Introduction: Meet Your New Page-Hugging Gecko
If you love quick, quirky makes that bring a smile, this tiny gecko bookmark is perfect. Inspired by the photo you shared, it’s a flat, lightweight amigurumi with big cartoony eyes, a cheeky red tongue, and long splayed toes that peek out from your book. It works up fast, uses very little yarn, and is beginner-friendly.
Because the body is slim and only lightly stuffed (or not stuffed at all), it slips easily between pages without stretching your book. It also doubles as a cute desk buddy or bag charm. In this step-by-step tutorial, we’ll walk through every stitch with clear counts, assembly notes, and helpful tips for first-time crocheters.
Materials & Tools (Beginner Friendly)
Yarn (DK/Light Worsted, cotton or cotton blend recommended for crisp stitches):
- Main color (MC): beige, sand, or bright gecko green — ~20–25 g
- Accent red for tongue — small scrap
- Optional white for eye whites — small scrap (you can also use felt)
Hook: 2.5–3.0 mm (US B/1–C/2). Use a smaller hook than usual so your fabric is firm.
Notions & Tools:
- 6 mm black safety eyes or small black beads or black embroidery thread
- Tapestry needle, scissors
- A few pins or stitch markers
- Small amount of fiberfill (optional; keep body very lightly stuffed or flat)
- Craft glue (optional, to secure eyes/tongue ends)
- Measuring tape
Finished Size (with DK yarn & 2.75 mm hook): approx. 12–14 cm (4.75–5.5 in) from nose to tail. Size changes with yarn/hook.
Gauge: Not critical for this project, but aim for a tight fabric so stuffing doesn’t show.
Abbreviations (US Crochet Terms)
- MR – Magic ring (magic circle). Alternative: ch 2, work first round into 2nd ch from hook.
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- inc – increase (2 sc in same stitch)
- dec – invisible decrease (sc two stitches together)
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- FO – fasten off
- ( ) – stitch count at end of round/row
- [ ] x N – repeat instructions inside brackets N times
All pieces are worked in a continuous spiral unless noted. Use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round.
Before You Start: Helpful Notes for Beginners
Work with firm tension for neat shaping. If your fabric looks holey, drop your hook size. If you are new to the magic ring, use the chain-2 method and pull your starting tail tight.
To keep the bookmark flat, either don’t stuff or very lightly stuff only the head and top of the body, leaving the tail unstuffed. The limbs, eye stalks, and tongue are made from narrow strips and chains so they stay slim between pages.
Pattern Overview
We’ll crochet the head and body in one piece, then add front legs, back legs, eye whites and stalks, and a tiny tongue. Finally, we’ll assemble and secure everything for a sturdy bookmark you can actually use.
Body (Head → Tail in one piece)
With MC:
R1. MR 6 sc (6)
R2. inc around (12)
R3. [sc, inc] x6 (18)
R4–R5. sc around (18) — this rounds out the head.
R6. [sc, dec] x6 (12) — slight neck shaping.
R7. [2 sc, inc] x4 (16) — begin upper body.
R8–R10. sc around (16)
R11. [3 sc, inc] x4 (20) — widest part of body.
R12–R13. sc around (20)
R14. [3 sc, dec] x4 (16)
R15. [2 sc, dec] x4 (12)
R16. sc around (12) — start tapering to tail; lightly stuff head and upper body now if you want a puffed look, keeping it minimal.
R17. [sc, dec] x4 (8)
R18. sc around (8)
R19. dec around (4)
R20. sc around (4), FO, leaving a tail. Thread tail through the 4 sts to close firmly and shape a neat pointed tip. Weave in end.
Bookmark option: For a very flat body, skip stuffing entirely and gently flatten the piece as you go. Pinch the lengthwise edges between your fingers to set the flat shape.
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Front Legs (Make 2 – slightly shorter)
With MC:
Rib/Arm: ch 7. Starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc 5 (5).
Foot with 3 Toes:
- Toe A: ch 4, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and next 2 ch back to the arm tip.
- Toe B: ch 4, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and next 2 ch back to the arm tip.
- Toe C: ch 4, sl st back as before to the arm tip.
Sl st once into the final sc of the arm to anchor; FO with a long tail for sewing.
Notes: The toes splay naturally. If you prefer chunkier toes, replace each sl-st toe with sc back along the 4 chains.
