If you are a book lover, or know a book lover, then you’re in the right place. I’m pleased to share my latest pattern with you – the crochet book cover free pattern for Christmas gifting!
Featuring an elegant mosaic crochet snowflake design, this pattern is quick, versatile, and beginner-friendly. Plus it looks great under the Christmas tree!
It is also the perfect way to learn a bit of overlay mosaic crochet, as we make the snowflake motif running round the middle of the book cover using this technique. But don’t worry mosaic crochet is definitely a lot easier than it looks!
Whether you’re gifting books this year, or just love keeping your books in a beautiful seasonal book sleeve, you’re going to love making this snowflake crochet pattern.
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Snowflake Collection
If you’re loving the look of the snowflake motif in the free crochet book cover pattern, and need some more seasonal crochet designs in your life, please check out my other snowflake crochet patterns:
- Free crochet bauble pattern
- Crochet gift box wrapping
- Reversible crochet snowflake headband
- Snowflake headband crochet pattern
Overlay Mosaic Crochet
The snowflake motif featuring on my crochet book sleeve is made using overlay mosaic crochet.
Overlay mosaic crochet is a beautiful crochet technique, which uses only the single and double crochet stitches to create amazing designs.
This is achieved by working into the back loops and front loops of different stitches. You work each alternate round or row in a different colour using a combination of two stitches: the US single crochet in the back loops only; and the US double crochet in the front loops only of the stitch two rows/rounds below the current round or row.
The single crochet will always be worked into a stitch of the other colour, whilst the mosaic double crochet stitches are worked into a stitch of the same colour as the one you are using. Amazingly though, we will only use one colour per round or row.
Click here to watch a tutorial on overlay mosaic crochet.
Overlay mosaic crochet is worked from right to left (for a right-handed crocheter) on the front of the work only. This means you would normally need to cut your yarn at the end of each row, and therefore have lots of ends.
Luckily for us, we’re working in the round so we can carry our yarn up the inside of the join.
How is this Crochet Book Sleeve Made?
We start by crocheting the base of the book cover by working around both sides of our foundation chain.
Continuing working in the round, we create the sides of the book sleeve.
We then add our snowflake mosaic crochet band around the middle, before continuing to complete the height of the book cover.
To complete, a loop is created to thread the ribbon through.
Sizing
The Snowflake Book Sleeve is 7in wide x 9.5in tall (18cm x 24cm). This will fit the majority of US and UK sized paperbacks and some hardback books, or maybe a few thinner books.
How to get the pattern
There are a few different ways that you can get your snowflake crochet book cover pattern.
You can carry on scrolling down and read the pattern for free on the blog in US crochet terms. The blog has ads on it, which is how I am able to offer it for free. Please do bookmark the page and come back to it as you work on your pattern though, rather than trying to print it out. Spending time on this page is how I get paid.
Alternatively you can purchase a premium pdf version of the pattern, which includes stitch tutorials, links to lots of video tutorials, schematics and full explanations. The premium pattern comes in US and UK terms. And of course, if you purchase the pattern, it is yours to keep, print and make notes on too.
PLEASE NOTE: This listing is for a pdf crochet pattern, written in English. It is not a finished project. You will receive a digital download.
Included in the premium pattern:
An 11 page pdf crochet pattern written in US and UK crochet terms, including images, step by step instructions and guidance.
An accompanying video tutorial.
Stitch tutorials are also included as part of the pattern.
Pattern support if needed.
Difficulty level is Easy
You will need:
Any Aran or worsted weight yarn in 2 colours. I used Caron Simply Soft, 100% Acrylic (170g/6oz, 288m/315yds) (Yarn A) and Caron Simply Soft Party 1% Metalized Polyester, 99% Acrylic (85g/3oz, 150m/164yds) (Yarn B)
4.5mm Crochet Hook or hook needed for your yarn
A tapestry needle for working in ends
Small length of ribbon (roughly 0.5in wide x 12in long (1.5cm x 30cm)
Tension:
17 sts and 17 rows of single crochet in the back loops = 4in x 4in (10cm x 10cm)
If your sample swatch is bigger than the tension given, try with a smaller hook size. If your swatch is smaller than the tension given, try with a larger hook size.
Yarn Alternatives
There are so many options for yarn for your Snowflake Book Sleeve, but I honestly would recommend using a category 4 medium weight yarn from your stash. This is a great way to use up leftover skeins of anything that you think would work!
Here are a few alternative options:
Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran, 100% Acrylic, (100g/3.53oz, 184m/201yds)
Brava Worsted, 100% Acrylic, (100g/3.53oz, 200m/218yds)
Millamia Naturally Soft Aran, 100% Merino Wool, (50g/1.76oz, 80m/87yds)
Abbreviations
blo – back loops only
ch(s) – chain(s)
flo – front loops only
mdc – mosaic double crochet
mdc3tog – mosaic double crochet three together
rep – repeat
RS – right side
sc – single crochet
sk – skip
sp(s) – space(s)
ss – slip stitch
st(s) – stitch(es)
WS – wrong side
[…] – stitch count
* – repeat the instructions from * around
Pattern Notes
Read through the pattern completely before starting and refer to the stitch tutorials as needed.
