Welcome to a cheerful, quick crochet project that combines your love of reading with the joy of handmade crafting! This adorable pencil-shaped bookmark brings together all the classic details of a school supply, from the pink eraser and metallic ferrule to the bright yellow wooden shaft and graphite tip.
Using basic stitches and simple color changes, this beginner-friendly pattern works up in no time. It’s a wonderful stash-buster and makes a thoughtful, practical gift for teachers, students, and book lovers alike.
Materials & Tools Needed
- Fingering-weight cotton yarn in pink, gray, yellow, beige, and black/dark charcoal (approx. 15–25 yards total)
- 2.25 mm crochet hook
- Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
- 2 removable stitch markers
- Small ruler
- Scissors
Abbreviations & Pattern Notes
- ch: chain
- sc: single crochet
- dec: single crochet 2 stitches together (decrease)
- st/sts: stitch/stitches
- US Terminology is used throughout.
- The turning chain does not count as a stitch.
- To change colors, work the final sc of the current row until two loops remain on the hook, then yarn over and pull through with the new color.
Step-by-Step Pattern Instructions
- Eraser (Pink): With pink yarn, ch 9. Row 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from hook and in each remaining ch across (8 sts). Rows 2–5: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across (8 sts). Change to gray in the final stitch of Row 5.
- Ferrule (Gray): Rows 6–8: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across (8 sts). Change to yellow in the final stitch of Row 8.
- Shaft (Yellow): Rows 9–38: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across (8 sts). Tip: You can easily adjust the length here by adding or removing rows to suit your preference. Change to beige in the final stitch of Row 38.
- Wooden Point (Beige):
- Point Row 1: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across (8 sts).
- Point Row 2: Ch 1, turn, dec, sc in next 4 sts, dec (6 sts).
- Point Row 3: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across (6 sts).
- Point Row 4: Ch 1, turn, dec, sc in next 2 sts, dec (4 sts).
- Change to black/dark charcoal in the final stitch of Row 4.
- Graphite Tip (Black):
- Tip Row 1: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across (4 sts).
- Tip Row 2: Ch 1, turn, dec twice (2 sts).
- Tip Row 3: Ch 1, turn, dec (1 st). Fasten off, leaving a short tail.
Finishing & Helpful Tips
- Leave your color-change tails 4 to 6 inches long so you can weave them in securely without adding bulky knots that might distort book pages.
- Count your stitches periodically across the 8-stitch sections to ensure your pencil maintains a straight, even shaft.
- Block your finished bookmark lightly under a damp towel if needed to straighten the edges and highlight the sharp tip.
- Feel free to experiment with different cotton yarn colors to create pastel, neon, or rainbow colored pencils!
Watch the Step-by-Step Video Tutorial
Prefer visual guidance? Follow along with the complete video tutorial below: