Crochet Worm DIY Bookends – Free Pattern 3 of the Live Book Lover’s Mystery CAL
This post includes affiliate links.
Your bookshelf deserves a mascot. 🐛📚 How about a free crochet pattern for the most charming bookworm bookends ever? These whimsical DIY bookends will add personality, humor, and handmade magic to any bookshelf.
Welcome back to my very first Book Lover’s Mystery CAL! From February 2nd to February 13th, I’ll be releasing 6 new free patterns that are perfect for book lovers. Each pattern will have its own live tutorial with a chance to win prizes!
Today is the day for pattern number 3! If your bookshelf is starting to look like it needs both organization and personality, you’re in the right place.
These crocheted bookends are shaped like a bright green bookworm who clearly takes reading very seriously. Glasses, graduation cap, and all. They’re playful, nerdy in the best way, and ready to keep your favorite reads from toppling over mid-chapter.
DIY bookends were made to celebrate stories, study sessions, and that magical feeling of being surrounded by books. The bookworm design adds just enough whimsy to make you smile every time you reach for a novel, while still being practical enough to earn its spot on your shelf.
Think cozy library vibes with a wink.
Whether you’re making these DIY bookends for your own reading nook, a teacher gift, or a fellow book-obsessed friend, this project is pure joy from start to finish.
It’s a fun conversation piece, a functional decor item, and a tiny crocheted cheerleader for lifelong learning, all rolled into one delightfully nerdy pair of bookends.
Ready to get started?
Play BINGO – Book Lover LIVE Mystery CAL
Whether you join the FREE Book Lover’s Mystery CAL or get the Book Lover Ebook with 50 Patterns, you can play BINGO with us and win prizes between February 2nd and 14th, 2026. Just sign up for 1 of the 2 options to access the BINGO sheet!
Get All 50 Book Lover’s Patterns in my Ebook
If you love both reading and crocheting, then you need to check out my entire Book Lover’s lineup. It’s chock full of patterns related to reading, like bookmarks, book ends, glasses holders, book-themed accessories, and so much more.
When you buy the Ebook, you get ALL 50 Book Lover Patterns adfree and printable with 66+ Videos INSTANTLY AND also get access to the 6 LIVE Tutorials with Prizes at the end of each one.
One picture can’t capture ALL the patterns, so it’s best to TAP HERE and see them all, one by one. The code BOOK15 will save you $15 between February 2nd and 14th, 2026!
Get the PDF of the Crochet Worm DIY Bookends Pattern
This pattern is also available as an ad-free, printer-friendly pdf pattern that can be purchased at the links below on Ravelry and Etsy for only a small fee.
So, let me now give you the supplies you need in order to crochet this fun project.
How to DIY Bookends with a Free Crochet Pattern
Materials you will need
- Premier Just Yarn (worsted, 400g/875yd)
- Pecan
- Seaglass
- Black
- Lemon
- White
- 5mm crochet hook
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
- 2x 16mm Plastic Eyes
- 2 Bookends
- Floral wire (2×2 connected)
- 22 gauge floral wire (for the glasses)
- Wire cutters and pliers
- Hot glue (optional, helps with stability)
- Polyfill
Gauge
4 sts x 4 rows = 1 square inch
Size
Fits bookends that are: 4″D x 0.3″W x 5″H
Stitches used in the pattern
Learn all the basic crochet stitches HERE (US crochet terms and abbreviations)
- st/sts = stitch(es)
- ch = chain
- sk = skip
- sl st = slip stitch
- sc = single crochet
- dc = double crochet
- tr = treble crochet
- Inv sc dec = invisible single crochet decrease (front 2 front loops)
Live Video Tutorial
The live video tutorial for the crochet worm DIY bookends pattern will be on 2/6/2026 at 12 pm PT. The replay will be available after the event, but you will want to be there for the live if you can, because it will be a ton of fun.
The video tutorial will not only provide instructions for how to make the pattern but we’ll also be playing bingo and giving away prizes during the live video, so you don’t want to miss out!
Free Crochet Worm DIY Bookends Pattern – Written Instructions
Do NOT like ADS? No worries! I have got a solution for you!
You can also get THIS pattern plus 49 other BOOK LOVER’S crochet patterns, in 1 ebook with NO ADS and it’s printer-friendly too!
Get the “Book Lover Patterns Made Easy” Ebook HERE
2 Bookend Sleeves (pecan)
Ch 20, start from the 2nd ch from the hook
R1: 1 sc per st, turn 180 degrees, crochet on the other side of the chain, 1 sc per st, stitch marker, continuous rounds (38 sts)
R2-33: 1 sc per st
Fasten off and fit over the bookends.