Ch1 does not count as a stitch throughout.
Round 1 is worked into a foundation chain. When we reach the end we turn and work back down the other side of the chain to create an elongated ring. See the video for more help.
The Snowflake motif section is worked in overlay mosaic crochet in the round. There is a mosaic crochet tutorial included in the special stitches.
You will be joining each round of the mosaic section with a ss into the first stitch of that round. Then, you will pull the new colour through the ss loop on your hook with the ch1. Make sure to pull the previous colour tight to hide that extra loop. To make sure the join is properly hidden, when you are finishing with an mdc, you can insert your hook into the required front loop and then also into the first stitch of the round before completing the mdc as usual.
Do not cut your yarn at each colour change, but leave it to re-join on the next round.
Stitch counts are given in this pattern in [ ] at the end of each round. Where no stitch count is given, it is the same as the previous round.
This tutorial is written for right-handed crocheters. If you are left-handed, you will be working from left to right around the book sleeve. Because the pattern repeats, you should be able to follow the pattern as it is. Alternatively you can follow the chart only, reading it from left to right, but you will not be able to switch between both the written pattern and the chart together.
Tips
On Round 18, you will be working some of the mdc in between the points of the snowflake. The front loops of the Round below are hidden, so you will need to lift the slanting stitches out of the way to find where to insert your hook.
You can easily make your book sleeve taller by adding more rows (see Rounds 23-39).
On Round 40, we create two ch3 sps. These are for threading your ribbon through to close your book sleeve.
There is a stitch chart at the end of the pdf pattern, showing the snowflake repeating pattern, if you prefer to use a chart over written instructions for that section.
Special Stitches
Below are the instructions for all the special stitches you will need for your crochet book pouch.
Mosaic double crochet (Mdc)
- Yarn over and insert your hook into the unworked front loop of the stitch from the round below the one you would normally work into (it will be the same colour as the yarn you are using).
- Yarn over and pull through.
- Yarn over and pull through two loops.
- Yarn over and pull through the remaining two loops to complete the stitch.
mdc3tog
This stitch is used to make the bottom 3 points of the snowflake like this: ⩚ You will be working into the same colour yarn as your working yarn. Watch a video tutorial here.
1. Yarn over and insert your hook into the front loop of the stitch from the round below the one you would normally work into and two stitches to the right (or left if you’re left-handed). Yarn over and pull through. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops.
2. Yarn over and insert your hook into the front loop of the stitch directly below the one you would normally work into (next but one to the stitch you used already). Yarn over and pull through. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops.
3. Yarn over and insert your hook into the front loop of the stitch from the round below the one you would normally work into and two stitches to the left (or right if you’re left-handed) (next but one to the one in step 2). Yarn over and pull through. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops.
4. Yarn over and pull through all remaining loops on your hook.
mdc diagonally to the right or left
Rather than working an mdc into the stitch directly below the current stitch, you will work these stitches diagonally to the left or right two stitches, into the middle of the snowflake motif.
Pin this crochet book cover free pattern for later
Full-length Video Tutorial
If you prefer crocheting from a video tutorial, hop on over to my YouTube channel and watch a full-length video of the free crochet book cover pattern being made.
This video will take you step by step through the process of making the book sleeve, from the base, through the mosaic snowflake motif, to the top.
The Crochet Book Cover Free Pattern
US Terminology.
Rounds 23-39: rep Round 22. Alternatively rep Round 22, until your book fully fits inside the sleeve.
Round 40: ch1, 14sc, sk 2 sts, ch3, 28sc, sk 2 sts, ch3, 14sc, ss in first st to join.
Fasten off and weave in all ends.
Block lightly to shape. Insert your book into your book sleeve and add a ribbon throughout the ch3 sps to close.
Place under your tree and enjoy a merry Christmas!
I have the perfect gift idea for you: My Crochet Life Journal in a hand crocheted book sleeve! Wouldn’t that just be the perfect gift for any crochet lover?
Pattern help
There is a lot more detail regarding the special stitches in the snowflake book cover premium pdf pattern. Also please do watch all of the stitch tutorials on my YouTube channel for extra guidance.
If you are struggling with the pattern, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Find me on Facebook or Instagram @concretegemscrochet or drop me a message.
The Snowflake Book Cover crochet pattern is the property of Concrete Gems, please do not share, copy, alter or distribute it in any way. You are welcome to sell items you make using this pattern on a small scale but please credit @concretegemscrochet when doing this.
What next?
I’ve really loved designing this crochet book cover free pattern for you and hope you have had fun making it. I’m Gemma, a crochet tech editor, designer and overall crochet enthusiast. I’m also a mum of 3 kids, and enjoy running, reading, walking and crafting, but mostly crochet!
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Other Christmas Patterns you might enjoy
- Crochet Christmas Garland Pattern – a simple, fun snowflake and trees garland.
- The mini chocolate stocking crochet pattern is perfect for hanging on the tree filled with yummy chocolates!
- I also have a reversible crochet snowflake headband and crochet gift box with the same snowflake motif!
Check out my other patterns here.
