Tutorial - No Sew Fabric Bookmark

by Melia Miller, IFOB member, 28 October 2018
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These bookmarks are a simple way to add some color to a book that you are gifting or to “save” a piece of fabric that you love.
Materials (Both should be slightly larger than the bookmark size you desire.):
  • a scrap of cotton or linen fabric
  • a scrap of medium weight fusible interfacing, such as Pellon 808 Craft-Fuse
​Tools:
  • a ruler
  • a fabric pencil
  • fabric scissors
  • a couple of sewing pins or clips (optional)
  • an iron
  • an ironing board
  • an ironing cloth (a piece of cotton fabric larger than the bookmark you want to make)
  • pinking shears (optional)
1) Using the ruler and the fabric pencil, mark your fabric scrap (on the back side, in case you make a mistake) with the shape of the bookmark you want. Your bookmark may need trimming at the end, so the shape you draw should be slightly larger than the desired size. The bookmark in the photo was cut to 9” by 2.5” (about 23 cm by 6.5 cm).
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2) Cut the fabric along the lines you made, using fabric scissors.
3) Place the fabric on top of the interfacing. You may use pins or clips to hold it in place, if you want. Cut the interfacing to the size and shape of the fabric.
4) Fuse the interfacing to the fabric, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Place the fabric face down. Lay the interfacing adhesive side (the shiny side) down on top of the fabric. Cover with a lightly dampened ironing cloth. Press the iron gently down on the bookmark for 15 seconds. Move the iron to the remaining part(s) of the bookmark and press down gently for another 15 seconds. Check to see if the interfacing is fully fused to the fabric. If not, repeat the ironing process again.
5) Sometimes the fabric or interfacing shifts a bit in the ironing process, and they don’t quite match up after fusing. If this is the case, trim the edges with the fabric scissors to straighten them. Alternatively, use pinking shears for zigzag edges. ​