The One Ring Bookmark

A beginner-friendly crocheted bookmark inspired by The One Ring from The Lord of the Rings. A simple double-crochet strap in Shire green is finished with a golden ring that dangles from a short chain — just enough Middle-earth for the book you are reading now.

The core pattern uses only chain, double crochet and slip stitch. An optional Lothlórien leaf is included at the end for extra decoration.

Skill level: Beginner
Time: About 1–2 hours

Materials

Yarn — Aran / worsted weight (10 ply / medium 4), cotton or acrylic. Cotton holds its shape a little better as a bookmark.

• Colour A (strap): forest green — 25 m (27 yd)
• Colour B (ring and hanger): gold or mustard yellow — 15 m (16 yd)

A 50 g ball of each is far more than you need; leftovers from other aran projects are ideal.

Suggested colourways

• The Shire: forest green strap, gold ring
• The Ring itself: gold strap, darker gold or bronze ring
• Rivendell: pale grey strap, gold ring
• Mordor: charcoal strap, gold or rust ring

Hook: 5 mm (UK 6 / US H-8)

Notions

• Yarn needle
• Scissors
• 1 stitch marker
• Blocking mat and pins (optional but recommended)

Tension (gauge)

16 dc and 18 rows = 10 × 10 cm (4 × 4 in), measured over dc using a 5 mm hook.

Tension is not critical for a bookmark, but it does set the finished size below. If your swatch is larger than 10 cm, try a 4.5 mm hook; if smaller, try a 5.5 mm hook.

Size

One size.

Finished measurements (after light blocking)

• Strap: 5 cm (2 in) wide × 20 cm (8 in) long
• Ring: approx. 3.5 cm (1¼ in) diameter
• Hanging chain: approx. 5 cm (2 in)
• Overall length including hanger and ring: approx. 28–30 cm (11–12 in)

Width check: 8 dc ÷ 16 dc per 10 cm × 10 = 5 cm ✓
Length check: 36 rows ÷ 18 rows per 10 cm × 10 = 20 cm ✓

Abbreviations (UK)

This pattern uses UK crochet terminology throughout. (US equivalent: dc = sc.)

Pattern notes

• The strap is worked flat in rows. The ring is worked in joined rounds.
• Turning chain: ch 1 at the start of each strap row does not count as a stitch. Work the first dc into the first stitch of the row.
• Work through both loops of every stitch unless told otherwise.
• Stitch counts are given in parentheses at the end of each row/round. The strap stays at 8 dc on every row.
• Do not twist the ring foundation chain when you join it into a circle.
• Place a stitch marker in the first dc of each ring round so the join is easy to find.
• The optional leaf uses htr and tr; skip it if you prefer to stay with dc only.

Pattern

Strap (Colour A)

With Colour A and a 5 mm hook, ch 9.

Row 1 (RS): Dc in 2nd ch from hook, dc in each ch to end, turn. (8 dc ✓)

Row 2: Ch 1 (does not count as a st), dc in each st across, turn. (8 dc ✓)

Rows 3–36: Rep Row 2. (8 dc on every row ✓)

You should now have a rectangle 8 sts wide and 36 rows long, measuring about 5 × 20 cm (2 × 8 in) before blocking.

Fasten off Colour A. Weave in the foundation-tail now, while it is easy to reach. Leave the top-edge tail, or weave it in as well if you prefer to join the hanger with a fresh slip knot.

The Ring (Colour B)

With Colour B, ch 18. Join with sl st to the first ch to form a ring, taking care not to twist the chain.

Rnd 1: Ch 1 (does not count as a st), dc in each ch around, join with sl st to first dc. (18 dc ✓)
Tip: mark the first dc with a stitch marker.

Rnd 2: Ch 1 (does not count as a st), dc in each st around, join with sl st to first dc. (18 dc ✓)

Circumference check: 18 dc ÷ 16 dc per 10 cm × 10 = 11.25 cm → diameter ≈ 3.6 cm ✓

Fasten off, leaving a 20 cm (8 in) tail. Use the starting tail to close any small gap at the join, then weave it in. Keep the long finishing tail if you would rather sew the ring to the hanger; otherwise weave it in too.

Hanger (Colour B)

The hanger sits at the centre of one short end of the strap (the top). On an 8-st row the centre falls between stitches 4 and 5.

With RS of the strap facing, join Colour B with sl st in the 4th dc of Row 36.

Ch 10.

Join to the ring with sl st, inserting the hook through both layers of the ring (so the hanger is locked onto the band, not just one round).

Ch 1, fasten off.

Weave both hanger tails securely into the strap and into the ring so the join cannot pull open in use.

Hanger length check: 10 ch with a 5 mm hook ≈ 5 cm (2 in) ✓

Finishing

1. Weave in every remaining end. On the ring, take tails along the dc rounds rather than across the open centre, so they stay hidden.
2. Block the strap. Pin it flat to 5 × 20 cm (2 × 8 in), mist with water, and leave to dry. Blocking settles the dc fabric and stops the long edges from curling. The ring does not need blocking.
3. Check that the ring hangs freely from the chain and that the strap lies smooth.
4. Optional: a light coat of fabric stiffener or diluted PVA on the strap only (not the ring) will make a very crisp page-marker. Test on a swatch first. Skip this if you prefer a soft bookmark.

Optional: Lothlórien leaf

A small leaf sewn to the bottom short edge of the strap. Uses htr and tr. Skip this if you want a dc-only project.

With Colour A or Colour B, ch 9.

Work into the 2nd ch from the hook and along the chain:

1 dc, 1 dc, 1 htr, 1 htr, 1 tr, 1 tr, 1 htr, (1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc) in last ch;

now work along the opposite side of the same foundation chain:

1 htr, 1 tr, 1 tr, 1 htr, 1 htr, 1 dc, 1 dc, sl st to first dc.

Fasten off, leaving a 15 cm (6 in) tail. Sew the stem end of the leaf to the centre of the bottom short edge of the strap. Weave in ends.

First side uses 7 sts + a tip in the last chain; second side mirrors with 7 sts ✓

To use

Slip the green strap between the pages, leaving the gold ring hanging over the top of the book. One Ring to mark the page.

This is an unofficial fan-made pattern inspired by the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Tolkien Estate or any film studio.