Easy DIY Friendship Bracelet Bookmarks

Bookmarks don’t have to be boring — and friendship bracelets don’t have to live on your wrist! These DIY friendship bracelet bookmarks are the perfect mashup of nostalgic charm and practical flair. Whether you need a craft idea for book club, want to gift them to your bookish bestie or keep them for your own reading adventures, these designs are bright, bold, and totally beginner-friendly.

This post will guide you through two playful patterns:

  • - Chevron Heart Design – with inward knots that form sweet little hearts.

  • - Diagonal Knot Design – a breezy, slanted stripe that’s endlessly customisable.

So grab your yarn or embroidery thread, stick on your favourite cosy playlist, and let's turn string into something magical for a calming afternoon craft.

 

What you need:

  - Embroidery thread or yarn

  - Tape, safety pin and cushion, or clipboard

  - Scissors

  - Optional: beads to decorate

 

Stock Up On Yarn & Embroidery Thread

  

DIY Knotted Friendship Bracelet Bookmarks

 

Finished knotted friendship bracelet bookmarks on an open page of a novel with a sunflower.

 

Design 1: Chevron Heart Bookmark

This design uses forward and backward knots to create a heart-shaped chevron pattern. It’s perfect for Valentine vibes or just showing some love to your favourite novel.

 

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Choose 2 colours of yarn and cut them into 4 really long strands (these will be folded in half to create 8 strands in total). Use contrasting colours so that the hearts pop.

 

  2. Secure your base by tying a knot at the top and taping it to a table, clipping it to a clipboard, or use a safety pin to secure to a cushion.

 

3. Start Knotting Inward

  - Use forward knots on the left side and backward knots on the right side. Think of it as creating a number 4 shape going left to right, and a backwards 4 going right to left.

  - Ensure that you double knot each one to make it the correct thickness and make the pattern stand out.

  - Starting with the outermost left strand, knot over the strand next to it twice, then repeat on the other two strands until the outer strand meets the middle. 

  - Repeat moving from right to left, doing backward knots.

  - As you reach the centre, tie the two middle strands together with a forward knot.

  - Repeat this process twice to form two rows. So, left inwards, right inwards, left inwards, right inwards. 

 

4. Create the Heart Shape

  - Take the second inner strand on the left and tie a double backward knot, moving outwards from the centre. Repeat this on the right side using a double forward knot. This creates the edges of the heart shape.

  - Resume the inward knotting technique using the three innermost strands on each side. This will form the central heart shape. 

  - Repeat this twice again. 

 

5. Continue knotting this way with two rows of inward knotting, two rows of knotting the heart shape until your bookmark is about 5–6 inches long (or however long you wish it to be).

 

6. Tie a final knot and trim the ends. You can braid the tail, add beads, or leave it loose for flair.

 

Design 2: Diagonal Knot Bookmark

This one’s all about forward knots that create a slanted stripe. It’s super easy and great for mixing colours.

 

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Choose as many strands of yarn as you want, depending on the width of your bookmark, and cut each about 30 inches long. We chose three colours and folded them in half to get 6 strands. Go wild with colour on this one — try rainbow, ombré, or pastel!

 

2. Tie a knot at the top and anchor it, as above.

 

3. Start the Diagonal Knotting Magic

  - Take the leftmost strand and make double forward knots over each of the other strands.

  - Once it reaches the far right, repeat the process with the new leftmost strand.

 

4. The diagonal lines will start to form naturally. Keep knotting until you reach your desired length.

 

5. Tie a final knot and trim the ends. Add a tassel or charm if you’re feeling extra.

 

Tying It All Up

These DIY friendship bracelet bookmarks are more than just cute — they’re a celebration of creativity, colour, and connection. Whether you're knotting solo or crafting with friends, each bookmark tells a story. So go ahead, make a bunch, and spread the love one page at a time.

Looking for your next bookish craft? Check out our DIY book buddies tutorial to make some adorable companions to keep your pages company, or get hands-on with how to make polymer clay book page holders and sculpt a handy helper.

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