a teacher, or just add a bit of charm to your own favorite book, this crochet bookmark is a wonderful option to try. Crochet it in classic white and yellow for a daisy, or use bright yellow petals throughout for a cheerful little sunflower instead. And honestly, feel free to experiment with whatever colors you’re drawn to.
The pattern comes together in three parts: the flower itself, the leaf with its stem, and then finally attaching everything together. I’ll walk through every single step so even if you’re fairly new to crochet, you’ll be able to follow along with confidence.
Before You Start
Before you pick up your hook, here’s a quick overview of the whole project.
Skill Level: Beginner Time Required: About 30–45 minutes Yarn Used: DK Weight 100% Cotton Yarn Hook Size: 4 mm (G) Crochet Hook Finished Flower Size: Approximately 2½–3 inches (6–7.5 cm) wide Stem Length: Approximately 8–10 inches (20–25 cm) using 45 chains
Keep in mind the finished size may vary a little depending on your particular yarn, hook size, and your own personal crochet tension.
This project is worked in three simple parts. First, you crochet the flower. Then you crochet the leaf and stem together. And finally, you sew the stem onto the back of the flower.
Once all three pieces are done, you’ll weave in the yarn ends, and your bookmark is ready to use.
Materials You’ll Need
One of the nicest things about this project is how little yarn it calls for. It’s a great way to use up leftover yarn sitting around from other crochet projects.
For this tutorial, I used DK weight 100% cotton yarn throughout: yellow for the flower center, white for the petals if you’re making a daisy or yellow for a sunflower version, and green for the leaf and stem; a 4 mm (G) crochet hook; a yarn needle for weaving in ends and sewing the stem; and scissors for trimming.
Can I Use Another Type of Yarn?
Absolutely. Although cotton yarn gives the bookmark a nice flat shape that lays well between pages, you can use almost any yarn you already have on hand. Just remember to pair it with whatever hook size is recommended on the yarn label.
Keep in mind that thicker yarn will create a larger bookmark overall, while thinner yarn produces something smaller and a bit more delicate.
Crochet Abbreviations
Throughout this tutorial, I’ll be using standard crochet abbreviations. ch means chain, sl st means slip stitch, sc means single crochet, hdc means half double crochet, dc means double crochet, tr means triple crochet (also called treble crochet), and MR means magic ring or magic circle.
If you’ve made a handful of beginner crochet projects before, you’re probably already familiar with most of these stitches. The only one that might be new to you is the triple crochet, but don’t worry, I’ll explain it clearly when we get to that part of the pattern.
A Few Helpful Notes Before You Begin
Before we start crocheting, there are a few things worth mentioning that’ll make this project easier.
If you’re still getting comfortable counting stitches, don’t hesitate to use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round. It makes it easier to keep track of exactly where you are.
Try not to crochet too tightly, especially when you’re making the chain stitches for the stem. A slightly looser chain helps the finished bookmark hang straight once it’s tucked inside a book.
After every round or section, count your stitches before moving forward. Fixing a mistake right away is so much easier than discovering it after you’ve already finished the whole flower.
And whenever I mention weaving in the ends, that just means threading the yarn tail onto your yarn needle and passing it through the backs of several nearby stitches, changing direction once or twice as you go. This locks the yarn in place, so it won’t work itself loose over time.
Step 1: Crochet the Flower Centre
We’ll start by making the actual center of the flower.
Don’t worry if you’ve never made this exact flower before. The center is just a circle built from half double crochet stitches.
Make a Magic Ring
Start by creating a magic ring, sometimes also called a magic circle. A magic ring lets you pull the center closed after crocheting into it, which gives your flower a neat finish without leaving a hole sitting in the middle.
If you already know how to make one, go ahead and create your magic ring now.
Don’t Know the Magic Ring Yet?
That’s fine. Instead of a magic ring, just chain 4, then join the first and last chain together with a slip stitch to create a small ring. Work all the stitches from Round 1 into that ring instead.
Your flower will still turn out lovely this way. The only real difference is that the center might have a tiny opening instead of closing shut.
Round 1
Once your magic ring is ready, chain 2, then work 11 half double crochet (hdc) stitches into the magic ring.
If you’re unfamiliar with a half-double crochet, here’s a quick refresher. Yarn over once, insert your hook into the magic ring, and pull up a loop. You should now have three loops sitting on your hook. Yarn over again and pull through all three loops. That’s one-half double crochet completed.
Keep going until you’ve worked 11 half double crochet stitches into the ring total.
Once you’re finished, gently pull the yarn tail to close the center of the magic ring as tightly as it’ll go.
Checkpoint
Before moving on, check that your flower center forms a small circle, the middle is pulled closed, and you have 11 half double crochet stitches plus the starting chain-2, giving you a total of 12 stitches around the circle.
If everything looks right, you’re ready to finish the round.
Finishing Round 1
Join the round by making a slip stitch into the second chain of your starting chain-2.
This method is fine and tends to be the easiest option for a beginner.
