DIY Bookmark with Tassel

This project is a super simple bookmark, which you can customize for just about anything. I made this particular one for part of Andrew's Father's Day gift (which we celebrated on Monday instead of Sunday because of his work schedule). I've included an easy-to-follow tutorial and some photos to follow along with. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to drop me a comment! I'd love to hear what you think!









What you need:
scrap fabric
interfacing
iron 
sewing supplies
pinking shears
something decorative for a tassel, I used thin faux suede strips
fabric pen/marker

Step 1. Cut your pieces.

Cut 2 each of the fabric and interfacing. You can make your bookmark any size you want, you'll notice that I started mine pretty wide, but it ended up much thinner - I realized I didn't like it so wide and just cut it to size.

Step 2. Interface.

You'll want to interface both pieces of fabric on the wrong side, according to the manufacturers directions. If your fabric is heavier, you can either opt to not interface at all, or do one side. It's all up to you!



Step 3. Assemble.

Line up your pieces wrong side to wrong side, and pin. Don't forget to add your tassel or trim pieces where you'd like them. Which I clearly did in the above photo.
 

If you're adding a tassel, you might want to take this opportunity to trim the end with the tassel, since you won't be able to clip as neatly when it's sewn in place. I trimmed that end with my pinking shears, pinned the tassel in place, continued on. 

Step 4. Sew.
 

Sew your bookmark together with a seam allowance wide enough to account for your pinking shears, using a long topstitch. If you clipped the tassel end of your bookmark, you can sew a bit smaller allowance on that edge. You could also choose to zig zag for a decorative finish, or hand sew with embroidery floss for a pretty touch.

Step 5. Clip.
 

Trim your edges with your pinking shears & trim your threads.

Step 6. Add your ink.
 

I added my husbands initials, but you can add whatever you want to, or nothing at all. I used a fabric marker, and free handed his AJT III. You could opt to use a stencil also. Don't forget to heat set your marker if the manufacturer suggests to do so. Though, since it is just a bookmark, you could probably forget this step and be fine.

From start to finish, this project took me about 30 minutes, with a 22 month old on my lap helping me out the whole time. So without that aspect, you could probably pound one out in no time! I sense some pom-pom trim in my future.