Cross stitch bookmark

[HerrPersilja]

Are there any guides/ideas on how to cross stitch a bookmark?
Plastic- or aida-canvas?
Any thoughts?

[HerrPersilja]

I found some bookmarks (I think it was) that had the threads hanging down. But I don't remember who did them. How to do? Who is the bookmark-stitching-pro?

[Stardrifter]

i prefer to make bookmarks on plastic canvas but aida works well too

to make the threads hang out you pull out some of the canvas when you're done. fraying it on purpose, basically. if that's what you mean^^;

[DMLC]

You can also go to a fabric store and pick up really cheap material ends to cover backings on stitched pieces-
Just need fabric stiffener and spray on glue --

[HerrPersilja]

I think plastic canvas will be too thick. But I will experiment

[stephaniem]

I use aida, some double sided tape and an iron to finish.

I measure the length I want the bookmark to be, then once I've decided on the WIDTH... I double it.

i.e. if I want the width of the bookmark to be 1.5 inches then I'll cut the aida a total of 3 inches in width. This means that once I have stitched the design onto the bookmark in the right place (the face of the bookmark will be 1.5 inches remember, an equal distance from each side), I can then I fold back the two excess sides of the aida so that they meet perfectly down the middle back of the bookmark.

Then I put a long piece of double sided tape onto the back of my stitched design, press down the two folded excess sides on top and then iron to secure and make the bookmark nice and straight. It means the back of the bookmark is nicely hidden also

That's just my method anyway. Hope that helps.

[HerrPersilja]

I looked at your blog now and YES! it was there were I saw those nice looking bookmarks!
I guess it is some special tape then...?
How have you done the threads hanging out from the bookmark?

[stephaniem]

The threads/fringe hanging is done in the same way Stardrifter mentioned above:

to make the threads hang out you pull out some of the canvas when you're done. fraying it on purpose, basically.

After you've finished the bookmark, at the top and bottom of it start removing two-three rows of woven threads from the Aida fabric. i.e. the horizontal ones (I remove about 2-6 depending on how much space I've left under and above the stitched design).

[mccaly28]

I'm starting my first bookmark soon, but I don't have any small patterns. Can anyone recommend a way to convert the patterns to a smaller size so I can use them? Thanks!

[oh.no.its.meagan]

I usually use vinyl aida instead of plastic canvas because its not as thick...