Bookmarks - how to finish the back?

[Sylvia Vogel]

I've recently bought a cross-stitch pattern for a bookmark, which I'm
planning on doing on Aida 14.
The only problem is, I've never cross-stitched a bookmark before, and
there are no instructions included on how to finish the back of it.

Any suggestions, hints, tips on how to do this, or does anyone know of
any places on the Web where I might find some help?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Sylvia

[Velvet]

One thing I had suggested to me, when I did mine, was to stitch some
fabric on the back (like some muslin, or satin, or something). That
wasn't an option for me at the time. I ended up using a very light coat
of clear-drying stitchers glue (like no-fray, but the generic version),
that didn't dry stiff. I just used a 1" wide paint brush to make sure I
got an even coat on it and gave it enough time to dry (since I'm not
expecting the bookmark to be around for ages and ages). No stiffness,
and according to DH's grandmother (whom the bookmark was for), it's
still quite nice, doesn't stick, holding up beautifully!

--
.|.
- * - Jen Persinger
(\o /|` ** mom to Alyxa Brianna (21 Sept 1997)
(VXV E-Mail: vel...@rootaction.net ICQ: 35217570
/| URL: http://cainan.shutdown.com/~velvet

[Leon & Beth MacKeage]

I use fusible interfacing on the backs of mine. I just cut it to fit and
iron it on. Works great.

Beth - ;) http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=152621
http://www.cyberstitchcafe.com/beth's_room.htm

"Sylvia Vogel" <syl...@mrl.ucsb.edu> wrote in message
news:3B0074CB...@mrl.ucsb.edu...

[Sheena Mackenzie]

Just finished doing one. This is easy and tidy. I took a piece of
satin ribbon same width as the book mark and ironed on some bondaweb
(gluey stuff) to the bookmark. Stripped the paper off and pressed the
ribbon on and presto, nicely backed bookmark. Two of us used the same
method and it worked for both. My friend thought of how to do it and told
me. I usually have awful problems putting things like that together but
this was really easy. I had bought the bondaweb in the UK but they have
an equivalent product this side of the pond. It is basically glue both
sides but covered in paper which you pull off when you have ironed it on
the first side.

[Margaret March]

I'm in the process of charting a bookmark design and I was trying to
figure out how to stitch the edge..I've done this sort of thing on plastic
canvas where you stitch an edge around and you're done, but I'm not sure
how to go about it on cross stitch canvas...in order to get a trim and
neat edge can I fold the material and then stitch the outside edge of
cross stitch right through both layers? I wanted to have the design go to
the edge of the bookmark if possible...anyone have any ideas on this?
Margaret

Avalon Stitchery (T.M.)
Webpage address to be announced at a later date...

[Sheena Mackenzie]

Mine was done on that aida fabric that has the finished side edges, saves a
great deal of bother. Sheena

[Kim Brown]

Well, you can iron on some interfacing for a light coverage that will
also stabilise the bookmark. You could stitch on a scrap of pretty
fabric to cover the stitches at the back. You could glue on some thin
felt or baize. Or you could stitch an identical bookmark and then whip
the two together to make a double-sided item.

FWIW, I use the prefinished aida band for bookmarks because then I don't
have to fiddle with those annoying edges. They need such small hems,
that I find I can't even see well enough to manage them! Darned things!
If you have a sewing machine it would be as easy as pie to simply place
some printed fabric right sides together on the b'mark and stitch around
three sides. Turn the whole thing inside out and slip stitch the closure
by hand.

HTH,
--
Trish {|:OI}
Newcastle, NSW, Australia

[biig]

It's me again

I forgot to mention that I leave six rows on each end and just fray
three rows......Sharon

[biig]

I've done several dozen of these and used aida band with the
crocheted edge. I don't do anything to the back but it sounds like a
good idea to fuse some nice ribbon on the back with fusible web. I'll
try that next time. ......Sharon

[Kathy Potter]

Hi Sylvia,
I am just in the process of working a whole pile of Textile Heritage
bookmark kits that I picked up cheaply. They tell you to turn up the ends,
and
then sew a piece of satin ribbon over the whole back, they also suggest that
you
slip a very thin piece of cardboard in between the ribbon and the back of
the work
to stiffen it. I suppose the bonding web may do that as well. I think I will
try both ways and see.
Kathy.

Sylvia Vogel <syl...@mrl.ucsb.edu> wrote in message
news:3B0074CB...@mrl.ucsb.edu...

[Jamie Quiroga]

No, no, no, no, no! You stitch the bookmarks in marking and Holbein stitch
(completely reversible) and then you hemstitch the sides and top edge and
buttonhole the bottom just above a hand-knotted fringe. Philistines! 100
lashes with a wet copy of Martha Stewart "Living!"

Just kidding, although I HAVE done this, just to see if I could;)

-Jamie

"Kathy Potter" <redf...@bigpond.net.au> wrote in message
news:IxmM6.55678$ff.4...@news-server.bigpond.net.au...

[Dawne Peterson]

If you can match the width more or less, ribbon sewn on the back is a good
way to finish a bookmark--no hemming of the sides.
Dawne

[Sheena Mackenzie]

But Holbein would seriously limit the design you could do. Might be all right
for a few designs but not all encompassing. Sheena