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Needle and Thread Crafts

Handwoven Bookmark

Handwoven bookmarks
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What you will make -

Make a handwoven bookmark simply and easily while learning the basic concepts of weaving on a cardboard loom. The bookmark makes a wonderful gift, or maybe use it as a rug in a doll house or as a saddle blanket for a small toy horse. Make the loom in different sizes and sew the resulting fabric into coin purses, coasters, hot pads—whatever you can imagine!

Weaving is usually done on a loom—a device for holding threads/yarn taut. Looms can be as simple as a piece of notched cardboard to something as complex as the big, fast, mechanical, computer-driven looms in cloth factories. For this project we will use the simple notched cardboard loom.

As an added bonus, Aunt Annie also tells you how to turn the handwoven bookmark into a pincushion for use when you do needle crafts.

Here's what you need -
  • Medium to heavy weight cardboard, a tablet back works well
  • Worsted or sport weight yarn, variegated is nice
  • String or carpet warp
  • Comb with large teeth or a plastic fork
  • Tape
  • Ruler
  • Pencil
  • Scissors
  • Yarn needle

This project is rated EASY to do.

How To Make a Handwoven Bookmark

Read all of the steps before starting.
Make a cardboard loom Step 1: Make Cardboard Loom

Cut a piece of cardboard 2 inches by 5 inches (5cm by 12cm). Use cardboard that is medium to heavy in weight—tablet backs work well. Starting about one quarter inch (6mm) from the left edge, make 13 marks one eighth inch (3mm) apart on one short edge. Repeat on the other short end.

Snip the cardboard about one eighth inch (3mm) in at each mark.

Warp cardboard loom with string Step 2: Warp Loom with String

First, lengthwise threads are put on a loom. These threads are known as the warp, and the process of putting the them on the loom is called warping the loom.

We will warp the cardboard loom with string. Tape the string end to the back of the cardboard. Starting from the left, wrap the string around the cardboard 13 times being sure to catch it in each notch at the top and bottom, in turn left to right. After going through the last notch, tape the string on the back of the cardboard and cut from ball of string.

Step 3: Weave Bookmark Weave yarn into string to form bookmark fabric

Next, you will weave the yarn, also known as the weft, into the string to form the bookmark fabric.

Thread the yarn needle with a length of yarn no longer than your arm. Starting at one end of the cardboard, weave the yarn into the string by going under then over the strings all across the cardboard. Pull the yarn through the string leaving a 3 to 4 inch (7-10cm) tail. Use the comb (or fork) to push the yarn down to the bottom of the string evenly.

Now go back the other direction, but weave over then under the strings. Pull the yarn completely through, but not too tight. Push the yarn down on top of the last row with the comb. Continue weaving back and forth, alternating the rows between under then over and over then under, for the entire length of the cardboard. Try to make your edges, also known as selvedges, straight and even.

Weave bookmark leaving loose ends for later
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You will need several lengths of yarn to complete the bookmark. Leave a 3 to 4 inch (7-10cm) tail at the beginning and end of each piece of yarn. When you start a new length of yarn, start it two or three warp threads back from where the last yarn length ended—so that they overlap a bit. Leave all the loose ends on the back side of the bookmark—under the fabric being woven and next the cardboard. The loose ends look messy now, but later we will hide them.

Step 4: Finish Bookmark Finish bookmark

Cut the threads on the back of loom in the middle. Pull the threads from the notches 2 or 3 at a time and tie a knot as close to the yarn as possible. Do this for all the threads at each end of the bookmark. If needed, trim the strings to make an even fringe at each end.

To hide a loose yarn end, thread it through the yarn needle and weave it into the bookmark a few times— try to make it invisible. Snip the loose end as close as possible to the fabric. Repeat the process for each loose end.


Make a Handwoven Pincushion

Make a pincushion from the bookmark fabric
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It's easy to make a pincushion by forming a tube with the bookmark fabric, stuffing it and sewing it close. You will need something to stuff the pincushion. If you have some pillow or doll stuffing from the craft store, use that. Otherwise, you can use cotton balls or torn-up quilt batting. To make the pincushion:

  1. Follow steps 1, 2 and 3 for making the handwoven bookmark. Snip the yarn on the back of the cardboard loom and tie a loose knot with the first three warp threads at each end—on the top use the first threads on the right and at the bottom the first threads on the left, so the knots are at diagonal corners. Take the bookmark fabric off the loom carefully.
  2. With the back of the bookmark fabric facing down, tie the loose threads at the top and bottom together to form a tube. Start with the middle three threads and work out to each side tying groups of two or three threads together. You will need to untie the knots made when taking the fabric off the loom before tying them again.
  3. Turn the tube inside-out so the back is on the inside. Stuff any loose yarn inside the tube.
  4. Flatten the tube on one side and stitch it together with an overcast stitch using the weft yarn.
  5. Stuff the pincushion and stitch the other side close.

It's easy to make a larger pincushion by using a larger piece of cardboard for the loom. Just be sure to make an odd number of slots for the warp threads.

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Before you start -
  • Make a place to work.
  • Read all the directions.
  • Get everything you need to do the project.
  • Think about the project. Imagine how it will look and what you will do with it.

Are you ready?
Okay, get started!!!

Handwoven bookmarks with stripes and plaid

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Tip: Make bookmarks with stripes and plaids by using multiple colors for the warp threads and using weft threads of the same weight. For stripes use one color for the weft and for plaid weave stripes in multiple weft colors.

Use a colored warp for the handwoven bookmark

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Tip: Use a colored warp for the handwoven bookmark.

Make a pincushion from the bookmark fabric

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Tip: To make a pincushion, form a tube with the bookmark fabric, stuff it and sew the sides close. The checked look is created by alternating white and blue weft threads.

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