This free crochet pattern shows you how to create a beautiful Celtic-inspired Cabled Bookmark using simple post stitches.
Perfect for confident crocheters ready to try cables in a small, practical project – complete with full video tutorials (left and right handed).

The Cabled Bookmark – A Free Crochet Pattern for Texture Lovers

Oh cables… they look fancy, dramatic, and slightly intimidating. But here’s the truth?

They’re not nearly as complicated as they look. And they are SO much fun.

This free crochet pattern is perfect if you either:

• Already love working crochet cables
• Or have been side-eyeing them for a while and thinking, “Maybe I should give that a go…”

Good news: I’ve got you.

I have created full start-to-finish video tutorials for this design — one for right-handed crocheters and one for left-handed crocheters — so if you are new to cables, I will talk you through every single step.

You’ll be working with:

• Single crochet
• Front post double crochet
• Front post treble crochet

That’s it. No magic. Just clever placement of stitches.

And once you “get” it? Ohhh you’ll want to cable everything.

The Inspiration Behind This Design

March is International Crochet Month, and I was challenged by Marie Segares from Underground Crafter to design something that represents what I love most about crochet.

That was easy.

This free crochet pattern brings together so many things I adore about crochet:

• Gorgeous texture created from basic stitches
• The practicality of handmade items
• How stitch placement completely transforms a design
• The ease of shaping (there’s even an optional tapered finish!)
• The fact that you don’t need much yarn at all to create something stunning

This bookmark has a clean Celtic look that instantly took me back to my childhood.

My mum used to have leather bookmarks — usually red, navy, or deep green — with gold Celtic weaves pressed into the front. I can still remember the smell of the leather and the books I used them in: Little Women, Heidi, The Railway Children…

That memory of texture and tradition inspired this design.

And the best part? You can create something just as beautiful with a small amount of yarn and a hook.

It’s a perfect scrap-busting project.
No yarn wasted.
Gift it. Keep it. Make five. I won’t judge.

One of the things I love most about the crochet community is how incredibly generous everyone is. Patterns are shared. Encouragement is given freely. Skills are taught without hesitation.

This pattern celebrates that spirit.

Construction of The Cabled Bookmark

This design is:

• Worked flat
• Made in short rows
• Only 13 stitches per row

Because you only need 13 stitches, I wouldn’t recommend going too large with your yarn weight. You can use any weight yarn with the appropriate hook — just keep scale in mind.

My blue sample was made using 2 weight (4 ply) yarn and 3mm hook

This produced a lovely classic bookmark size. You can absolutely use 3 weight yarn with a 4mm hook. Just know your bookmark will be larger.

How the Texture Works

Every other row is a simple single crochet row.

That means:

• No awkward back post stitches
• No twisting yourself into knots
• A built-in rest row between cable rows

The post stitches are worked into the post stitches from two rows below, so once you set up Row 3, the pattern becomes beautifully rhythmic.

There is a very definite right side and wrong side to this design:

• The right side has the cable texture
• The wrong side is flat

This actually helps reduce bulk when the bookmark is inside your book. Practical AND pretty.

There’s also an optional tapered edge if you want a neat finishing touch.

Prefer a Printable PDF?

At the moment this pattern is not available in my shops because it is going to be part of a collection coming soon! I will update with the shop links as soon as it is available.

International Crochet Month Event – Free PDF for 24 Hours!

As part of the International Crochet Month Event hosted by Underground Crafter, this pattern will be available as a FREE PDF download for 24 hours only on Wednesday 4th March 2026.

Each day during March, a different designer is offering a free PDF of a brand new crochet design for 24 hours only.

And yes… there are prizes to be won too! Click the event image below to find out more.

Click the download button to go to the next page – your Free PDF Pattern is waiting for you to download at the bottom of that page!

Make sure you don’t miss it.

Full Video Tutorials – Left & Right Handed

I walk you through this entire project step by step. Click the images below to be taken to the video tutorials.