Step 2: Crochet the Flower Petals
Now comes the fun part, turning that simple circle into a proper flower.
We’ll attach a new yarn color and crochet six petals around the flower center. Each petal is worked exactly the same way, so once you’ve made the first one, the rest are just repeats of the same steps.
If you’re making a daisy, use white yarn for the petals. If you’re making a sunflower, use yellow instead. And honestly, don’t feel limited to just those two options either. Pink, purple, blue, red, or even a rainbow mix all look beautiful too.
Attach the New Yarn
Make a slip knot with your petal-colored yarn. Insert your hook into any stitch around the flower center and join the new yarn with a slip stitch. It doesn’t matter which stitch you pick since every petal is made exactly the same way regardless of the starting point.
Once the yarn’s attached, you’re ready to crochet the first petal.
Understanding How the Petals Are Made
Before crocheting, it helps to understand how each petal gets positioned. Each petal uses two stitches from the flower center. The first stitch is a slip stitch that anchors the petal in place. The second stitch holds all four triple-crochet stitches that form the body of the petal.
This pattern repeats all the way around the flower. Because your flower center has 12 stitches total, you’ll end up with exactly 6 evenly spaced petals once you’re done.
Once that clicks, the rest of the pattern becomes easy to follow.
What Is a Triple Crochet?
If you’ve only made basic crochet projects up to this point, you may not have used a triple crochet yet, sometimes also called a treble crochet. Fortunately, it’s easy once you try it.
Yarn over twice. Insert your hook into the stitch. Yarn over and pull up a loop. You should now have four loops sitting on your hook. From there, yarn over and pull through the first two loops, yarn over and pull through the next two loops, and then yarn over one final time and pull through the last two loops. You should be left with one loop remaining on your hook.
That’s one completed triple crochet. Since each petal uses four of these stitches, they’re what create the flower’s soft, rounded shape.
Crochet the First Petal
With your yarn attached, chain 3. These chains form one side of the petal. Try not to crochet too tightly here; slightly loose chain stitches help your petals open up nicely once they’re finished.
Skip to the next stitch of the flower center. Into that one single stitch, crochet 4 triple crochet stitches. Remember, all four triple crochet stitches go into that exact same stitch. This is one of the easiest places to slip up. If you accidentally spread them across multiple stitches, the petal won’t hold its proper rounded shape. Take your time and make sure all four stitches land in the same spot.
After the fourth triple crochet, chain 3 again. These chains form the other side of the petal.
Locate the next stitch on the flower center and work 1 slip stitch into it. The slip stitch anchors the petal and completes it.
Congratulations, you’ve finished your first petal.
Don’t Worry About the Small Gap
After finishing that first petal, you might notice a small gap sitting beside it. That’s normal. As you crochet more petals around the flower, they’ll naturally fill in those empty spaces, and the whole flower will look considerably more balanced once it’s done.
Repeat Around the Flower
Continue making petals using exactly the same sequence. For each one, chain 3, work 4 triple crochets into the next stitch, chain 3, then slip stitch into the following stitch.
Repeat this sequence until you’ve made 6 petals total. Since each petal uses two stitches from the flower center, all 12 stitches will be used up by the time you’ve completed the sixth petal.
Petal Pattern at a Glance
Once you’ve made the first petal, you can just repeat this same pattern around the flower: chain 3, 4 triple crochets in the next stitch, chain 3, and slip stitch in the next stitch. Repeat that sequence 6 times total.
Finishing the Petals
Once you’ve completed the sixth petal, it’s time to finish the flower off neatly.
Cut the yarn, leaving a tail about 4 to 6 inches long. Although you could technically just join the last petal with a slip stitch, I prefer using a yarn needle instead since it creates a cleaner finish without leaving a noticeable bump behind.
Thread the yarn tail onto your yarn needle. Pass the needle through the first joining stitch of the first petal, then gently pull the yarn to close the gap between the first and last petals.
Next, weave the yarn tail through several stitches on the back of the flower. Change direction once or twice to lock the yarn securely in place before trimming off the excess.
Once finished, turn the flower over and take a look at your work. You should now have a neat flower with six full petals surrounding a smooth, tightly closed center.
Troubleshooting Your Flower
If your flower doesn’t look quite right, don’t worry; here are a few common issues and how to fix them.
If your flower has a hole in the center, this usually means the magic ring wasn’t pulled tight enough. Just pull the yarn tail a bit tighter before weaving it in.
If your petals look uneven, double-check that each petal contains exactly four triple crochet stitches and that all four were worked into the same stitch rather than spread out.
If your flower is curling, this is often caused by crocheting a bit too tightly. Try relaxing your tension slightly on your next attempt. You can also gently flatten the finished flower with your hands or lightly block it if you’re working with cotton yarn.
If your petals don’t look full, make sure you’re using triple crochet stitches rather than double crochet. The extra height of the triple crochet is what gives each petal its rounded, open appearance.
At this point, the flower itself is finished.
