Crochet Dachshund Bookmark – Free Crochet Pattern

If you love crochet and enjoy making small projects that are both useful and adorable, this crochet dachshund bookmark is a fun little pattern to try. With its long body, short legs, floppy ear, and curly tail, this tiny sausage dog makes a charming companion for your favorite books.

Welcome to Soofha! Today, we’re making a dachshund-inspired bookmark that brings a little personality to your reading time. It’s a lovely project for using leftover yarn, experimenting with colors, or making a handmade gift for someone who loves dogs and books.

The finished dachshund can also be used as a decorative crochet applique. Simply adjust the length of the body to suit your project, and you’ll have a cute little dog that can be added to blankets, bags, or other handmade items.

Why You’ll Love This Crochet Dachshund Bookmark

Dachshunds are instantly recognizable thanks to their long bodies and short legs, which makes them a perfect choice for a playful crochet design. As you work through the pattern, you’ll gradually shape the dog’s body, chest, head, ear, and tail.

This project is especially enjoyable if you like making small crochet pieces without committing to a large project. It doesn’t require much yarn, and you can personalize your dog with different colors or a contrasting collar.

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The bookmark also makes a thoughtful gift for a book-loving friend, a child who enjoys reading, or anyone who appreciates handmade items with a little character.

Skill Level

Beginner-friendly, with basic crochet experience recommended.

You should be comfortable making chains, single crochet stitches, slip stitches, increases, and decreases. The pattern uses US crochet terminology, and the instructions are worked in rows to create the dachshund’s shape.

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If you’re new to crochet, take your time and count your stitches at the end of each row. Because this design has several shaping sections, checking your stitch count will help you keep the body and legs looking neat.

Materials You’ll Need

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Gather the following supplies before you begin:

• Cotton yarn, preferably in a fingering or lightweight weight
• A 3 mm crochet hook
• Scissors
• A yarn needle for weaving in the ends
• Optional contrasting yarn for a collar or decorative details

Cotton yarn is a good choice for bookmarks because it tends to hold its shape and gives the finished piece a neat appearance. A lightweight yarn will also help keep the bookmark thin enough to sit comfortably between book pages.

You can use another yarn you already have, but remember that the finished size and drape will change depending on the yarn weight and hook size.

Abbreviations and Stitches Used

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The pattern uses standard US crochet terms.

• ch: Chain
• sc: Single crochet
• sl st: Slip stitch
• inc: Increase by working 2 single crochet stitches into the same stitch
• dec: Decrease by working 2 stitches together

A few helpful reminders before you start:

• Keep your tension fairly even so the bookmark doesn’t become too stiff or loose.
• Count your stitches after each shaping row.
• When the instructions say to turn, rotate your work and crochet back across the row.
• The turning chains are written as part of the instructions, so follow them as listed.

Before You Begin

The dachshund is crocheted in sections, starting with the hind legs and continuing into the long body, front legs, chest, and head. The ear and tail are added to complete the recognizable dog shape.

Because the original instructions include some shaping details that may need to be checked against the accompanying photo or video, use the stitch counts below as written and compare the developing shape with your visual reference whenever possible.

Step 1: Crochet the Hind Legs

This is where your little dachshund begins to take shape.

1. Chain 6.
2. Single crochet in the second chain from the hook.
3. Make 4 more single crochet stitches.
4. Chain 4 and turn.
5. Single crochet in the second chain from the hook.
6. Make 7 single crochet stitches.
7. Chain 1 and turn.
8. Make 8 single crochet stitches.
9. Chain 1 and turn.
10. Work 2 single crochet stitches into the first stitch to increase.
11. Slip stitch in the next 2 stitches.
12. Make 5 single crochet stitches.
13. Chain 1 and turn.

Keep your stitches relaxed and consistent. This section forms the back of the dog, so it’s worth checking that your edges look tidy before moving on.

Step 2: Work the Long Body

The dachshund’s long body is what gives this bookmark its distinctive appearance.

Repeat the following row:

• Make 5 single crochet stitches.
• Chain 1 and turn.

Continue repeating the row until the body reaches your preferred length.

For a bookmark, make the body long enough to sit along the page, with the legs and tail extending beyond the edge if you like that look. For an applique, you can make the body shorter to suit the item you’re decorating.

Try to finish at a point that allows you to continue shaping the back and belly naturally.

Tip: Lay your work flat every few rows. This makes it easier to spot uneven edges or changes in tension before they become noticeable.

Step 3: Shape the Front Legs and Chest

Next, you’ll work on the front of the dachshund. This section helps form the chest and the beginning of the neck.

Follow the instructions in order:

1. Make 4 single crochet stitches, then increase in the last stitch on the belly side.
2. Chain 1 and turn.
3. Work 2 single crochet stitches into the first stitch, then make 5 single crochet stitches.
4. Chain 1 and turn.
5. Make 7 single crochet stitches.
6. Chain 4 and turn.
7. Single crochet in the second chain from the hook.
8. Make 9 single crochet stitches.
9. Chain 1 and turn.
10. Make 10 single crochet stitches.
11. Chain 1 and turn.
12. Increase in the first stitch, then slip stitch in the next 2 stitches.
13. Make 7 single crochet stitches.
14. Chain 1 and turn.
15. Make 6 single crochet stitches, then fasten off.

The shaping can look a little unusual while you’re working on it, so don’t worry if the dog doesn’t look completely recognizable just yet. The head, ear, and finishing round will help bring the design together.

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Step 4: Crochet the Head

The head gives your dachshund its character, and this is a good opportunity to add a little color.

If you’d like to make a contrasting collar, consider changing yarn colors before working on the head or adding a small decorative detail afterward.

To begin:

1. Attach the yarn to the dog’s back, approximately 5 rows from the end.
2. Make 5 single crochet stitches.
3. Chain 1 and turn.
4. Make 5 single crochet stitches.
5. Chain 1 and turn.
6. Make 5 single crochet stitches.
7. Chain 4 and turn.
8. Single crochet in the second chain from the hook.
9. Make 7 single crochet stitches.
10. Chain 1 and turn.
11. Make 8 single crochet stitches.
12. Chain 1 and turn.
13. Increase in the first stitch, then make 7 single crochet stitches.
14. Chain 1 and turn.
15. Make 4 single crochet stitches, then work a decrease.
16. Fasten off.

Check the head against your reference image before sewing on the ear. If you’re making this pattern for the first time, a photo or video reference can be particularly helpful for confirming the placement and proportions.

Step 5: Make the Floppy Ear