🎥 Right-handed tutorial – https://youtu.be/gF7FE5AVGsM

🎥 Left-handed tutorial – https://youtu.be/LCTDJkQ2Z18

If cables feel intimidating, pop the kettle on and crochet along with me.

You May Also Like…

If you enjoy working the cables in this free crochet pattern, or if this little bookmark has sparked a full-blown cable obsession (it happens… don’t fight it 😉), then you’ll absolutely love my free Adventure in Cables Blanket CAL.

The Adventure in Cables Blanket Crochet Along was designed with Kristine from Ambassador Crochet, to help crocheters build confidence with cable techniques step by step. Each section introduces a new cable style, allowing you to grow your skills gradually while creating a stunning, heirloom-worthy blanket.

What makes it special?

• Step-by-step guidance for multiple cable variations
• Clear written instructions
• Supporting video tutorials for every section
• Manageable sections so you’re never overwhelmed
• A beautiful finished blanket packed with texture

If the Cabled Bookmark is your “dip your toe in” cable project, the Adventure in Cables Blanket is your “let’s dive all the way in” moment.

It’s perfect for confident crocheters who:

• Love texture
• Want to master crochet cables
• Enjoy structured learning through a CAL
• Dream of creating a statement blanket

If you’re ready to take your cable skills beyond bookmarks and into bold, beautiful blanket territory, the Adventure in Cables Blanket CAL is waiting for you.

Go on… you know you want to. 🧶✨

Pattern Specifics

Gauge

Gauge is not important for this project as long as you are consistent. Please note that you must have 13 stitches per row for it to work. For reference using 2 weight (4ply) yarn and 3mm hook my gauge was 12 single crochets and 8 rows in 2”.

Size

Size will vary depending on yarn weight and hook size used. Using 2 weight (4 ply) yarn and 3mm hook, my bookmark was 2” wide by 6.5” tall (including the taper)

Materials

• Any 2 or 3 weight yarn of your choosing – around 25 yards
• Appropriate sized hook for yarn of choice (I used 3mm with 2 weight yarn)
• Scissors
• Tapestry Needle
• Stitch Markers optional

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• Ch(s) – chain(s)
• St(s) – stitch(es)
• Sk(d) – skip(ped)
• Rep – repeat
• Fsc – foundation single crochet
• Sc – single crochet
• FPdc – front post double crochet
• FPtc – front post treble crochet
• YO – yarn over FO – fasten off

Pattern Notes

• Written in US terms.
• Ch1 start does not count as a st unless stated otherwise.
• Be sure not to work your cable stitches too tight as it will pull and warp your project!
• When working FPdc or FPtc you will work into the stitch two rows below.
• Straight cable sections use FPdc.
• Crossed cable sections use FPtr.
• Every even numbered row is an easy sc across row – there are no FP sts to worry about.
• After Row 3 you will work FPdc or FPtc sts only into FPDC or FPtc sts from the row 2 rows below.
• When working a Front Post stitch this will count as a st against your current row. So for example, ‘SC in the first st, FPdc around next st’ – this FPdc counts as a st so you miss one stitch from the sc row immediately below before working the next sc.
• Odd numbered rows are right side rows, even numbered rows are wrong side rows.
• Please note that the repeat of row 11 at row 17 is not an error.

Special Stitches Used in this Free Crochet Bookmark Pattern:

Foundation Single crochet: You can find my tutorial on the foundation stitches (you will find the sc at about 23 mins into the videos): For right handed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPHOG4VIi_Q&t=109s Left handed – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqkTFzCja-A

I find this has a more aesthetically pleasing finish than the chain starts to projects and it gives the project more movement.

