Thursday, January 22, 2015

fabric bookmarks {a tutorial}

I love books. Regular, old fashioned, paper books. I love the way they feel, and smell, I love turning the pages and getting lost in a good story. I also love craft books, and cookbooks, and of course any sewing/ quilting books as well. Which means I usually read quite a few books at a time but somehow I never have any proper bookmarks on hand.

Here are some of the things I used as bookmarks over the last few weeks - tissues (at least they were clean), coasters, old candy wrappers (yeah, I can get very classy), envelopes, and I even started using a BOOK as a bookmark for another book :). At least no one can accuse me of not being innovative, right?


The other day though I finally decided to make myself fabric bookmarks. I looked on Pinterest but could not find a tutorial I really liked so I designed my own super simple scrappy bookmarks.


I love the way they turned out. No more miscellaneous items from around the house for me as bookmarks, at least for a while :).


Now, in case you'd like to make a bookmark (or ten) of your own, here's a quick tutorial for you.

♥♥♥

Each bookmark finished at about 2.5" x 8.5" (or 9.5" if counting the leather tag).
*use 1/4" seam allowance unless otherwise noted*

To make one bookmark, you will need: one 3" x 9" strip of patchwork for the front of bookmark
                                                                one 3" x 9" strip of fabric for the back of bookmark
                                                                one 3" x 9" strip of fusible fleece
                                                                one 3" x 9" strip of fusible interfacing (anything you have on 
                                                                                hand will do fine)
                                                                one 1" x 1.25" piece of leather or one 1" x 2.5" ribbon, folded
                                                                                in half

Step 1: following manufacturer's directions attach fusible fleece to the wrong side of bookmark front, and fusible interfacing to the wrong side of bookmark back. Use 1/8" seam allowance to sew the leather tab or ribbon to the top of the bookmark front (as shown in the picture).

Step 2: place bookmark front and bottom right sides together, pin to hold in place.

Step 3: stitch all the way around the bookmark, backstitching at the beginning and end, making sure to leave about 2" opening in one of the sides. Trim the corners and press the seams open.
Step 4: turn the bookmark right side out through the opening from the previous step, push out all the corners and make sure your bookmark looks nice and even on all sides, press. Pin the opening closed and topstitch all the way around the bookmark using 1/8" seam allowance.

Congratulations, your bookmark is now finished. Super easy, wasn't it?

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial.
And, as always, if you make a project using any of my tutorials please add it to my Flickr group. I always enjoy seeing all your amazing creations.
 
Talk to you soon. Svetlana
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33 comments:

  1. Southern GalJanuary 22, 2015 at 10:32 PM

    I love this! thanks for sharing.

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  2. SusieJanuary 22, 2015 at 10:33 PM

    Great post thanks.

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  3. Terri Ann @ ChildlikeFascination.comJanuary 22, 2015 at 10:37 PM

    Haha I've absolutely used a book as a bookmark before, it's one of those "am I really doing this" moments. Your bookmark is adorable! Thanks for sharing the tutorial.

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  4. cheeky monkeyJanuary 22, 2015 at 10:47 PM

    Gorgeous! They are so pretty! I really need to make one for the kids so reading is much more fun :) Thank you

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  5. buggin2stampJanuary 22, 2015 at 11:09 PM

    What a genius way to use up scraps. Thanks for the great idea and instructions. I've used some of those same items as bookmarks myself, including a book as a bookmark for a book :)

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  6. SheilaJanuary 22, 2015 at 11:18 PM

    I love your pretty bookmarks! I have loads of scraps and no excuses as to why there is a piece of folded toilet paper as a bookmark in my book right now!! :)

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  7. Judith, BelfastJanuary 22, 2015 at 11:25 PM

    Aw these are so cute! And would make lovely presents too! Jxo

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  8. AnonymousJanuary 23, 2015 at 12:37 AM

    Awesome idea! I will have to try this - I may even incorporate it into my book covers (http://www.thecrafties.com/2011/06/fabric-book-cover-tutorial/). So glad to see that others out there still appreciate paper books:D

    -CaLynn
    www.thecrafties.com

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  9. PattiJanuary 23, 2015 at 1:03 AM

    I have used all of the above as bookmarks and maybe a few other things as well! Thank you for this great tutorial, I have a bin of scraps just screaming to be sewn up!

