The Reader Bookmark - Free Pattern and Mosaic Overlay Crochet Tutorial

Mosaic Overlay Crochet may seem intimidating, but it's really one of the easiest (and most addicting) crochet techniques I have learned in my fiber arts career. You only need to know how to chain, single crochet, and double crochet to master this!

I have written this pattern/guide as a complete introduction to mosaic overlay crochet. If you are already familiar with this technique, you can skip to the end of this post for the bookmark pattern itself. A free pdf version is also available on my Ko-fi shop.

FYI - Ko-fi has all of my free patterns as well as many paid patterns listed at a cheaper price than those on my Etsy shop.

A video tutorial is also available on YouTube channel.

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Required Materials

Two Contrasting Colors of Yarn (I used Lionbrand Coboo in the colors Mauve and Pale Pink)

Corresponding Crochet Hook (I used a 3.5mm hook)

Scissors

Tapestry Needle

Stitches and Techniques You'll Need

I'm not going to be going through every stitch in this post, but if you need a tutorial or reminder on how to do any of the stitches required for mosaic crochet, I've linked some helpful resources below:

Chain and Single Crochet

Double Crochet

Crocheting in the Front and Back Loop Only

Mosaic Overlay Crochet: The Basics

Mosaic crochet is worked in rows of alternating colors from right to left with the front side facing you (if you are left handed, you may want to work from left to right). Only single crochet (sc) and double crochet (dc) stitches are used. In this tutorial, Mauve is Color A and Pale Pink is Color B.

Except for the first row and border stitches, each single crochet is worked in the back loop only (BLO) of the stitch below.

Single crochets worked with Color A will only ever be worked into the back loop of a stitch in Color B since we are alternating colors every row.

Each double crochet is worked in the front loop only (FLO) of the row below of the same color.

Double Crochets worked with Color A will only ever be worked into the front loop of the Color A stitches below. The same is true for Color B.

Border stitches (BS), the first and last stitches of each row, are worked as single crochets. Border stitches are always worked through both loops.

Each Single Crochet (sc) is worked into the BLO

Each Double Crochet (dc) is worked into the FLO of the row below of the same color

A Border Stitch (BS) is worked in BOTH loops for added security

Note: “Back Loop Only Single Crochet” and “Front Loop Only Double Crochet” are abbreviated as SC and DC, respectively, in the written pattern to reduce visual clutter.

Each row alternates colors, with one color per row. To work each row, attach the new color, single crochet in both loops for the first border stitch, follow the chart/pattern until the second-to-last stitch, single crochet in both loops for the last border stitch, and fasten off. This will create the intended pattern on the front and stripes on the back.

Front vs. Back of The White Rabbit Mosaic Crochet Tapestry, pattern available here.

Ends from each row can left as is, turned into tassels, or hidden with an envelope border if you prefer not to weave them in. I opted to turn the ends of this bookmark into tassels.

How to Read a Mosaic Chart

The bookmark pattern has both a mosaic chart and a written pattern. While you can complete the project without using the chart, I recommend taking the time to learn how to read them. Once you get it down, it's much faster than using the written pattern.

The color arrangement on a mosaic chart demonstrates what the piece will look like when completed (e.g., the light pink and mauve colors depict the word “READER” in the mosaic chart for the bookmark).

When using a mosaic chart, start at the bottom right. Work from right to left, bottom to top alternating Colors A and B each row. Do not switch colors in the middle of a row.

Each blank space is a single crochet (sc) in the back loop only.

Each space marked with an “X” is a double crochet (dc) in the front loop only of the row of the same color below.

Make sure you always start and end the row with a border stitch (BS), a single crochet worked in both loops.

Let's Crochet a Bookmark!

Materials

• Two Contrasting Colors of Weight 3 Yarn (I used Lionbrand Coboo in the colors Mauve and Pale Pink)

• Corresponding Crochet Hook (I used a 3.5mm hook)

• Scissors

• Tapestry Needle

Note: Feel free to use any size yarn you have on hand, just know it might not end up being "bookmark sized."