FPdc (Front Post double crochet) – yo, insert hook from front to back to front around the post of st indicated, yo, pull up loop, [yo, pull through 2 loops] 2 times. (See videos linked above)

FPtr (Front Post treble) – yo 2 times, insert hook from front to back to front around st indicated, yo, pull up loop, [yo, pull through 2 loops] 3 times. (See videos linked above)

The Free Crochet Pattern

** This is a free pattern on the Sunflower Cottage Crochet blog. If you are reading this anywhere else it is stolen content. Please do not copy and paste any part of it or print this pattern out. Please bookmark this page and use the website to work up your pattern. This helps my small business greatly as it provides a little bit of ad revenue which will in turn will allow me to continue to create free content for you!**

Row 1 : CH14, sc in 2^nd ch from hook and each ch across. OR FSC 13 (13)

Row 2: Ch1, turn, sc in first st and each st across. (13)

Row 3: Ch1, turn, sc in first st, *fpdc around next st, sc in next st.* Rep from * to * across. (6 Fpdc, 7 sc)

Row 4: Rep row 2.

Row 5: Rep row 3. (Note: you will be working your FPDC sts around the FPdc sts from row 3)

Row 6: Rep row 2.

Row 7: Rep row 3. (Note: you will be working your FPDC sts around the FPdc sts from row 5)

Row 8: Rep row 2.

Row 9: Rep row 3. (Note: you will be working your FPDC sts around the FPdc sts from row 7)

Row 10: Rep row 2.

Row 11: Ch1, turn, sc in first st, FPdc around next st, sc in next st, FPdc around next st, sc in next st, sk next fpdc, FPtc around the next fpdc from 2 rows below, sc in next st, FPtc around skipped FPdc from 2 rows below, sc in next st, FPdc around next st, sc in next st, FPdc around next st, sc in last st. (7 sc, 4 FPdc, 2 FPtc)

Row 12: Rep row 2.

Row 13: Ch1, turn, sc in first st, FPdc around next st, sc in next st, *sk next FPdc from 2 rows below, FPtc around next FPdc from 2 rows below, sc in next st, FPtc around skipped FPdc, sc in next st*. Rep from * to * once more, FPdc around next st, sc in next st. (7 sc, 4 FPtc, 2 FPdc)

Row 14: Rep row 2.

Row 15: Rep row 11.

Row 16: Rep row 2.

Row 17: Rep Row 11.

Row 18: Rep row 2.

Row 19: Rep row 13.

Row 20: Rep row 2.

Row 21: Rep row 11.

Row 22: Rep row 2.

Row 23: Rep row 3.

Row 24: Rep row 2.

Row 25: Rep row 3.

Row 26: Rep row 2.

Row 27: Rep row 3.

Row 28: Rep row 2.

Row 29: Rep row 3.

Row 30: Rep row 2.

Rows 31-50: Rep rows 11-30 once more.

Optional Tapering:

Row 1: Turn, Ch1, Sc2tog across first 2 sts, sc in each of next 9 sts. Sc2tog across last 2 sts.

Row 2: Turn, Ch1, Sc2tog across first 2 sts, sc in each of next 7 sts. Sc2tog across last 2 sts.

Row 3: Turn, Ch1, Sc2tog across first 2 sts, sc in each of next 5 sts. Sc2tog across last 2 sts.

Row 4: Turn, Ch1, Sc2tog across first 2 sts, sc in each of next 3 sts. Sc2tog across last 2 sts.

Row 5: Turn, Ch1, Sc2tog across first 2 sts, sc in next st, sc2tog across last 2 sts.

To Add a Tassel:

Step 1: Cut 4 strands of yarn or cotton approx. 10-15cm long.

Step 2: Fold all of the strands in half.

Step 3: Bring your hook from the back to the front on the stitch you want to attach your tassel to. You will be using it to help pull the tassel into place.

Step 4: With your hook bring all of the strands through about half way so that it creates a loop on the other side. Do not  pull all of the yarn through!

Step 5: Using either your hook or your fingers, grab the cut ends of your tassel and pull them through the loop.

Final Thoughts

This free crochet bookmark pattern is such a satisfying little project.

It’s:

• Textured
• Practical
• Scrap-friendly
• A perfect introduction to crochet cables
• And completely giftable

If you make The Cabled Bookmark, I would LOVE to see it!

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Let’s celebrate texture, creativity, and the joy of crochet together.

Now go grab your yarn. Your next chapter is waiting. 📖✨