Thursday Tip with Hali - Making a bookmark
Thursday Tip // Making a bookmark
ID: A book lays open on a white background with a handmade bookmark laying on the open page. The bookmark is blueish grey with white splotches of various sizes. The sun is streaming over the pages.
We’ve got another quick scrap busting project for you! Make use of those smaller scraps to make any size of bookmark you like! This is a fairly simple project that could be hand sewn as well. Or, get your kid involved and they can make their own teacher gifts this year. How great would that be!?
We’ve included written instructions and photos to go along with them below. Put those scraps to use and get those last minute gifts out of the way in no time.
How to make a bookmark:
Decide on the size of bookmark you want and then add ¼” seam allowance on all sides. The bookmark in this tutorial is approximately 10” long and 2 ½” wide. I used the full length of the scrap I had and then decided on a finished width of 2 inches.
Cut two rectangles of the same size (including the seam allowance).
Optional: Cut one piece of interfacing slightly smaller than the size of the rectangle. This will reduce bulk in the seams. Fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of one rectangle. Use a press cloth to protect your iron from sticky residue.
Decide whether you want to add any embellishments, decorative stitching, ribbon, braided yarn, etc. to the bookmark. I chose a piece of ribbon from my stash. I folded it in half and placed it with the raw edges aligned at the top of one rectangle with right sides touching. You could baste the ribbon in place if you like.
Place the second rectangle on top of the first rectangle with right sides together, sandwiching the ribbon in between. Pin around all the edges leaving a 1 ½ inch to 2 inch gap on the long side for turning.
Sew around the bookmark at ¼” seam allowance stopping before the gap.
Clip the corners of the bookmark to reduce bulk.
Turn the bookmark right side out.
Carefully fold in the raw edges of the gap section so they line up with the edges. Press.
Topstitch ⅛ inch around all edges of the bookmark, closing the gap in the process. I like to start sewing just before the gap to make sure I close it right away so the raw edges don’t shift around during the sewing process. You could also pin this section to make it easier to sew over. Press again if you like to lock in the topstitching.
Tada! You have a bookmark for all your reading needs or a simple but thoughtful gift for the avid reader in your life, the dedicated library borrower, bookstore dweller or university student pouring over textbooks.
We have a lot of fun with this project in kids class as it teaches several different beginner sewing skills and you end up with something practical as well!