How To Tuesday: Fabric Bookmark

You should never judge a book by its cover. It's true. But that doesn't mean that a book can't look fabulous while we're reading it! Today we are making a quick project that is both functional and fashionable. How about a fabric bookmark? 

What I love about this bookmark (aside from being totally cute) is that it can also hold my pages in place as I'm reading.  If the phone rings or one of my kids needs me suddenly (like every two minutes) I can just set the book down and go! When I come back, it will be right in place waiting for me. Because it is stretchy, this bookmark will fit different sizes of books. If you find it necessary though, it is easy to add or subtract a little length from the elastic before you make yours. It might even be a good idea to make two different lengths while we're at it, since they're so easy! 

Here's our wonderfully creative Morgan, with today's free tutorial!  

To get started you will need:

Two pieces of fabric that are each 5.25" x 3.25" 

One piece of fabric that is 2" x 10" 

One piece of fusible fleece that is 5.25" x 3.25"

 7" of fold-over elastic.

To start you will iron your fusible fleece to the wrong side of one of the fabric scraps.

We are now going to be doing a rolled hem on the top and bottom of the ruffle. This is easiest if you have a serger, if you do not have a serger, we are still able to do it, it will just take a little longer. To do a rolled hem on a sewing machine we will fold the fabric back 1/4", sew, then turn it back another 1/4", and sew. It's very simple, just time consuming, but it is worth it!

We are now going to gather our ruffle to sew it on. Set the sewing machine on the longest stitch length possible. Sew directly down center of the ruffle making sure not to backstitch at the beginning or end.

 

Begin gathering the ruffle by pulling the 2 top threads and moving the fabric back so it is gathered together. 

We will then center the our ruffle to the other piece of fabric and sew directly on top of the gathering stitch, as shown below.

Next we will lay out the elastic on the  ruffle (right sides together) and pin or baste stitch it in place.

We will then put the last fabric piece on top of everything with right sides together and sew along all 4 sides, making sure to leave a two inch gap.

Clip the corners and flip it right side out using the two inch opening.  Top stitch along all the outer edges, making sure not to catch the elastic underneath. 

And just like that, you're done!  

Happy sewing  -- and happy reading!  ~ Morgan