Cross stitch bookmarks are a great quick project for beginner or expert cross stitchers. Because they can be finished in a fairly short amount of time, they make great small gifts to give to teachers, friends and family, or to keep for yourself. There are cross stitch bookmark kits available at your local craft store. If you would like to make your own, follow these steps.
Plan Your Design
The first step is to plan your design. You can choose a pattern from a book or the web, or you can sketch out your own pattern on graph paper. Whether you use a premade pattern or your own design, just make sure it will fit in the small area of a bookmark.
Gather Your Supplies
Once you have a design in mind, you'll need to get your supplies together. For the base of your bookmark, you can either purchase a premade blank cross-stitch bookmark, or you can make your own with Aida fabric. You will also need to purchase enough embroidery floss in the colors needed for your design. Finally, you'll need a piece of wide ribbon the size of your finished bookmark, and some fabric glue.
Getting Started
Some cross-stitchers prefer to have the design printed onto the fabric for stitching. If you prefer to work this way, then start by transferring your design onto your fabric, using transfer paper from your local craft shop. If you are using a blank bookmark, simply arrange the design as you'd like it. If you're making your own from Aida fabric, then cut a piece of fabric as twice as wide as you'd like your finished bookmark to be. Place the design in the center of the fabric.
Start Stitching
Next, begin stitching your design, taking care to keep your stitches very neat, even on the back, as you do not want the back of your bookmark to be lumpy with a lot of extra thread. It doesn't need to look perfect on the back, as you will be covering it, but it should be as smooth and flat as possible.
Finishing
If you are using a blank bookmark, simply glue the piece of ribbon to the back and you're done! If you're making your own out of Aida fabric, fold the two sides of the fabric in around the back of the bookmark, so that they meet in the center. Press with an iron to crease. Glue in place, using fabric glue. Next, glue the ribbon to the back. Allow to dry completely before using.
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