Project introduction
This is a pattern overview, not a full tutorial. The free crochet worm DIY bookends pattern comes from Nicki’s Homemade Crafts, and it builds a pair of bright green bookworms wearing glasses and a graduation cap. The design is playful and nerdy in the best way, and it is meant to hold your favorite reads upright on a shelf. You can find the Original designer’s pattern and instructions at the source, where the row-by-row details live.
The project suits a reading nook, a teacher gift, or a book-obsessed friend. The source describes the bookends as whimsical, functional decor that celebrates stories and study sessions. Because the written pattern is long and detailed, this overview covers supplies, gauge, size, stitches, and the general construction so you know what you are getting into before you start.
Get All 50 Book Lover’s Patterns in my Ebook
Nicki’s Homemade Crafts also offers a Book Lover’s lineup for anyone who reads and crochets. The collection covers reading-related projects such as bookmarks, book ends, glasses holders, and book-themed accessories. The source notes that one picture cannot capture all of the patterns, so the ebook page is the place to browse them one by one.
The printable ebook format is paid, as described in the source: buying it gives you all 50 Book Lover patterns ad-free and printable, with 66+ videos and access to 6 live tutorials with prizes at the end of each one. The free web version of the worm bookends pattern is separate from that paid ebook, so treat the two as different access paths.
Materials you will need
The supply list below follows the source exactly. Yarn quantities and colorways are sample-specific, so keep the listed amounts and names as written rather than substituting your own totals.
- Premier Just Yarn (worsted, 400g/875yd) in Pecan, Seaglass, Black, Lemon, and 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
Note that the hook is given in metric as 5mm, and the eyes are 16mm. The floral wire for the glasses is 22 gauge. Hot glue is listed as optional, with the source noting it helps with stability. Markers are not named in the supply list, but the pattern itself calls for a stitch marker in continuous rounds, so have one handy.
Gauge
The stated gauge is 4 sts x 4 rows = 1 square inch. Working a small swatch first tells you whether your fabric will match the sample, which matters because the sleeves need to fit over the bookends.
Size
The finished project fits bookends that are 4″D x 0.3″W x 5″H. Those measurements describe the bookends the sleeves are made to cover, not the worm itself, so check your own bookends against them before you begin.
Stitches used in the Pattern Overview
The pattern uses US crochet terms and abbreviations. A separate reference page from the source covers the basic stitches if you need a refresher. The abbreviations below are the standard technical definitions used in this design.
- 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 source also mentions a live video tutorial that walks through how to make the pattern. The same live session includes bingo and prize giveaways, so it is more than a straight lesson. If you prefer following along in real time, keep an eye on the designer’s site for scheduling details.
Free Crochet Worm DIY Bookends Pattern - Written Construction Overview
The written pattern is organized into several connected pieces rather than one continuous shape. Two pecan sleeves are crocheted first and fitted over the bookends. The front worm and the back of the worm are then worked separately in Seaglass, each with its own head and body section, and both switch to White near the end to suggest ripped paper. A black hat with a yellow tassel and a small tube at its base completes the character.
Wire gives the worms their pose. Two floral wires are twisted together and squeezed parallel, then inserted into the head, with stuffing added as you go. The leftover wire is pushed through one layer of the pecan sleeve and secured to the metal bookend with hot glue or tape for stability. The white sections are sewn to the sleeves, a black mouth is added, and 22 gauge wire is shaped into a pair of glasses. The source suggests bending the head, body, and back however you like and checking the photos for inspiration.
Because this is an overview, the round-by-round counts, repeats, and stitch placements are not reproduced here. Follow the Original designer’s pattern and instructions for the exact sequence, including the rounds where the eyes are placed and the back-loop-only rounds that create the torn-paper look.
If you enjoy worm-themed projects, two related overviews on this site are worth a look: the Opossum Bag Holder & Dispenser by wORM cUBE: Pattern Overview and the Apple Mason Jar Cover with Worm by Kitty’s Kreations Boutique: Pattern Overview.