Front Worm (seaglass)
R1: MR, ch 1, 6 sc, close the ring, stitch marker for continuous rounds
R2: 2 sc per st
R3: (1 sc, 2 sc) x 6
R4: (1 sc in 2 sts, 2 sc) x 6
R5: (1 sc in 3 sts, 2 sc) x 6
R6-11: 1 sc per st
R12: (1 sc in 3 sts, 1 inv sc dec) x 6
R13: (1 sc in 2 sts, 1 inv sc dec) x 6
Add the plastic eyes (2 sts apart, starting R6)
R14: (1 sc, 1 inv sc dec) x 6
R15: (1 sc, 2 sc) x 6
Connect 2 of the floral wires together (by twisting them), squeeze them together so they are parallel, add into the head (or even through the magic ring if you can), then, stuff head and then stuff as you go for the body
R16-36: 1 sc per st
Switch to white
R37: 1 sc per st
Crochet Worm DIY Bookends Pattern Continued:
Everything within [ ] are made into 1 st
R38: in the back loop only, [1 ATC, ch 3, sl st to first ch, 1 tr], 1 hdc, 1 sc, 1 hdc, [2 tr, ch 3, sl st to first ch, 2 tr], [2 dc], 1 hdc, [2 dc], [2 tr, ch 3, sl st to first ch, 2 tr], 1 sc, [2 tr, ch 3, sl st to first ch, 2 tr], [2 dc], 1 hdc, [1 tr, ch 3, sl st to first ch, 1 tr], [2 dc], [2 tr, ch 3, sl st to first ch, 2 tr], 1 hdc, [2 dc], sl st
Push the leftover wire through the pecan sleeve (one layer) and hot glue or tape onto the metal book end for stability.
Then sew the white section (supposed to be ripped paper due to the worm) to the bookend sleeve.
Add a black mouth to the worm and use the 22 gauge wire to mold a pair of glasses and add it to its face.
Using yellow create a tassel – foldover yarn 4 times, cut and wrap around one of the ends and cut the other side so it’s stripes – keep a string on the top of the tassel so you can add it to the hat.
Hat (black)
R1: MR, ch 1, 8 sc, close the ring, sl st
R2: (1 sc, [1 sc, ch 2, 1 sc]) x 4, sl st
R3-6: *1 sc per st until ch-2 space, [[1 sc, ch 2, 1 sc] into ch-2 space, repeat from * all around, sl st
Fasten off
Tube on the bottom of the hat:
Ch 16, sl st first and last ch together
R1-3: 1 sc per st
Then sew the tube to the bottom of the hat.
Crochet Worm DIY Bookends Pattern Continued:
Sew the tassel to the hat.
Then sew the hat to the head.
Back of the worm (seaglass)
R1: MR, ch 1, 6 sc, close the ring, stitch marker for continuous rounds
R2: (1 sc, 2 sc) x 6
R3: (1 sc in 2 sts, 2 sc) x 6
R4: (1 sc in 3 sts, 2 sc) x 6
R5: (1 sc in 4 sts, 2 sc) x 6
Do the same as you did for the head + body of the worm here: add 2 connected parallel wires into the body and stuff as you go
R6-47: 1 sc per st
Switch to white
R48: 1 sc per st
R49: in the back loop only, 1 sc, [2 dc], [2 tr, ch 3, sl st to first ch, 2 tr], [2 dc], 1 hdc, [2 dc], [2 tr, ch 3, sl st to first ch, 2 tr], 1 dc, [2 tr, ch 3, sl st to first ch, 2 tr], [2 dc], 1 hdc, [1 tr, ch 3, sl st to first ch, 1 tr], [2 dc], [2 tr, ch 3, sl st to first ch, 2 tr], [2 dc], [2 dc], 1 hdc, sl st
Push the leftover wire through the pecan sleeve (one layer) and hot glue or tape onto the metal book end for stability.
Then sew the white section (supposed to be ripped paper due to the worm) to the bookend sleeve.
Bend the head+body and back of the worm however you like. See pics for inspo!
Be sure to join my Crochet Facebook Group and show off your completed crochet creation. I would love to admire them and cheer you on as you’re working on creating it and after you finish it.
I’m also always here to support you through this and any other pattern and tutorial. Simply ask in my group and me and other amazing and kind crocheters will help you along.
If you loved this free crochet worm DIY bookends pattern feel free to use the social media share buttons above or below and share this pattern link with the world and your friends.
You might like these other popular free patterns for whimsical home decor:
- Heart Basket with Flower Dividers
- Crayon Tissue Box Cover
- Bendable Worm Bookmark
- Waffle Crochet Hook Holder
That way you will find it easily again when you need it and you also provide the world and your friends with the ability to gain extra crochet knowledge as well. And to top it off, you help me as it allows me to create more content that you love already and want to see more of – free crochet patterns and tutorials. So, thank you for sharing.
If you love my crochet patterns and the way I teach, I would suggest subscribing to my newsletter below as I share new patterns, tutorials, and special announcements often.
