Friday 10 January 2020

Bookmark SAL - January

Welcome to the first of twelve bookmarks that you can make over the course of 2020! This month I'm starting with a not quite standard shape - an arrow! I have not only made the pattern but also two versions of pattern showing the outlines for two ways to give it a same fabric back, and I'll give some alternate suggestions on how to stitch this.
First of all a photo of the finished bookmark - I stitched mine on a bit of Jodyri Designs September 2019 Limited Edition 18ct Aida "Pixie Potion"  - it's a very pale grey which really shows off the blues nicely. The threads are all as per the pattern except the Kreinik as I used 001L instead of 001.

I gave the bookmark a road test yesterday while going to appointments and stuff (bus/train/waiting around) and found it to be both a handy size to use but also to hold in the same hand as the book while reading.

I used the edges of the fabric I was using to make the back for my bookmark as I hadn't planned the back of the bookmark until after I'd stitched it as I wasn't sure how I'd finish it till it was stitched. The entire bit of fabric I stitched on can be seen here - it's just a bit leftover from some other projects. This saves you the effort as now I can offer two extra ways to finish it using the same fabric!

Of course you don't have to stitch on fabric - you could stitch on perforated paper or on plastic canvas instead. 

Fabric  

If you are only going to stitch the pattern once or finish it the way I do it above (option 2 outlines) you will need:

Size in inches:
  • For 14ct Aida/28ct evenweave:
    • The pattern is 2.5 x 7.1inches.
    • It requires a piece of fabric that is 8 1/2 x 13.1 inches.
  • For 16ct Aida/32ct evenweave:
    • The pattern is 2.2 x 6.3 inches.
    • It requires a piece of fabric that is 8 1/2 x 12.3 inches.
  • For 18ct Aida/36ct evenweave:
    • The pattern is 1.9 x 5.6 inches.
    • It requires a piece of fabric that is 7.9 x 11.6 inches.
  • For 20ct Aida/40ct evenweave.
    • The pattern is 1.8 x 5 inches.
    • It requires a piece of fabric that is 7.8 x 11 inches.
Size in cm:
  • For 14ct Aida/28ct evenweave:
    • The pattern is 6.4 x 18.2cm.
    • It requires a piece of fabric that is 21.6 x 33.4 cm.
  • For 16ct Aida/32ct evenweave:
    • The pattern is 5.6 x 15.9 cm.
    • It requires a piece of fabric that is 20.8 x 31.9 cm.
  • For 18ct Aida/36ct evenweave:
    • The pattern is 4.9 x 14.1 cm.
    • It requires a piece of fabric that is 20.2 x 29.3 cm.
  • For 20ct Aida/40ct evenweave.
    • The pattern is 4.4 x 12.7cm.
    • It requires a piece of fabric that is 19.7 x 27.9 cm.

Other fabric options:

  • If you want to stitch the bookmark with the back on a separate bit of Aida/evenweave you will need the above sizes twice. On the second bit of fabric you will need to stitch the backstitched outline that goes around the main pattern. 
  • If you want to stitch the bookmark with the back made from a cotton fabric then you will need that bit of cotton to be a bit larger than the bookmark with seam allowance.
  • If you want to stitch the bookmark and the option 1 outlines you will need a bit of fabric that is 3 inches/ 7.6 cm wider than the sizes above. The height stays the same. Make sure that the centre backstitched line is the centre of your fabric.
  • For perforated paper and plastic canvas you need to first work out the size of the stitches (mark out an inch or cm with pins and count how many bits between holes), then look above and choose the *pattern* size (top measurement of each count) to suit the count you found. You will need at least that size for your stitching (and perhaps a bit more so you have something to hold onto)

Threads:


You will need around 0.1 skein of each colour and a little more of the colour you choose to use for the backstitched outlines and finishing if you do them.
Option 2 outlines: All seams held in place with little clips and the centre seam aligned and ready for stitching.

Construction:

Cut the excess fabric back to four or five stitches (four or five squares of Aida / eight-ten threads of evenweave) from the outer lines of backstitch. If using perforated paper or plastic canvas trim back to one or two stitch away from the edges
  • If you used perforated paper or plastic canvas you need to choose to either: 
    • Leave the back visible
    • Cover it with a thin bit of felt
    • With perforated paper you could also use thin card or thicker paper to cover the back 
  • If you are using two separate bits of fabric all you need to do is:
    • Fold over the seam allowances 
    • Place them wrong sides together 
    • Align the seams carefully
    • Whipstitch all around
  • If you are using the option 1 outlines then you need to:
    • Fold over the seam allowances 
    • Fold the back to the front along the backstitched centre line
    • Align the seams carefully
    • Whipstitch all around
  • If you are using the option 2 outlines then you need to: 
    • Fold over the seam allowances 
    • Fold it so the centre back seam allowance meets
    • Align the seams carefully
    • Whipstitch the centre seam 
    • Finish the thread off, you will need to start each seam separately this time.
    • Then flatten the bookmark into the correct end shape
    • Make sure the centre seam allowances are flat and folded back to the side they are joined on to.
    • Align the seams carefully
    • Whipstitch each end

The patterns

The bookmark can be downloaded here
Option 1 outlines can be downloaded here
Option 2 outlines can be downloaded here

Have fun stitching and I'll see you sometime this weekend for the next Spring Mystery SAL announcement post and Tuesday with the first of this year's Blackwork SAL posts.

6 comments:

  1. Thank you for the Bookmark SAL !!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you so much! It's so magically pretty and creative! Love the shape :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are welcome! Thank you, I'm glad you like it :D

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  3. Thank you, I like it!!!!

    Nana

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are very welcome! I'm so glad you like it :)

      Delete

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