Creating a Cross Stitch Bookmark for Someone Special

By: John Wigham

As cross stitchers, we love to create personalised cards for our nearest and dearest on birthdays, at Christmas or other special times. The chances are that these cards are much appreciated by the recipients, displayed prominently for a few days, and then... perhaps placed in a drawer or a cupboard, where they will stay for many more months, rarely seen. Here's an idea...

Bookmarks just make sense. Your friend will sit down to relax with a book, and your bookmark will help make that time even more enjoyable. Each time this person reads a book, he or she will once again get to admire the special gift you made. A cross stitch bookmark is a gift that's both practical and pretty.

There are a few principles to bear in mind if you are considering making bookmark presents.

Pick a bookmark design that means something to your friend. You want to personalize this present by making it depict something this person loves. For instance, does she love flowers? Is he a golf fan? Decide on a pattern that captures the interests of the recipient. Of course, since your cross stitch bookmark will be small, the pattern must reflect this. So pick one interest the recipient has and use that as the pattern.

Children may be encouraged to read by being given their very own bookmark, with a favourite cute character stitched onto it to make it personal for them.

The easiest way to make a cross stitch bookmark is to buy a branded kit, choosing the most appropriate design for your friend. In any case, buying a kit for the first bookmark you make is probably a good idea, as it will contain all the necessary threads, fabric and instructions you need. You will be able to get some information from this as a sort of template for your future projects.

As a general rule, a bookmark is tall and narrow. It should slip easily between the pages of a book. Don't use floss that is thick or fuzzy, since this could make it difficult to close the book. When you're determining the exact dimensions for your bookmark, give some thought to the reading choices of your friend. If your friend reads hardcovers, create a longer bookmark than if he or she prefers paperbacks. Generally, you'll want the finished bookmark to be no longer than nine inches but no shorter than six inches (15 to 22cm). Regarding the width, many stitchers prefer to keep the bookmark around two and a half inches (6.5cm).

When you start making bookmarks without a kit, you'll want to cut the bookmark out of the cross stitch material, and then bind the edges with ribbon or other decorative fabric. Another pretty way to finish the edges is to create fringe. You fray the edges just enough to create a nice fringe, then use glue or spray to prevent additional fraying. You don't want the fraying to extend beyond the point where you stopped the fringe.

After you've cut out the fabric and secured the edges, you're ready to create the design. Locate a pattern you like. Magazines are a great place to locate patterns, as are books. Better yet, create your own pattern. Simply use a piece of graph paper and draw out your design. As always, each stitch is signified by a square on the paper.

Stitch the bookmark as neatly as you are able to, and when you have finished, stitch a piece of ribbon to hide the back of the work. Make sure that there are no lumps or bumps of thread on the back of your work, as this will show as a bulge through the ribbon. You will also want the ribbon to stick evenly to the bookmark.

You can add extra appeal to your bookmark by doing things such as making the bottom edge a triangle. A tassel, perhaps even with a few beads, dangling off this triangle-shaped end will be very attractive.

Do not forget to iron the finished bookmark carefully, between two towels, so that it does not become overheated.

Once you have experimented with making one bookmark, you will be surprised how easy the next ones will be -- and how quickly you will complete these projects.

More importantly, think how delighted your friends will be when they receive a beautiful cross stitch bookmark. Unlike a stitched card, which may end up forgotten in a drawer, a personalized bookmark is sure to be treasured for years.

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Read more than 150 cross stitch articles written by John Wigham with a number concentrating on the humble cross stitch bookmark. Why not visit Patterns Patch cross stitch club for your free report.

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