Adding a Backing to a Cross-Stitch Bookmark - Tutorial

by Kelly

When I started making cross-stitch bookmarks, I faced a dilemma. As a book lover, I didn't want a bookmark that was too thick, because then it might damage the spine of the book. On the other hand, the stitched bookmark really needed some kind of backing, to cover up the less than pretty back.

After trying quite a few methods, I finally found one that works - adding a ribbon back with double stick fusible webbing. It's super fast and easy and all you need is the bookmark, the webbing, some ribbon, and an iron.
 
First, set your iron to the heat setting recommended on the webbing package. While that's warming up, cut your bookmark, your ribbon, and a piece of the webbing to an identical size.

Next, peel off one layer of backing from the webbing. This will expose a layer of sticky stuff.

Place the backing, sticky side down, onto your bookmark and iron lightly. I usually just set the hot iron on the bookmark for a count of four, then lift it off. By the way, if you don't happen to have an ironing board, two layers of bath towels on the kitchen counter works just fine. (At least, for solid surface counter tops.)

Peel the next layer off of the backing. Look, another layer of sticky stuff.

You'll notice that I have two 'seam allowance' side flaps on the bookmark above. This probably isn't necessary - I just like to be sure that the side edges are as sturdy as possible, since they seem to wear out first.

Place the ribbon on the bookmark, making sure the edges are lined up the way you want them, because after the next step, there's no going back.

Now iron again - you'll need to iron a little longer this time, to make sure all those layers are fully adhered.

That's it! You're done.

Looks like I'm going to have to trim that ribbon a little. But that's okay - I don't have to worry about fraying edges, because the webbing acts like glue and holds loose threads together.

Ta-da! All done. Less trouble then sewing, and not as thick or messy as gluing on a piece of felt. And there are miles and miles of pretty ribbon at the craft store, so they're sure to have one that matches your stitching.

 

Oh, and if you are mistake prone like me, here are a few helpful tips to get you out of the mess...

How to remove fusible webbing

If you make a mistake with your first experiments with fusible webbing, don't freak out. Soak your project in lukewarm water for a few minutes, then use your fingernail or a soft toothbrush to gently scrub away the fusible webbing. Please be aware that I have never tried this with old projects, only new ones, or projects a few days old. I found this out by accident when I tried to clean a completed bookmark.

If you get sticky stuff on your teflon coated iron, let the iron cool and use vinegar and a soft toothbrush to clean it. I got that tip here. Vinegar is cheap and does so many things...I hope nobody gets a patent on the stuff, or we'll be paying an arm and a leg for it.

I've added some bookmarks to the shop. Give them a look here, if you have a second.

Some Why's of Knitting/Crocheting

Well, well, well, you learn something new every day.

Now I've been crocheting for about...wow...17 years. Yet, I never really looked into the why's of crocheting. Why make a gauge? Why am I supposed to use this yarn? Why can't I use another type of hook?

And the big one....WHY are there so many types of yarns and what do they mean?

Well....I'll tell you!

I did some searching and found a great article. It is mainly pointed towards knitters but it's interesting for crocheters too. It explains why the type, or weight, of yarn used matters, why your gauge matters and even how to adjust your pattern and/or needles to accommodate a different type of yarn. This is done via a chart showing the average difference between the yarns in regards to stitches.

Now, all of this still depends on if you tend to stitch loosely or tightly. I always stitch tighter so a lot of times I have to use a hook one size up to get the correct gauge.

Happy Knitting/Crocheting!!!

How to Embroider Eyes on Crocheted Toys (Amigurumi)

by Kelly


I thought it would be fun to make a little video tutorial showing a few neat tricks I learned while making eyes for my amigurumi bears. Little did I know that many hours of computer time and much help from my loving, tech savvy husband would be required. Lesson learned.

Also, the video is longer than I thought it would be. It sure doesn't seem like it takes almost four minutes to sew one darn eye on a toy bear, but apparently it does. Which makes me wonder how long it takes me to do other simple tasks, like washing dishes or sweeping the floor. It really puts a whole new perspective on things, and certainly makes me even less inclined to do the housekeeping. But I digress.

So, here is the video. There is one thing that you need to know before watching this - embroiderers thread their needles differently than other people. First, cut a long length of embroidery floss. I measure it from my fingertips to my shoulder. Seperate one strand of the floss and fold that one strand in half by putting the two cut ends together. Now thread both cut ends through the eye of the needle. You'll end up with a loop on one end. It sounds weird, but this works better because there is no knot on the end.

Trust me. The video shows how this works.






So, there you go. A simple (ha!), little (four minutes!) video on how to embroider eyes on a toy.  Have fun!