Growing up I collected bookmarks. Most of them featured unicorns and had soft tassels. I still have many of them, although they are currently stored away in various books as I don’t have space for my library. For the past couple of years I’ve been making do with paper bookmarks gathered from various bookstores, but, because I have the habit of reading multiple books at a time, I’ve run out of them of late.
While I haven’t resorted to using an iPad or toothpick to keep my place I have gotten tired of scrounging for receipts or scraps of paper. What I do have a lot of, however, is fabric scraps–so very many scraps of fabric–and that brings us to this week’s craft: fabric bookmarks.
The instructions below will walk you through making a no sew bookmark–all you need is fabric and fusible interfacing–and a sewn bookmark corner–a two-sided bit of fabric that rests on the corner of the page you are marking. Both take very little time or material making it a great project to use up odds and ends.
These two crafts are so simple and take so little time you may find yourself making up loads of them for family and friends as well as for yourself. They would be great in birthday party goody bags or a small extra when giving a book as a gift. And to my witch readers: make sure you scroll down to the bottom to read about magickal ways to make use of your bookmarks.
Materials & Tools
- Fabric scraps measuring at least 8″ x 2″ for the bookmarks and 2″ x 2″ for the corner bookmarks
- Lightweight fusible interfacing
- Thread
- Sewing machine with needle suitable for your fabric
- Scissors or rotary cutter
- Pinking shears
- Ruler
- Iron
Making the Bookmarks
Step 1: Cut a rectangle measuring 8″ x 2″ from your fabric and fusible interfacing.
Step 2: Fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of the fabric using your iron and following the manufacturer’s directions.
Step 3: Cut along all edges using pinking shears. This prevents fraying and looks delightful.
Making the Bookmark Corners
Step 1: Cut out two squares measuring 2″ x 2″ from your fabric and interfacing.
Step 2: Fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of the fabric using your iron and following the manufacturer’s directions.
Step 3: With right sides together sew a scant 1/8″ around all sides of the squares. Use the smallest stitch length.
Step 4: Cut diagonally across the square, creating two triangles. Trim the seams and cut the corners to reduce bulk.
Step 5: Turn the triangles right side out. Use a chopstick, wooden skewer or even a pair of detailing scissors to carefully push out the corner. Press the corner with your iron and trim the little corner bits that are sticking out of the opening.
Step 6: Cut along the bottom opening with pinking shears to help prevent fraying.
See? Fast and easy! This is the sort of craft you could do with your kids, letting them pick out their own fabric and cut the edges (depending on age and abilities).
Witchy Uses for Bookmarks
Bookmarks can be used for more than just marking your place. Put them to work enhancing your life magickally by charming them to aid you in your studying, focus and attention if you need help with your schoolwork. Choose fabrics with prints that align with your purposes: owls for knowledge, cherries for kitchen witchery, clocks for keeping on schedule. Or go with protective colors like blue, black or white to boost shielding spells for when you are reading on your commute and want to be left alone. Lay an orange or yellow bookmark in your notebook as you write to add inspiring and creative energies to your stories and poetry.
Want more ideas for using up scrap pieces of fabric? My book, Sew Witchy: Tools, Techniques & Projects for Sewing Magick has instructions for making fabric beads, twine and more.