Abbreviations

• st - Stitch

• CH - Chain

• SC - Single Crochet (back loop only)

• DC - Double Crochet (front loop only)

• FO - Fasten Off

• BS - Border Stitch

Notes

• This pattern is written in US Terminology

• Mosaic Crochet is always worked right to left with the front facing you

• A Border Stitch (BS) is a single crochet (SC) worked in both loops. Each row starts and ends with a BS

• A blank box on the chart indicates a Single Crochet (SC) in the back loop only

• A box marked with X indicates a Double Crochet (DC) worked into the front loop only of the stitch two rows below (DC is always worked into stitches of the same color you are working with at the time)

• Rows are worked in alternating colors. Each row is marked with “A” or “B” to represent what color to work the row with

• Fasten off after every row

• When crocheting Row 1, I like to crochet into the back bump so that each stitch is easier to crochet into when making the border.

• If the pattern reads “5sc”, it means that you need to make one single crochet (back loop only) in each of the next 5 stitches.

• The stitch count is always 41 sts, including the Border Stitches

Mosaic Chart and Written Pattern

Using Color A, CH42

Row 1: SC in the 2nd CH from the hook, and all the way back along the chain (41SC)

Row 2: BS, 39SC, BS

Row 3: BS, 2DC, 2SC, 2DC, SC, DC, 5SC, 2DC, 4SC, DC, 2SC, DC, 2SC, DC, 5SC, DC, 2SC, 2DC, SC, 2DC, BS

Row 4: BS, 2SC, 2DC, 2SC, DC, 4SC, 2DC, 2SC, 2DC, SC, DC, SC, 2DC, SC, 2DC, 4SC, 2DC, SC, 2DC, 2SC, DC, 2SC, BS

Row 5: BS, 2DC, 3SC, DC, SC, 4DC, 2SC, DC, 3SC, DC, SC, DC, 5SC, 4DC, 2SC, DC, 3SC, DC, SC, 2DC, BS

Row 6: BS, 3SC, 2DC, SC, DC, 4SC, 2DC, SC, 2DC, 2SC, DC, SC, 2DC, SC, 2DC, 4SC, 2DC, 2SC, 2DC, SC, DC, 2SC, BS

Row 7: BS, 2DC, 5SC, 2DC, 4SC, DC, 2SC, 2DC, SC, DC, 2SC, DC, 2SC, 2DC, 4SC, DC, 5SC, 2DC, BS

Row 8: BS, 2SC, 2DC, 2SC, DC, 4SC, 2DC, SC, 2DC, 2SC, DC, SC, 2DC, SC, 2DC, 4SC, 2DC, SC, 2DC, 2SC, DC, 2SC, BS

Row 9: BS, 2DC, 2SC, 2DC, SC, 4DC, 2SC, DC, 3SC, DC, SC, DC, 2SC, DC, 2SC, 4DC, 2SC, DC, 2SC, 2DC, SC, 2DC, BS

Row 10: BS, 2SC, 2DC, 2SC, DC, 4SC, 2DC, 2SC, 2DC, SC, DC, 2SC, DC, SC, DC, 5SC, 2DC, SC, 2DC, 2SC, DC, 2SC, BS

Row 11: BS, 2DC, 5SC, DC, 5SC, 2DC, 4SC, 2DC, 3SC, 2 DC, 5SC, DC, 5SC, 2DC, BS

Even more fun: make a second bookmark and inverse the colors!

Finishing Your Piece

• You can choose to weave in your ends, crochet an envelope border, or make tassels out of your ends.

• Alexis Sixel has a great tutorial on how to make tassels (as well as a lot of sick mosaic crochet patterns and tutorials): https://www.sixeldesign.com/post-1/fringe-tutorial

• Block you’re bookmark by pinning flat in place, spraying with water, and leaving to dry overnight.

Now that the work is done, it's time to snuggle up with a good book. If you show off your piece, please tag @kb_reads_and_makes_things on Instagram.

Please DM me on Instagram or email kbreadsandmakes@gmail.com with any questions!

PIN IT FOR LATER :)