Step 3: Crochet the Leaf
With the flower done, it’s time to crochet the leaf. This part is still beginner-friendly, but it introduces a fun little technique: you’ll work down one side of the foundation chain, crochet around the tip, and then work your way back along the opposite side of that same chain.
If you’ve never crocheted around both sides of a foundation chain before, don’t worry. Just take your time, follow each step carefully, and you’ll watch the leaf take shape naturally as you go.
Using your green yarn, make a slip knot on your hook.
Create the Foundation Chain
Chain 10. Before moving on, count your chains to confirm you’ve got exactly ten. Remember, the loop currently sitting on your hook doesn’t count as a chain stitch.
Work Along the First Side
Skip the first chain from your hook. You’ll begin working into the second chain from the hook. If you’re unsure where to insert your hook, place it under the top two loops of the chain stitch unless your preferred style differs.
Now work the following stitches in order: 1 single crochet into the second chain from the hook, 1 half double crochet into the next chain, 1 double crochet into the next chain, 1 double crochet into the next chain, 1 triple crochet into the next chain, 1 double crochet into the next chain, 1 double crochet into the next chain, 1 half double crochet into the next chain, and finally 1 single crochet into the last chain.
As you crochet, you’ll notice the stitches gradually getting taller until you reach that triple crochet in the middle, then gradually getting shorter again on the way down. This changing stitch height is exactly what gives the leaf its soft, natural curve.
Checkpoint
Before shaping the tip, your stitch sequence should read: single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, double crochet, triple crochet, double crochet, double crochet, half double crochet, and single crochet.
If your sequence matches that, you’re ready to turn around the tip of the leaf.
Shape the Tip of the Leaf
You’ll now crochet into the very last chain you just worked. Into that same chain, chain 2, then work 1 single crochet.
That chain-2 forms a gentle point at the end of the leaf and creates enough room to begin crocheting along the opposite side of the foundation chain.
It might feel a little awkward the first time you try this, and that’s normal. Once you turn your work slightly, you’ll be able to see the unused loops sitting along the opposite side of the foundation chain. Those are the loops you’ll be crocheting into next.
Work Along the Opposite Side
Now continue crocheting back along the other side of that same foundation chain. You’ll use almost the exact same stitch sequence as before.
Work 1 half double crochet, then 1 double crochet, then another 1 double crochet, then 1 triple crochet, then 1 double crochet, then another 1 double crochet, then 1 half double crochet, and finally 1 single crochet.
Take your time here and make sure you’re working into the unused loops of the original chain rather than into stitches you’ve already made.
If the leaf twists a bit while you’re working, just rotate it gently as you go. It’ll straighten itself out once the round is fully complete.
Finish the leaf.
Once you’ve made it back to the beginning, join the final stitch to the very first single crochet with a slip stitch.
Your leaf is now complete. Take a moment to look at its shape. It should have a pointed tip, rounded sides, and a smooth curve running from one end to the other.
If one side looks a bit uneven, gently pull and shape the leaf with your fingers. Small adjustments here can make a real difference to the finished look.
Step 4: Crochet the Stem
The stem is the easiest part of this whole project. There’s no complicated stitch pattern involved here, just a simple chain.
Without changing yarn, chain 45. These 45 chains create the stem shown in this tutorial and produce a bookmark that’s suitable for most standard books.
Want a Different Length?
One of the nice things about this bookmark is how easy the stem length is to customize. For small notebooks or journals, try chaining somewhere around 35 to 40 instead. For standard novels, 45 chains work well. For larger books, textbooks, or planners, just add a few extra chains until you’re happy with how it looks.
Since everyone’s books are a bit different, don’t be afraid to adjust the chain count to suit whatever you’re making this for.
Finish the stem.
Once you’ve reached your desired length, cut the yarn, leaving a tail about 6 inches (15 cm) long. Pull the yarn tail through the final loop on your hook to fasten it off.
Your leaf and stem are now finished and ready to be attached to the flower.
Step 5: Assemble the Bookmark
Thread the long green yarn tail onto your yarn needle.
Turn the flower over so you’re looking at the wrong side, the back of the piece. Choose any petal to act as the bottom of the flower. This is where you’ll attach the stem.
Insert the needle through the back of the flower near the base of that petal and sew the stem securely into place. Make several small stitches back and forth through the flower center to anchor it firmly.
As you sew, check the front of the flower every few stitches just to make sure the green yarn isn’t peeking through and showing on the visible side. Keeping your stitches confined to the back gives the bookmark a considerably cleaner finish.
Once the stem feels secure, weave the remaining yarn tail through a few stitches on the back of the flower, changing direction once or twice to lock it in place. Trim off any excess yarn.
Turn the bookmark over one last time and gently smooth the petals and leaf with your fingers.
Your handmade flower bookmark is now complete. It should have a bright six-petal flower sitting at the top, a neatly shaped green leaf, and a long stem that’s ready to slip right between the pages of your favorite book.