Back Legs (Make 2 – slightly longer)
With MC:
Leg: ch 9. Starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc 7 (7).
Foot: Make three toes exactly as for the front legs (Toe A/B/C = ch 4, sl st back).
Sl st to anchor; FO with a long sewing tail.
Placement tip: Back legs look cutest when set a bit lower and angled outward for a sprawled gecko pose.
Eye Whites (Make 2)
With white (or MC if matching the photo):
R1. MR 6 sc (6)
R2. inc around (12)
R3. sc around, sl st to join (12). FO with a long tail.
Add 6 mm safety eyes through the centers or stitch a small black bead/embroidered French knot later. Keep the discs slightly domed.
Eye Stalks (Make 2)
With MC: ch 10. Starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc 9 (9). FO with long tails for sewing.
Construction options:
- Leave as a flat strip and sew one short end under an eye and the other end to the head.
- For chunkier stalks, roll the strip and whipstitch its long edges together to form a thin cord before attaching.
The photo shows the stalks crossing at the base — we’ll recreate that during assembly.
Tongue (Make 1)
With red: ch 6. Sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in next 3 ch, sc in last ch (for a rounded tip). FO leaving a tail.
For a forked tongue, add ch 2, sl st back before fastening off.
Optional Mouth Line
If you want a clear smile line, embroider a 1–1.5 cm curve using black thread on the front of the head. Keep the stitches shallow so they don’t show through the back.
Assembly: Bring Your Gecko to Life
1) Position the Legs.
Lay the body flat on your table. Pin front legs between R7–R9 on each side of the neck/upper body, angled forward. Pin back legs around R12–R14, angled outward and slightly back. Try the body inside a book to ensure the legs don’t sit too far forward. Stitch each leg securely with the long tail, taking small stitches through both the leg and the body. Weave in tails neatly on the wrong side.
2) Attach the Eyes and Stalks.
Place the eye stalks on top of the head so they cross where they meet the skull (like an “X”), with their free ends pointing upward. Stitch the bases down firmly. Sew one eye white to the top of each stalk end; they should sit slightly above the head for a fun “googly” look. If using safety eyes, insert them through the center of each disc before sewing the discs down. If embroidering or gluing beads, add them after the discs are secure.
3) Add the Tongue.
Stitch the tongue slightly off-center at the front of the head. Let it peek out playfully. Secure the back end with a few tight stitches and a dab of fabric glue if desired.
4) Shape & Flatten.
Pinch the body gently to a flat oval and steam-block lightly (hold a steam iron above the piece without touching it, or hover a kettle’s steam), then pat flat with your hands. Let it dry completely before use.
Finishing Touches
- Weave in all ends on the back of the piece. Trim neatly.
- If the eyes feel wobbly, add a tiny dab of craft glue under each disc after sewing.
- For durability as a bookmark, avoid heavy stuffing and keep limbs slim. The piece should slide smoothly between pages.
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Step-By-Step Stitch Counts Recap (Quick Reference)
- Head/Body rounds: 6 → 12 → 18 (hold 2 rounds) → 12 → 16 (3 rounds) → 20 (2 rounds) → 16 → 12 → 12 → 8 → 8 → 4 → close.
- Front leg: ch 7 → sc 5 → three toes (ch 4, sl st back each)
- Back leg: ch 9 → sc 7 → three toes
- Eye white: 6 → 12 → 12 (join)
- Eye stalk: ch 10 → sc 9
- Tongue: ch 6 → sl st back 4, sc 1
Keep this recap handy as you crochet; it mirrors the longer directions above.
Troubleshooting & Beginner Tips
Stitch count doesn’t match?
Stop and count at the end of every round before moving on. If you’re off by one, it’s almost always a missed first stitch after the marker or an accidental increase at the round’s end. Rip back one round and re-work.
Holes at the magic ring center?
Pull the starting tail firmly after R1 and again after R2. If your ring still opens, knot the tail on the inside and weave it back.
Legs curl or twist?
That’s normal with narrow strips and chain toes. A gentle steam press flattens them quickly. You can also swap the sl-st toes for sc toes for a sturdier feel.
Bookmark feels bulky?
Skip stuffing entirely and block the body flat. Cotton yarn keeps a sleek profile.
