This tutorial really is easy, but it's picture "heavy"...you know me with my pictures! Lol...I just think it so much easier to explain each step in a picture. If I got my act together and started doing video tutorials, this would take 5 minutes vs 40 pictures!!
Here is the finished heart bookmark...I made up this pattern, so with lots of trial an errors...I hope you like it!
The heart hugs the page and keeps your place...
with this little pocket on the back.
and it's thin enough for the book too.
Here's what you'll need...the heart pattern I found fits in a 4 inch square. Your heart may be a different size so adjust accordingly.
- heart pattern
- 2 pieces of scrap fabric 4 inches square
- 1 square at 3 inches (I'll explain later why it's 3 inches)
The most important thing about your heart patter is the point. It MUST be at a 90 degree angle to fit at the corner of the book.
I found a free heart pattern online somewhere and then placed it on the corner of a piece of card stock to get the 90 degree corner. Just adjust the shape to get the correct point and look.
My heart fits a 4 inch square.
Here's where the 3 inch block comes in.
Measure the distance from the point of the heart to just where the rounded part starts. Yours may be different, so make your square the size of your side.
CUTTING...
Place your 2 larger (4 inch) squares together with one wrong side facing up.
Place the point of the heart in the corner of your square and trace the heart
Cut on the line.
to get 2 hearts...
Now take one of the hearts and measure about 1 inch up from the point.
Draw a line horizontally across and cut on the line
So far you should have one full heart, one heart with tip cut off and a 3 inch square.
Are you still with me? Lol
Take the 3 inch square and fold into a triangle on the diagonal.
Press
ASSEMBLY...
Take the full heart right side up and place the folded triangle on top matching the points
Now take your trimmed heart and place it on top of the other 2, right sides together...matching the rounded top.
Here's a peek inside before I continue...
Please pin, pin, pin.
Now sew with a quarter inch seam allowance.
Here's a few tips for sewing curves...
- keep your stitch length tiny so it takes the curves better
- keep needle DOWN when you have to stop and pivot.
- when you feel like it's not taking the circular shape, stop (needle down) and lift presser foot to take the turn better. Sometimes the foot drags the fabric and lifting up the foots release that
Tip for the "V" section of the 2 rounded parts...draw a pencil dot a 1/4 down from the "V" shape. That's where you will stop, needle down, and pivot back up to the next curve. You may have to go one stitch passed the pencil to be sure.
Always needle down before you turn.
Sew ALL THE WAY AROUND without stopping....back stitch at the end to secure. There will be NO opening. The secret is that trimmed off point...that's the turning opening
Make little snips in the curved sections to release the tension especially in the "V".
FIRST TURNING...
Open up that trimmed area and turn the heart inside out.
It should look like this at first.
I used a chop stick to poke out the edges.
Now flip the heart over.
SECOND TURNING...
Take that little pocket and turn it down towards the bottom point and over to the other side.
Now this little pocket is on the other side and you are DONE!!! WOO HOO... no opening to whip stitch closed.
Iron flat.
That little pocket on the back is where the page slides into to keep your place in the book.
ok...I have to say...I just LOVE this. Nothing like tooting my own horn.
I might even read more with this little heart bookmark.
I hope you love this too. Perfect gifts for just about everyone...
- teacher gifts
- classmate Valentine's
- friends
- family
- easy gift to mail...just put in a card with a little extra postage
- quilting/sewing friends for their quilting books
- mail to your kids in college to let them know you love them...and that they should be reading! lol
- great for cook books too
- buy a book for a gift and tuck it in as an extra treat
~Karen~
66 friends left a comment. Click here to add one too!:
Now that is pretty cool! Thanks for an easy and quick project!
This is a really cute idea, Karen. And, it sure would be fun to see you do some video tutorials!
Exceptionally great tutorial for a bookmark AND a wonderful gift idea for the next holiday coming along!
Turning and not having to whip stitch is delightful! :)
Thanks!
Christina in Cleveland
Great tutorial, thank you. Want to make some for my daughters.
LOVE it!
Adorable and easy to make. Thanks
Very, very clever. And so sweet as well. Toot away on that horn!
It's a wonderful idea.
Ssan
Great tutorial, Karen!
Thanks for sharing
Karen, está fantástico el tutorial y el corazón es precioso y muy útil. Gracias por las explicaciones, un beso
Wow!
Just have to make one.
Thanks for the tutorial.
una gran idea! que bonito te a quedado!!!
What a great idea! So cute! Love the fabric.
What a brilliant and cute idea, I will be making some of these in the not to distant future (might have some done by next Christmas for stocking fillers) Also, thanks for all the pics in your tutorial!
Cath :)
This is such a great idea and looks very easy. Thanks for your great tutorial! :-)
What a great idea. Have to make one.
What a great idea!! I'll definately be making a few of these. Thanks for sharing!
Jules
Great idea and excellent tutorial. Can't wait to make my own. Thanks for sharing your ideas.
That is an adorable bookmark.Thanks for sharing your pattern..
Brilliant idea! I will be making some of these for sure. Thanks Karen.
