These easy-to-sew corner bookmarks are quick to make, attractive, and a perfect way to use up fabric scraps. They make thoughtful, handmade gifts that any reader will appreciate.
Getting a Gift and Making a Gift – Easy Sew Corner Bookmarks
One of my favorite perks of book events is receiving small handmade gifts from readers. These thoughtful tokens—often crafted by hand—mean a lot.
On a recent tour, a reader gave me a charming hand-drawn portrait of a character from my book. Another reader made and gifted a sewn corner bookmark. I loved it so much I started making more when I got home.
Bookmarks are practical and delightful, and I enjoy making them in colorways that complement a book cover when I’m giving a book as a present. They’re a quick sewing project, a satisfying way to use up scraps, and can be completed in minutes.
If you’d like to make your own, follow this straightforward tutorial and enjoy creating a small, personalized gift.
What You Need to Make Easy Sew Corner Bookmarks
Gather basic sewing equipment and notions: a sewing machine, an iron and pressing surface, pins, thread, a ruler, and a pointer or stylus for turning corners. A rotary cutter and cutting mat make cutting easier, but scissors will work.
Materials for each bookmark:
- Three 4-inch squares of 100% cotton fabric (front, back, and corner)
- Three 4-inch squares of lightweight, non-woven fusible interfacing
You can use a single fabric or mix two or three coordinating prints or solids. Contrasting colors and patterns add interest and make the bookmarks pop.
Prepping and Stitching
Step 1: Place an interfacing square, fusible side down, on the wrong side of each front and back fabric square. Press with a hot iron to fuse.
Step 2: Cut the remaining interfacing square in half diagonally. Place one triangle, fusible side down, on the wrong side of the corner fabric square and press. Fold the corner square on the diagonal with the interfacing on the wrong side and press the folded edge.
Step 3: Position the folded corner piece in one corner of the top fabric square with right sides together. Layer the bottom fabric square on top of the stack, right sides together.
Step 4: Pin through all layers along each side of the square. Mark the bottom edge about one inch in from each corner to indicate an opening to leave unstitched.
Step 5: Using a 1/4-inch seam, stitch around all four sides, beginning at the first mark and stopping at the second mark to leave the opening. Backstitch at the start and end and clip threads.
Turning and Topstitching
Step 6: Clip the outside corners carefully without cutting the stitches. Turn the piece right side out and use a stylus or turning tool to push out the corners neatly.
Step 7: Press the bookmark to set the seams. Topstitch around all four edges about 1/8 inch from the edge to close the opening and give the bookmark a crisp, finished look. Clip threads.
Tips and Notes
This is an easy project for anyone with basic sewing experience. Once your fabric and interfacing are cut, you can sew a bookmark in about ten minutes.
- Because there are multiple layers, some machines and feet handle the bulk better than others. A walking foot can help, but test to see whether your regular foot performs better.
- A turning tool or stylus is helpful for pushing out tight corners cleanly.
- Use a lightweight interfacing to reduce bulk and keep the bookmark neat.
- If you have difficulty sewing through the layers, consider omitting the interfacing from the corner piece only; keep interfacing on the front and back for structure.
For easy printing, the basic instructions are provided below without images. If you need visuals, refer to the images earlier in this post.
Happy sewing—and happy reading!
Easy Sew Corner Bookmarks: A Fabric Scrap Project
- Author: Marie Bostwick
Ingredients
Equipment and notions: Sewing machine, iron and ironing surface, pins, thread, ruler, pointer or stylus for turning the fabric, rotary cutter and cutting mat or scissors.
Materials: Three 4-inch squares of 100% cotton fabric. Three 4-inch squares of lightweight, non-woven fusible interfacing.
Instructions
Step 1: Lay an interfacing square, fusible side down, on the wrong side of the front and back squares. Press with a hot iron to fuse the interfacing to the fabric.
Step 2: Cut the remaining interfacing square in half diagonally. Place one interfacing triangle on the wrong side of the corner square and press. Fold the corner square on the diagonal with the interfacing to the wrong side and press the folded edge.
Step 3: Position the folded corner in a corner of the top fabric square, right sides together. Layer the bottom fabric square on top, right sides together.
Step 4: Pin through all layers on all four sides. Mark the bottom edge about an inch in from both corners to leave the space between the marks unsewn.
Step 5: Using a quarter-inch seam, stitch around all four sides, beginning at the first mark and ending at the second mark, leaving an opening. Backstitch at the start and end and clip threads.
Step 6: Clip the corners carefully without cutting stitches. Turn the square right side out and use a turning tool to push out the corners.
Step 7: Press the bookmark to set the seams. Topstitch about an eighth of an inch from the edge around all four sides to close the opening and finish the piece. Clip threads.