It is hard to be able to focus these days. I have a weaving design that I aspire to bring from concept stage to the loom, but I am just not ready to take that leap. Instead of biting off a very challenging weaving project this week, I decided to embrace a smaller, satisfying project that will require less time, materials, and mental bandwidth to bring to completion : bookmarks! And I’m sharing my draft and directions here in case you’d like to weave some bookmarks, too, for your Valentines. The warp length presented here should provide you with 10 bookmarks that measure approximately 2.25″ x 8″ (which includes fringe on each end).
Disclaimer: this project will not show you how to hemstitch, how to warp your loom, or decipher a weaving draft. This project is intended for advancing weavers with 4-6 shafts available on their looms. Pattern support for rigid heddle weavers is not available.
Structure: twill
Equipment: 6 shafts (if you thread plain weave selvedges) or 4 shafts (in which case you will need floating selvedges on each side); 10 dent reed (thread 2 ends per dent) or 20 dent reed (thread 1 end per dent); 1 shuttle
Yarn: Warp: 5/2 mercerized cotton in white or natural (2,100 yd/lb); 160 yds. Weft: 5/2 mercerized cotton in color of your choosing (2,100 yd/lb); about 8 yards per bookmark.
Other supplies: tapestry needle for hemstitching; rotary cutter; cutting mat; ruler; cardboard spacers cut to about 3/4″ x 5″ (have at least 2 ready).
Warp length: 52 ends 3 yards long. If you want to weave over 4 shafts, omit 6 ends (total of 46), use floating selvedges, and adjust the tie-up shown below.
Sett: 20 epi (1 per dent in a 20 dent reed or 2 per dent in a 10 dent reed).
Width in the reed: about 2.6″
Here is my draft: (this is not available as a .wif or a Google doc — this is a screenshot of the draft.
Note: measurements for warp are for the 6 shaft design.
Wind your warp, warp your loom in the manner that makes you most happy. Center for a weaving width of about 2.6″ on the loom.
Wind a shuttle with 5/2 mercerized cotton in the color of your choice. Spread the warp with scrap yarn.
Insert a cardboard spacer of about 1/2″-3/4″ wide; this will allow for fringe.
Leaving a tail of about 20″, weave two picks of plain weave, as shown in the draft above. Use the “tail” to hemstitch over 4 ends of warp.
Continue to weave as shown in the draft above. (I pull out the cardboard spacers after weaving a couple of inches and reuse them for the subsequent bookmarks). Finish with two picks of plain weave as shown, and hemstitch as you did at the beginning of the bookmark.
Insert two 1/2″ – 3/4″ spacers in the warp; this will allow for fringe on the bookmark you’ve just finished and subsequent bookmarks.
Weave as many bookmarks as your warp allows. If you want longer bookmarks, repeat the either the straight twill portion of the draft or the middle, point twill portion of the draft. They’re bookmarks! Have fun!
Here is one of my bookmarks on the loom:
Cut your bookmarks from the loom. Give the bookmarks a soak in warm water and hang to dry. Press. Cut apart your bookmarks using a ruler and a rotary cutter; each bookmark will have about 1/2″ fringe on each end.
Find a good book to read and share your extra bookmarks with your friends.
Happy Valentine’s Day.
Be well,
Kate K.
Kate Kilgus 
Sweet! Thank you!❤️
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