purlJam

# Whimsy Lace Bookmark

A delicate, open chain-mesh bookmark that drapes softly between the pages. Light, airy and quick to make, it finishes with a playful picot-tipped tassel for a whimsical flourish. The mesh keeps it slim and flowy despite the worsted-weight yarn — the secret is a generous hook and a relaxed tension.

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## Materials

- **Yarn:** Worsted-weight (Aran/medium, #4) cotton or cotton-blend, in your favourite colour. A crisp cotton gives the best lacy drape.
  - **Yardage:** Approx. 18 m (20 yds) — a small scrap or leftover is plenty.
- **Hook:** 5.5 mm (UK metric size). A hook one or two sizes larger than the ball-band recommendation is intentional, to keep the fabric open and flowy.
- **Notions:**
  - Tapestry/yarn needle
  - Small piece of card (approx. 6 cm) for winding the tassel
  - Scissors

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## Tension (Gauge)

Worked in the chain-mesh pattern:
**4 mesh squares and 7 rows = 5 cm × 5 cm (2 in × 2 in)**, lightly blocked.

> One "mesh square" = 1 tr + ch 2. Tension is loose by design; if your mesh is dense, go up a hook size.

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## Finished Size

- **Width:** approx. 5 cm (2 in)
- **Body length:** approx. 18 cm (7 in)
- **Total length with hanging loop and tassel:** approx. 28 cm (11 in)

Easily adjustable — see Pattern Notes.

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## Abbreviations (UK terms)

| Abbrev | Meaning (UK) | US equivalent |
|--------|--------------|---------------|
| ch | chain | chain |
| dc | double crochet | single crochet (sc) |
| tr | treble crochet | double crochet (dc) |
| sl st | slip stitch | slip stitch |
| sp | space | space |
| ch-sp | chain space | chain space |
| st(s) | stitch(es) | stitch(es) |
| rep | repeat | repeat |

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## Pattern Notes

- Worked **flat in turning rows** from one short end to the other.
- The **turning ch-5 at the start of each row counts as the first tr plus ch 2** (i.e. it stands in for the first tr and its adjoining chain space).
- Work into **both loops** throughout unless stated.
- Stitch count is given in brackets at the end of each row as **number of ch-spaces**, since the mesh is most easily counted by its open squares. Each row should always have **4 ch-spaces**.
- To **lengthen or shorten**, simply work more or fewer pattern rows (each row ≈ 0.75 cm). Keep the total row count even or odd as you like — the ends are symmetrical.
- Keep your tension relaxed for maximum drape.

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## Special Stitch

**Picot:** ch 3, then sl st into the first of those 3 ch (forms a small decorative loop).

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## Instructions

### Foundation

Ch 14.

### Row 1 (right side)
Tr into the 8th ch from hook (the skipped 7 ch form the first tr + ch-2 sp + the next ch base), *ch 2, skip 2 ch, tr into next ch; rep from * to end. Turn.
**(4 ch-spaces)**

> Check: starting ch-7 = 1 tr + ch 2 (= first square) + 1 base ch. Then 3 more "ch 2, tr" units = 3 squares. Total = 4 ch-spaces. ✓

### Row 2
Ch 5 (counts as tr + ch 2), skip first ch-2 sp, tr into next tr, *ch 2, tr into next tr; rep from * across, working final tr into the **3rd ch of the turning ch-5** of the previous row. Turn.
**(4 ch-spaces)**

> Check: turning ch-5 = first square (1). Three more "ch 2, tr" units worked across the row = 3 squares. Last tr lands in the 3rd ch of previous turning chain. Total = 4 ch-spaces. ✓

### Rows 3–24
Rep Row 2 a further **22 times** (24 rows total).
**(4 ch-spaces each row)**

> Check: 24 rows × ~0.75 cm = 18 cm body length. ✓

Do not fasten off after Row 24 — continue to the Hanging Loop.

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### Hanging Loop

At the end of Row 24, you are at one corner.
Ch 12, sl st into the same st/turning-ch where the loop began to form a hanging loop.
Fasten off and weave in the end neatly along the mesh edge.

> Check: ch-12 loop ≈ 4 cm circumference, ample for ribbon or to thread the tassel through. ✓

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## Finishing

### Blocking
Gently wet-block or steam the bookmark, pinning it out into a slim, even rectangle approx. **5 cm × 18 cm**. Blocking is what makes the lace "open up" and flow. Allow to dry fully.

### Make the Picot Tassel
1. Wind your yarn around the 6 cm card approx. **10 times**.
2. Thread a 20 cm length of yarn under all the strands at the top of the card; tie tightly to gather.
3. Slip the bundle off the card. Cut through the loops at the opposite (bottom) end.
4. Wrap a second length of yarn around the bundle approx. 1 cm below the tie to form the tassel "neck"; knot securely and bury the ends down into the tassel.
5. **Whimsy picot tips (optional):** On 3–4 of the outer tassel strands, work a small **picot** (ch 3, sl st into first ch) at the very tip, or simply tie a tiny knot, for a playful detail.
6. Trim the tassel ends level — approx. 6 cm long.

### Attach the Tassel
Fold the tassel's top tie in half and pass the loop through the corner ch-sp at the **opposite short end** from the hanging loop. Pull the tassel through its own loop (lark's-head knot) and tighten. Trim any excess.

### Final Check
- Hanging loop at one short end, tassel at the other. ✓
- Body 4 ch-spaces wide, 24 rows long. ✓
- Total length ≈ loop (4 cm) + body (18 cm) + tassel (6 cm) = **28 cm**. ✓

Your lacy, flowy whimsy bookmark is complete — slip the loop over your page or let the tassel dangle from the spine.