Why A Cross Stitch Bookmark Will Always Outlast A Card
John Wigham
Don't you just love sending a special cross stitch gift to a friend? A card you've stitched is a great way to mark special occasions and holidays. Your friends are probably thrilled when they receive your cards and admire them for quite some time. Sadly, though, eventually the cards end up tucked away inside cabinets and drawers. Instead of a card, you may want to create a personalised bookmark the next time a special person in your life celebrates an occasion.
Why not create a cross stitch bookmark instead for one your friends? The advantages are that they will be used as often as the recipient reads a book, and will be associated with good leisure time. Also, your message of friendship will be reaffirmed every time your friend or relative opens the book. It will be useful as well as being ornamental.
Keep these hints and tips in mind before you start your bookmark project.
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.
A bookmark kit may be the best way for you to get started. A kit contains everything you'll need. Inside the kit you'll find instructions, thread in the amount and colors you'll need, and cross stitch material. Keep the instructions so you can use them the next time you create a cross stitch bookmark. When choosing a kit, look for a pattern that matches the interests of the person your gift is for.
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).
You will need to cut your cross stitch fabric (aida or evenweave) to the right size. In order to prevent the edges from fraying, you should stitch a piece of binding or ribbon to the edges. If you prefer, you can use a larger piece of fabric and deliberately fray the edges yourself, keeping the edges symmetrical and neat in appearance. You can then stop further fraying by spraying with a fray-stopping product.
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.
As you work, you'll want to make your stitching as tidy as possible. When you finish, glue a ribbon fragment onto the back so you can neatly cover the underside. Keep your knots small to avoid any bumps.
To give your bookmark added interest, do consider folding the bottom of it into a triangle shape instead of a straight line. You can add a tassel, some beads or a shell to the end, to make it look unusual.
When you're done, slip the bookmark between two cloths for protection from the heat and press the project carefully.
Stitching bookmarks is fun and easy. After you've done a few, you may decide you really enjoy making bookmarks for gifts. These projects take very little time. Let your creativity run wild and see what you can make.
I'm sure you'll agree that making a cross stitch bookmark for a friend is a great alternative to stitching a card. Individualising the design can be great fun, and also give lots of pleasure to the recipient of your gift.
Julia Wigham is a professional writer and co-founder of Patterns Patch http://www.patternspatch.com/ cross stitch forums. An online cross stitch club whose members get free: patterns, articles and tutorials. Come to our lively => http://www.patternspatchblog.com/ cross stitch blogs right now.
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