Do you have lots of fabric scraps? Me too! I have scraps from cutting pencil cases and coin purses for my Shop, plus I have scraps of the interfacing I use in the pencil cases. But recently I had an “A-ha” moment: all those scraps could combine to become bookmarks for the crafty stall at Creative Craft Retreat in a couple of weeks. So here’s how I made my Fabric Scrap Bookmarks.
I started by cutting all my scraps into strips – two matching strips of each fabric. I didn’t measure them. I just used a rotary cutter and cutting mat to keep them approximately square. They are around 1-2 inches or 3-5cm wide and around 6-9 inches or 15-23cm long.
Shop for rotary cutter & mat here
Next I ironed some interfacing onto the back of one of each pair of fabric then laid the two pieces together with wrong side together.
Shop for iron-on interfacing here
Next, sew around the sides about 1/4″ or 5mm in from the edge.
Lastly, trim the edges with pinking shears and add a “V” of ribbon for prettiness!
Alternative: You could put right sides together then turn them through if you wanted to. In this case, leave one end open for turning when you stitch, then iron and stitch the opening closed once you have turned through. Don’t use pinking shears on the edges, but you can still add the ribbon.
These bookmarks look great and so satisfying to find new ways to use scrap fabric. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome!
I’m gonna try it out they look nice and handy for markers for my daughter’s school books…ThKU very much 😀
I’ve thought of doing similar bookmarks but didn’t think of using interfacing! Wonderful! You could even add a couple of ribbons which are long to use as additional bookmarks ie: for use in a cookbook when you want to mark multiple recipes.
{I found you through “Let’s Get Linky” at ‘BunsInMyOven’}
Great idea, Dani!
I love these. All of my family are great readers, so I will be tucking this idea away for future use.
I love these!
I am a teacher and would like my students to make these for a unit we’re doing on re-using textiles. Is there a fabric glue that could be used, rather than stitching, so the children could make them without sewing? If so, could you recommend a good one?
Thanks much!
Hi Kimberley,
For kids I would just use PVA glue. It would adhere to fabric and dry clear. Even glue stick might work well.
Hope it goes well,
Tonya
hi I love what u did with those fabric scraps and turned them in to very attractive bookmarks.thanks for sharing
These are so cute. Do you find the edges unravel after some time of use?
Hi Yusi, I haven’t found the edges have unravelled too much. I suppose if you washed them a lot they would unravel more but bookmarks don’t get very dirty so they don’t need a lot of washing.
Nice idea for your scraps.
Thanks for this great idea! I don’t throw out my scraps either and this is a great way to use even small pieces! I’ll be adding these to alot of gifts from now on!
This is a great idea for my 10 year old daughter to make for her teacher for Christmas. Maybe I can get her to make a few for the other kid’s teachers and I can make a few for her 🙂
Hello!
I Loved this idea. I used some of my daughters baby clothes to make book marks today. Thanks for the fantastic idea!
Great idea….think I will make a basket full for my local library check out desk with sign saying……”BOOKMARKS..if you need one, take one” Thanks for the idea.
This is exactly what I need to try and make!
I am browsing pinterest for easy sewing projects using smaller scraps.. I came across this! I want to get back into reading more often so this might make me get excited to do that as well! The instructions are simple enough to follow!
Just have to reteach myself to sew with my sewing machine.. I haven’t used it in a very long time!
Just made one of these for my son, i used felt in between but he loved it!!
Hello! Instead of interfacing do you think I could starch, heavily, a piece of fabric for the middle layer?
OK, I am a total beginner for Hand Sewing and I do not have a machine.
Is that what they call a Running stitch that you Hand Sew?
Thank you
I found your idea of making book markers out of fabric, so I’m making them for my former coworkers ( I retired in June after working as a Teacher for 35 years). I had extra fabric left and wondered what I’d do for the pieces I cut from the book markers( they were too long), then I saw your idea about bag tags. Do you have a place to put the name on the tag or is it just for visual to know which bag is yours?
Karen
I didn’t add a name to mine but you easily could add one with a fabric marker or a Sharpie.
Very cute idea, and Simple! Can’t wait to make a few for my readers in my family and reader friends.