The Alchemist Diaries

“Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are” ― Mason Cooley

Although admittedly I never get through as many books as I wish annually, I love to read. It began as a struggle when I was a child, falling behind in elementary school while watching my classmates vigorously complete those old school phonics books with ease while I was stuck at differentiating long and short vowel sounds. But, it never deterred me from loving a good story, especially when it had lovely art to match.

I am a slow and careful reader, typically absorbing the language, imagery, and connected themes, and flooding my head with intense explanations, evaluations of plot, and intricacies of character development. In other words, I overthink all of my books (it’s probably why I teach literature as a profession). But, like others, I occasionally lose my motivation to read. Personally, it’s probably because it is part of my job to read absolutely everything, from the same articles and books tacked to the curriculum, to student essays (which may be thought provoking, plagiarized, or generated with AI), to continued education literature that may or may not have been properly vetted and peer reviewed before being sent out to teachers and instructors.

Carving out time for my own choice of books can be a challenge. So, I find it interesting that sometimes a simple luxury―such as having a beautiful and stylish bookmark―can keep me motivated to continue reading a book outside of my busy life.

Design Choice

It has been immensely challenging joining three book clubs, but it has been a journey worth taking as a motivator to consume more literature. Since joining the clubs, I was inspired to create some attractive bookmarks for me and the club members. My medium: scrap fabric and whatever materials I had on hand.

This simple project is beginner friendly for first time sewists. It is easy to make, exciting to use, and can be accomplished in under an hour. It is also an excellent stash busting project for those of us with a growing cabbage patch. I personally got carried away and made over forty of these!

You can make these bookmarks as simply or as complicated as you would like. The simple pattern involves cutting a rectangle out of scrap fabric, folding the seams inward, and sewing the seams closed using a straight stitch or embroidery stitch. If machine sewing isn’t for you, the back stitch, blanket stitch, or whip stitch make for easy alternatives for sewing up the seams of the bookmark.

I took the opportunity to play around with some of the lesser used settings on my sewing machine, and use up some embroidery thread that had been sitting around in my stash for over a year. If you are a talented embroiderer, you can embroider the seams together, creating a unique, one of a kind bookmark.

If simplicity is not your jam, you can also spice up your bookmark by adding ribbons, tassels, beads, and charms that hang delicately over the pages when the book is closed. It is addicting finding beautiful beads, charms, and buttons, and experimenting with different ways they can be incorporated into your bookmark. If you can, try not to purchase anything new. See what you can create with found materials. However, I certainly won’t stop you if you decide to seek out supplies that you don’t have.

These bookmarks can be mass produced; simply cut multiple rectangles of the same size, and sew as many bookmarks as you like. They make excellent gifts for avid readers, so I highly recommend pairing them with a good read.

PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS

• Estimated Time: 30 to 60 minutes
• Finished Dimensions: 8″ x 2.25″ or 21.5 x 12.75 centimeters

MATERIALS

• Any scrap woven fabric
• All-purpose thread
• Optional: beads, buttons, or charms
• Optional: embroidery thread
• Optional: ribbons or tassels 12″ or 30cm long

Instructions

Step One: Cut out the rectangular shape from the scrap fabric

Cut out a rectangle of fabric that is 8.5 inches (21.5 cm) in length and 5 inches (12.75 cm) in width.

Step Two: Iron the shape flat

Iron the rectangle flat to remove wrinkles.

Step Three: Fold the edges 1/4 inch or just 1 cm over

Fold the edges 1/4 inch or just 1 cm over and iron them flat.

Step Four: Fold the rectangle

Fold the rectangle in half, ensuring that the right side of the fabric is facing upward, and the folded edges face inward.

Step Five: Iron flat

Iron the folded bookmark flat, ensuring that the edges and corners are aligned.

Step Six: Pin the bookmark

Pin the edges of the bookmark, leaving an open space for a ribbon or tassel on the bottom of the bookmark.

Step Seven: Insert the ribbon or tassel

If using a ribbon, fold the ribbon in half and insert the loop into the bookmark. Alternatively, you can create a loop and insert the ends into the bookmark. Pin them down. If using a tassel, insert the braided suspension loop into the bookmark and pin it down.

Step Eight: Sew the bookmark

Using an embroidery stitch or straight stitch, sew the seams closed, removing the pins as you sew. Make adjustments to the ribbon or tassel as needed if they slide around while sewing.

To ensure that the embroidery does not come undone, backstitch or embroider over another inch past where you started to seal the stitch.

Step Nine: Finishing touches

Cut off loose threads and even out the ribbon or tassel by trimming the ends. If using a ribbon, cut the ends of the ribbon on an angle.

Optional alternative decorations for your bookmark

Step One: Add a lace facing

Precut lace or ribbons in the same length as the bookmark.

Step Two: Line up the lace details over the bookmark

Layer lacey details over the pre-folded bookmark to add texture and interest.

Step Three: Pin down the lace and sew

Pin down the lace and sew along the perimeter of the bookmark using an embroidery stitch or zigzag stitch.

Step Four: Sew on the ribbon and button

Fold your ribbon in half and sew it down onto the top of the bookmark along with a flat button.

Step Five: Finishing touches

Cut off loose threads and even out the ribbon or tassel by trimming the ends. If using a ribbon, cut the ends of the ribbon on an angle. Mix and match as many variations as you like.

Video Tutorial

I typically cycle through three books at a time: a non-fiction book and a fiction book I have chosen myself, and a book part of the book club.

This month, I am working through A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn (non-fiction), Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (fiction) and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey (fiction & book club choice).

I’ve embedded within each of them one of my homemade bookmarks, which has me fluttering back to their pages every time. I like to color coordinate the book with the bookmark, as well, or match the bookmark with the overall theme of the book. It is a small and perhaps nonsensical gesture, but whatever gets us to read, right?