Pattern · Beginner · 45 min
Square knot bookmark: a 45 minute flat band
Six cords, one flat band, and a fringe that does the job a tassel usually does. It is the smallest project that still uses the mount, the square knot and a spiral edge, which makes it a good test piece before a wall hanging.
Published 17 Sep 2026 · · 3-ply twisted cotton 3 mm
At a glance
- Kind · Pattern
- Level · Beginner
- Working time · 45 min
- Cord · 3-ply twisted cotton
- Thickness · 3 mm
- Finished size · 5 × 21 cm
- Sample · one bookmark, 4 cm wide
| Piece | Length | Qty | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working cords | 90 cm | 6 | |
| Top loop cord | 40 cm | 1 |
Lark's head mount
Fold the 90 cm cords and mount all six onto the 40 cm loop cord, which becomes a doubled hanging loop. Knot: Lark's Head Mount
Flat band
Work fourteen square knots in the four inner cords, using the outer two cords as the band edges. Knot: Square knot
Edge spiral
Spiral the two edge cords with half square knots so the band has a raised rib on each side.
Trim the tail
Trim the six tail cords to 5 cm and fan them slightly so the bookmark does not slide out of the book.
Why 3 mm cord, not 4 mm
A 4 mm cord produces a bookmark 8 mm thick, which is thicker than most book spines and will bend the pages. At 3 mm the band finishes about 5 mm thick, close to a leather bookmark, and the fourteen knots needed for 21 cm still feel quick. The cost is that 3 mm cotton cord feels slack between the fingers, so use a firmer twist if you have the choice.
The flat band
Fourteen square knots on the four inner cords makes an 18 cm band; the top loop and the fringe bring the total to 21 cm. Space the knots tightly, pushing each up against the last, or the band will stretch 2 cm the first time it is used. Each knot consumes about 4 cm of each working cord, so the 90 cm cut leaves roughly 20 cm spare for the fringe.
The spiral edge
The two outer cords are worked as half square knots in one direction for the whole length. This does two things: it stiffens the band edges so the bookmark does not curl, and it makes the piece look finished from the side. Keep both edges spiralling in opposite directions for a symmetrical look, or the same direction if you want the band to curve gently, which some people prefer for a thick paperback.
Finishing the fringe
Cut the fringe to 5 cm and unravel the last 5 mm of each cord with a needle to make a soft tip. A blunt-cut cotton end frays unevenly within a week; unravelling the tip deliberately gives you a controlled fan that stays put. Do not trim shorter than 4 cm or the bookmark stops gripping the page.
Where it goes wrong
- Using 4 mm cord, which makes a bookmark too thick for a normal book.
- Spacing the knots by eye, so the band comes out 2 cm longer than the measurement taken on a table.
- Cutting the fringe blunt and short, which frays unevenly and stops holding the page.
Check before moving on
- The band is 5 cm wide at both ends when laid flat.
- The hanging loop is big enough to pass over a standard book spine.
- The spiral edges run in a continuous direction with no flat spot.