FREE BLACKWORK PATTERN

Free Celtic embroidery bookmark pattern

If you're a fan of Celtic embroidery, you'll love this free blackwork bookmark pattern. It's easy to stitch and looks great with black floss and gold metallic thread.

The pattern is worked in double running stitch. It will look the same on the back as it does on the front, if you do not add the cross stitches.

I've included instructions for creating a fringed edge.

This bookmark makes a great gift or a quick project for yourself. You can also use the pattern to create a Celtic embroidery border on other items, like curtains or pillows.

Finished Celtic blackwork bookmark stitched in black floss with a gold metallic accent and a fringed edge
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What will you need?

Notes for following the pattern

Download the free pattern (PDF) →

Stitch over two fabric threads, using one strand of floss for the double running stitch and two strands for the cross stitch.

Follow the first journey

Double running stitch goes out laying every other stitch, then comes back filling the gaps. Because each journey’s hidden thread covers what the other one shows, both sides end up the same. Step through it here.

Charted motif with the current stitch route highlighted
Which side you are looking at
How far you have stitched

Route
  • First journey
  • Second journey
  • Rest of the motif

Fourteen routes, not one. A single unbroken journey needs a design with at most two loose ends. This knot is all one connected piece, but it has twenty-eight of them, so fourteen is the fewest routes that cover every line without stitching any line twice. The knot repeats every sixteen threads, so once you have worked one you have worked them all. The cross stitches are the exception: add them and the back no longer matches the front.

Making the fringe

After completing the cross stitch around the edge, trim the fabric to your desired fringe length. Then using the eye end of your needle, pull out the unwanted threads.

With no backing needed, and no hem, this bookmark is super slim and fits easily between the pages of your book.

If you would prefer the back to be covered, place a piece of felt behind the work and stitch the cross stitches through both the evenweave and felt. Then trim away the felt before creating the fringe. As it is non-woven, it will not fray.

THE EBOOK

Would you rather not cover the back at all?

This bookmark is worked in double running stitch, so the back matches the front until the cross stitches go in. Blackwork for Beginners teaches the method that keeps it that way on bigger pieces: eight guided projects, step-by-step photos, and an instant PDF download for £9.95.

See the back you can show →

Other uses for the pattern

The pattern consists of four repeated square motifs. These could be rearranged in 2 rows of two to form a larger square. This would make a sweet pincushion or the front of a needlebook.

Alternatively, you could stitch a single square on 32 count fabric and make it up into a miniature cushion for a doll house. Check my blackwork samplers page for another design which could be used in the same way.

KEEP STITCHING

Where to go next

Double running stitch

The stitch this bookmark is built from, and the reason the back looks like the front.

Learn the stitch →

Blackwork samplers

Another charted design you can work as a pincushion, a needlebook or a tiny cushion.

See the samplers →

New to blackwork?

Start at the beginning with the free lessons, patterns and the complete guide.

Start here →

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