I just made corner bookmarks myself on Monday. These are great! Thanks for sharing!
Love it!!
I love it! Off to make one...
How clever Karen! I can see how this little project would have taken a bit of trial and error to get it right, but I just love that there is no finishing work to be done! These would make wonderful little teacher gifts...so practical!
MGM
Too cute, Karen :-). I can see a lot of these in envelopes to friends pretty soon.
Great tutorial and wonderful idea for a little something to tuck into a Valentine's card!
Karen, muchas gracias por el tutorial. El corazón está precioso. Excelente idea. Feliz semana!
I love this, nothing to do today but make hearts...and think about the ones I love.
Nice and cute tutorial. Thanks!
LOve it Love It Love it...
really like the last turn out that finishes the back pocket...I sew look foreward to your blog
Me gusta mucho es un regalo perfecto y te agradezco que lo ayas compartido!! un saludo
Cute!! Love it Karen thank you :)
Another little addition that might work is just 2 or 3 lavender seeds inside the heart so when you close and open your book you get a little treat! :)
Love Sarah
x
Happy New Year! This is an awesome project and perfect for a teacher gift for Valentine's Day that I've been searching for! Although, I may not make 75 of these for the faculty like I did the coasters - haha. I'll see how energetic I get. Thanks for sharing!
C'est une très belle idée pour des petites attentions. Merci. Amitiés
Clever, clever girl, this is delightful, thank you. Laura UK
Very clever!! I like!!
That is PERFECT!!!!!
And did I hear you say "for next Christmas?? Perfect for when you give a book as a gift???!!
(I am still in the - great ready for next year -mode!!)
Very cute, Karen! Where can I steal the heart pattern?
Love it - and the photos make it SO easy to follow, thank you - going to try one today
Judy
Thank you so much Karen-I do love to read,so do a lot of my friends-this will make a wonderful February 14 gift :)
Marga
This is adorable and thank you for sharing. I can't wait to make it as Valentines favor's. Love all the pictures :)
What a clever idea!! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for this great idea. So quick and easy! Just the thing for a Valentine swap I'm in.
Darling! Love all the pics....I need those too.
Yea I was thinking it makes the perfect Valentine!
Too cute, easy and quick. Thanks so much. Guess what I'm making for all my friends for Valentines Day?
Very cute! Do you mind if I adapt your idea and create one for machine embroidery?
I love it!!! Thank you so much for sharing this with us!
love it!
Love it - Hearts, Books, and sewing what could be better? - At my house - there is nothing better. Thanks for this idea and tutorialree
LOVE this!!! Off I go to shop the stash....
Adorable and easy! I'm going to go try these tonight. Thanks so much for the tutorial.
I pinned this... what a fabulous idea! I have boys in my house who love to read, and have a fish pattern ready to try. If it works out, I'll blog about it, and post a link here. :) My mom is also an avid reader. I'm planning on making her a purse (have the fabric... just need the time!!) and will make her a bookmark or two out of the extra fabric. So excited for this project! Thanks!! :)
Guard all-inclusive findings, distinctive research adored delivers neatly getting this item issue, called as and also additional most of these carefully.
Great Tutorial, very easy and funny to sew, a nice present for me and my Love to crime books ;-)
thank you
Silke from germany
Just made on out of scrap flag fabric for my hubby. Easy and your tutorial was.....AWESOME! thanks!
bravo et merci pour ce tuto!! ce petit coeur prendra bientôt naissance dans le sud de la france!!! bisous
bravo et merci pour ce tuto!! ce petit coeur prendra bientôt naissance dans le sud de la france!!! bisous
I just love this!!
Karen, would it be OK if I mentioned this post over on my own blog? I have made this heart for my DD and I know my readers will want to make one too. Of course I will link back here if it's OK with you.
Thanks!
I think I understand this project, but it would have been easier if you hadn't used three pieces of fabric that were all of the patterned fabric -- after all, this is a demonstration. If the smaller square had been of a contrasting fabric it would have been clearer.
However, I suppose I'll muddle through -- this suggestion is for your future tutorials.
Thanks for the fun idea! I'm going to pass this along to my Mom. She is always making handmade gifts- AND she is an avid reader. She will probably make one of these for herself! Great way to use up scrapes of fabric!
I've been making lots of these--thanks! I liked this so much I referenced this on my blog. Here's the link: http://fosterandboo.blogspot.com/2012/01/book-worms.html
What a cute idea!! I love the book mark!
I love your heart bookmark. Great idea to put it into a b-day card to send an extra special thinking of you gift besides. I'm going to make a bunch for the future. Thank you, warm bee-hugs, Debby (Wisconsin)
what a clever thing you are! i found you via pinterest. i need to make a bunch of these. they would make such sweet little gifties for friends!
thank you so much
Oh my! This is like an answered prayer. I have been looking for a little something to do for my kids' teachers. My daughter likes to give to ALL of them, principals, counselors, etc. This is a great project as it won't break the bank or me--- and she can do some of the sewing! Yippppppeeeee!
Preciosos estos marcapáginas me encantan y muchÃsimas gracias por estas explicaciones.
Saludos.
Post a Comment