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  10. ✾Jamie Lee Cooley✾January 23, 2015 at 1:28 AM

    These are so beautiful! I could totally use a few of these myself! Lol that you've used a book as a bookmark! I'm going to try to find time to make a few with my oldest this weekend. Thanks for the tutorial! Turning such a tiny thing seems a little daunting but I'll try to be patient and careful:)

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  11. JenniferJanuary 23, 2015 at 1:42 AM

    So cute and fun, thanks!

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  12. AritaJanuary 23, 2015 at 3:29 AM

    So cute. Thank you.

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  13. EricaJanuary 23, 2015 at 4:01 AM

    These are adorable! My daughter has just started reading chapter books and is really into bookmarks, so I am going to have to make some of these!

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  14. SallyJanuary 23, 2015 at 4:10 AM

    Super cute! I'll definitely have to make some of these! I find myself using all sorts of odd things, too, including straw wrappers and receipts from the library.

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  15. Mary MarcotteJanuary 23, 2015 at 5:45 AM

    I am ashamed to say that I once used a teary tissue (I was reading a sad section) plus probably EVERY item mentioned by you and in the other comments. I'm a librarian so I read everything I can get my hands on. I NEED these in my life. (And need them every place where I may have a book!) They are adorable and your instructions are perfect. Thanks so much!

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  16. AnonymousJanuary 23, 2015 at 6:06 PM

    So cute! I love books as well and actually have quite the collection of bookmarks, but none that are handmade. I might have to make some of these!

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  17. JolanaJanuary 23, 2015 at 6:14 PM

    Jsou nádherné, Svetlanko! A plné barev... No, já používám účtenky z kavárny, protože tam většinou čtu a čekám na Rozárku, až skončí jógu nebo plavání :) Ale je čas zamyslet se nad změnou :) Krásný víkend, Jola

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  18. em's scrapbagJanuary 23, 2015 at 9:03 PM

    So much cuter than the slip of paper from the library that I use. I should make some.

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  19. PeggyinNOJanuary 23, 2015 at 9:37 PM

    This is a great idea! Thank you so much for sharing the tutorial with us! My daughter, the teacher, usually makes paper one for her students at the end of the year, but I will show her these. Of course, if she wants them, I'll have to make them, since she' she scrapbooker and I'm the quilting!

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  20. JenetaJanuary 25, 2015 at 1:30 AM

    These are great. Thanks for the tutorial.

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  21. JanineMarieJanuary 25, 2015 at 2:03 AM

    Thanks for sharing your bookmarks and tutorial. These are fun!

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  22. Gemini Jen NZJanuary 25, 2015 at 10:51 AM

    I love them! And I know what you mean about reading books...nothing beats holding the pages in your hand. I have some books on my ipad but much prefer the real things - I like to pass books that I've enjoyed on to others and you can't do that with an ipad or kindle device!

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  23. Katy CameronJanuary 25, 2015 at 9:26 PM

    Love your bookmarks and your placemats :o)

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  24. Rachel at Stitched in ColorJanuary 25, 2015 at 9:40 PM

    Yes! These are definitely my kind of bookmarks. Great idea!

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  25. ✾Jamie Lee Cooley✾January 25, 2015 at 10:17 PM

    It worked like a charm! We are off to buy alphabet stamps so she can make ones for her grandma and teacher for valentines day. How cute will it be stamped?

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  26. Taryn V.January 26, 2015 at 3:09 PM

    As someone who recently used a Kindle as a bookmark, I think this is such a fabulous idea! :D Such a great way to use up tiny scraps. I need to make a few of these for every room!

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  27. Not all is greyJanuary 28, 2015 at 2:49 PM

    I will definitely put this on my to-do-list as little gifts for my friends this year - thank you !!

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  28. NitaMarch 31, 2015 at 6:06 PM

    I make book marks to put into thank you cards, birthday cards, etc. :)

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  29. Pam @Threading My WayMay 29, 2015 at 2:03 AM

    What a great gift idea. Pinned.

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  30. UnknownNovember 4, 2015 at 4:49 PM

    Very cute! I plan to make some for x-mas presents! Thanks for the detailed instructions.

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  31. Felicity-Ann BagsDecember 24, 2015 at 2:57 PM

    Definitely making some of these after Christmas! I'm on a Christmas and New Year break from sewing, but have put these in my list of makes for 2016!!

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  32. SusanJanuary 14, 2017 at 3:16 AM

    I just found this and was wondering if the fleece makes them a little thick?

    ReplyDelete

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