A Bookmark to Crochet
One of my favorite children’s books is Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan (New York: Scholastic, 2000), and this bookmark was based on the crocheted afghan that follows Esperanza throughout her year of trials and growth. The colorful variegated thread gives the bookmark a bright and scrappy look without all the ends to tuck in!
Materials
- J & P Coats Royale Classic Crochet Thread, 100% mercerized cotton, size 10, 300 yards (274.3 m)/ball, 1 ball of #0250 Mexicana
- Steel crochet hook, size 9
Finished size: 6 x 1½ inches (15.2 x 3.8 cm), excluding fringe
Instructions
Ch 26.
Row 1: Sk first ch, sc in next 3 ch, 3 sc in next ch, sc in next 3 ch, sk next 2 ch, (sc in next 3 ch, 3 sc in next ch, sc in next 3 ch), sk 2. Rep between parentheses once. Ch 1. Turn.
Row 2: Sk first sc, crocheting in back loops (sc in next 3 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc, skip 2); rep until last 4 sts, sc 2, sk 1, sc 1, ch 1.Turn.
Rep Row 2 until the bookmark reaches 6 inches (15.2 cm) or desired length.
Cut fifteen 4½-inch (11.4-cm) strands of thread for the fringe. Use 3 strands for each ripple. Fold the 3 pieces in half and attach to ripple. Rep for each ripple point.
Finishing
Steam-press flat.
Clockwise from upper right: Knitted bookmark by Margaret Sies and cross-stitched and crocheted bookmarks by Julia Baratta. Photo by Joe Coca
A Sampler Bookmark to Stitch
The idea of a sampler bookmark came from Abbie in Stitches by Cynthia Cotten (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2006), a book about a young girl stitching when she would much rather read. This is a good project to introduce young needleworkers to a variety of embroidery stitches. Use the alphabet and numbers charts to personalize each bookmark.
Materials
- Presencia Finca Embroidery Floss, 100% Egyptian cotton thread, 8 meters (8.7 yds)/skein, 1 skein each of #1109 Medium Topaz, #8075 Medium Brown, #7580 Red Copper, #4565 Avocado Green;
- Zwiegart Aida Cloth, 100% cotton fabric, 18 count, Ecru, 1 piece 5½ x 7 inches (14.0 x 17.8 cm); www.zweigart.com
- John James Needle, tapestry size 28; www.colonialneedle.com
- Cotton fabric, matching print for backing, 1 piece 2¾ x 5½ inches (7.0 x 14.0 cm)
- Thread, color to match cotton print fabric
- Embroidery hoop, 4 inches (10.2 cm) in diameter
Instructions
Center and mount the aida fabric in the hoop. Stitch the bookmark following the chart.
Note: On the lazy daisy stitch, the needle comes up in next hole and goes down halfway across next square.
Finishing
Remove the fabric from the hoop. Cut edges 9 squares from the running stitch edge. Iron ¼-inch (6-mm) edges (wrong sides together) on the printed cotton fabric piece. Whipstitch the cotton fabric to the running stitch edge on the back of the bookmark.
Pull the threads on the edge of the aida cloth to create a fringe edging, leaving 2 aida square rows on the sides and 1 square on the top and bottom of the piece. Cut the fringe to desired length. Steam-press flat.
Julia Baratta is a longtime library worker and supporter. Her favorite books are in the needlecrafts, gardening, cooking, and children’s areas. She thanks her mother, Margaret Sies, for teaching her to work with a needle and be creative in everything she does.
A Bookmark to Knit
Barbara Walker’s A Treasury of Knitting Patterns (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1968) provided the inspiration for this attractive but simple to knit bookmark. With garter-stitch borders and an arrangement of the “Cloverleaf Eyelet Cable” design, it will be a welcome gift to readers of all ages.
Materials
- J & P Coats Knit-Cro-Sheen, 100% cotton yarn, laceweight, 225 yards (206 m)/ball, 1 ball of Ecru
- Needles, size 0 (2 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge
- Tapestry needle
Finished size: 5½ x 2 inches (14.0 x 5.1 cm)
Gauge: 22 sts and 27 rows = 2 inches (5.1 cm) in patt
Instructions
CO 22 sts.
Rows 1–6: K.
Row 7: (WS) K2, p1, k2, p3, k2, p2, k2, p3, k2, p1, k2.
Row 8: K3, p2, yo, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yo, p2, k2, p2, yo, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yo, p2, k3.
Row 9: Rep Row 7.
Row 10: K3, p2, k1, yo, ssk, p2, k2, p2, k1, yo, ssk, p2, k3.
Row 11: Rep Row 7.
Row 12: K3, p2, k3, p2, k2, p2, k3, p2, k3.
Rep Rows 7–12 ten more times. K 5 rows. BO all sts.
Finishing
Weave in loose ends. Steam-press lightly on wrong side.
Margaret Sies is retired and lives in a farmhouse in rural Michigan surrounded by yarn, fabric, and thread. She cheerfully admits to never having met a form of needlework that she didn’t like.
These projects were published in the September/October 2010 issue of PieceWork.