About This Pattern
This bookmark is a small thing with a big job. It holds your page and holds a little love too. The heart body works up fast, round by round, with a puff stitch texture that catches the light. A tiny leaf joins it, just enough shaping to keep your hands busy. It needs cotton yarn, a 3 mm hook, and maybe an hour of quiet. Good for a book in progress, or a gift for someone mid-chapter.
In the basket
Abbreviations
- ch
- chain
- st
- stitch
- sl st
- slip stitch
- sc
- single crochet
- hdc
- half double crochet
- dc
- double crochet
- puff
- puff stitch
Small crochet heart bookmark with a tiny leaf
Main Pattern
- Round 1Make a magic circle. Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch). Work 12 sc into the magic circle.Step by step: Sl st to the first sc to join. Fasten off and weave in the ends.
- Round 2Join a new color to any stitch in Round 1 with a sl st. Ch 1. Work 1 puff stitch (3 yarn overs, insert hook into the same stitch, yarn over and pull through all loops) into the same stitch.Step by step: Ch 2. Skip the next stitch. Work 1 puff stitch into the next stitch. Ch 2. Repeat steps 5-7 five more times. Sl st to the first puff stitch to join. Fasten off and weave in the ends.
- Round 3Join a new color to any ch-2 space in Round 2 with a sl st. Ch 1. Work 2 dc into the same ch-2 space.Step by step: Ch 2. Repeat steps 3-4 two more times. Ch 4. Skip the next puff stitch and the following ch-2 space. Work 3 clusters of 2 dc (as in steps 3-5) into the next ch-2 space. Ch 4. Repeat steps 7-9 one more time. Sl st to the first dc cluster to join. Fasten off and weave in the ends.
- Round 4Join a new color to any ch-2 space in Round 3 with a sl st. Ch 1. Work 3 sc into the same ch-2 space.
Step by step: Skip the next cluster of 2 dc. Work 4 sc into the next ch-2 space. Skip the next cluster of 2 dc. Work 4 sc into the next ch-2 space. Work 1 sc into the ch-4 space. Work 1 sc into the skipped stitch from Round 1. Work 1 sc into the ch-4 space. Work 4 sc into the next ch-2 space. Skip the next cluster of 2 dc. Work 4 sc into the next ch-2 space. Skip the next cluster of 2 dc. Work 3 sc into the next ch-2 space. Ch 2. Skip the next cluster of 2 dc. Work 3 sc into the next ch-2 space. Ch 2. Skip the next cluster of 2 dc. Work 3 sc into the next ch-2 space. Sl st to the first sc to join. Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Leaf
- Row 1Make a slip knot and ch 6. Turn and skip the first ch. Work 1 sc in the next ch. Work 1 hdc in the next ch. Work 1 dc in the next ch. Work 1 hdc in the next ch. Work 1 sc in the last ch.Step by step: Ch 1. Sl st to the first sc. Turn.
- Row 2Work 1 sc in the first ch. Work 1 hdc in the next ch. Work 1 dc in the next ch. Work 1 hdc in the next ch. Work 1 sc in the last ch.Step by step: Sl st to the first sc. Fasten off and weave in the ends.
More pictures
Before the first stitch
- Check you have cotton yarn in two colors for the heart and leaf.
- Read through Round 1 and Round 2 before you pick up your hook.
- Keep a stitch marker nearby, even though it is optional here.
Minutes per piece
- Main Pattern (heart) about 45 minutes because it runs 4 rounds with a color change and puff stitches
- Leaf about 15 minutes because the shaping is short but fiddly
Other yarns that work
- mercerized cotton, worsted weight gives a crisper puff stitch and holds its shape, same hook size works
- cotton-acrylic blend, DK weight softer drape, slightly smaller heart, try a half size smaller hook
Where it ends up
- Mark your page in a novel you are reading slowly.
- Tuck into a gifted book, paired with a handwritten note.
- Clip onto a journal or planner as a small, personal touch.
Small notes
- Use a 3 mm hook to keep the puff stitches neat and even.
- Join your new color at Round 2 with a clean slip stitch, not a knot.
- Weave in ends tightly after Round 1 so the magic circle stays closed.
Little questions
Can I make the heart without the puff stitch?
You could swap it for single crochet, but the texture will flatten. The puff stitch gives Round 2 its dimension. Try a small swatch first to see if you miss it.
Does the leaf need a separate color?
Not strictly, but a contrast color makes it stand out. The leaf starts from its own chain of 6, so any leftover yarn works. Keep tension loose enough to turn easily.
How much yarn do I actually need?
Very little, since this is a small bookmark. A mini skein or scrap ball covers the heart and leaf easily. Keep two colors on hand for the Round 2 join.
Is a stitch marker really optional?
Yes, with only 4 rounds it is easy to track by eye. A marker helps if you set the project down mid-round. I still like to use one out of habit.
Original pattern: https://crocheteverything.com/easy-crochet-heart-bookmark-tutorial-perfect-for-reading-lovers/
About the Author
Tamsin Okoro Who writes the patterns at Yarn Gallery, how a pattern gets from the hook to the page, and what this site will never do.
