Berlin's Whimsy: Little Bookmark How-to

These little bookmarks make wonderful gifts when combined with a fun book. Simple to make, the most difficult part is in choosing a small enough design for the size of the bookmark. (And please note, I got carried away with the size of the one in these pictures; it is larger than the mushroom one, for example).

Materials:

Some natural linen (my preference) or cotton---this is a great opportunity to use up scraps and thrifted shirts or fabric as the bookmark is very small.
8" ribbon that matches your embroidery design, or seam binding
A button with large eyelits, or a wooden bead.
Embroidery thread and needle.

To begin, choose a small embroidery design (here are some ideas, above). It should be aproximately 3/4" to 1" across. The simpler the better---small flowers, initials, whimsical designs all work well here.

---Transfer your design to your fabric. I transfer my designs by drawing freehand but there are also handy transfer pencils available from craft stores that enable you to iron the design onto our fabric.

---Embroider your design onto your fabric.

---Cut out a circle aproximately 2" in diameter with the design placed smack in the middle. I use a glass so that each circle is uniform.

---Cut out another circle the same size. Make sure you allow at least a 1/2" around the design---in fact the more the better because you can always pull in the edges to fit snugly around your design.

---Now you will create a yo-yo. Aproximately 1/4" inside the raw edge of your circle, create a running stitch around the parameter, secured in the beginning by a good knot.

---Pull up the thread while simultaneously using a finger to work the the yoyo into a circular shape and evening out the thread.

Press the edges down and then iron the yoyo flat. Do the same with the second circle, trying to make this yoyo as close in size to the first yoyo. Iron it, too.

---Place the two yoyos wrong sides together. Manipulate the yoyos so that the circles match up---they don't have to be perfect...

----With a very small and discreet whip stitch, stitch the two yoyos together, like a yoyo sandwich...

----Begin your stitching at the 4 O'Clock position with the design verticle (shown in picture above----this allows a space to add the ribbon below the design). Stitch counter clockwise.

---Once you come to the 8 O'Clock position, insert your ribbon below the design and continue to stitch the two yoyos together. Stitch the ribbon inside the yoyo sandwich with a running stitch----be sure to sew it securely (especially if it's intended for a child)!

---For decoration, using embroidery thread, stitch a running stitch around the perimeter of the circle.

----To tie off the bottom of the ribbon, either thread the ribbon through the eyes of a button and tie a knot, or thread it through a large bead and create a knot large enough to hold the bead in place.

---To thread the ribbon through a button, coil the ribbon's end small enough to thread from the bottom up and back down through the button. If your ribbon is too large, just sew the button onto the end of the ribbon...

---I will share another bookmark idea with you in the coming days...

Choose a wonderful book to go with this bookmark-----here are a couple children's books on my kids' wishlists...

The Daring Book for Girls. My daughter was very displeased last year when there was The Dangerous Book for Boys but there was not a girls' equivalent... Until now!