How To Make A Needlepoint Bookmark

On this page we show you how to make a needlepoint bookmark, from start to finish. It's a relatively quick and easy project and the materials you need are easy to come by - you may even have them in your home already.

Things You Will Need:

First of all, you need a needlepoint canvas with a design.

The design we have used for this project is called Infinity, and we make suggestions as to thread choices based on this design. However, do not feel you are restricted to this design. You can:

• Purchase the Infinity design shown with the project, or select from a range of other bookmark designs, by clicking here. These cost $15.
• Head to your nearest independent needlepoint store and see what bookmark designs they have in stock.
• Paint your own 6" x 1" (or thereabouts) design. Instructions for handpainting a design onto canvas are here.

• Two skeins of DMC 310 for the black background
• One skein of DMC Metallic 5279 (bronze)
• One skein of DMC Metallic 5284 (Gold)
• One spool of Kreinik Metallic 001 (Silver)

Although this is what we used, you can use any threads you like - as long as they match the canvas you are stitching of course!

Tip No.1. Be aware that when stitching with metallics you should use a shorter thread length. This is because metallics tend to shred and cannot withstand being pulled through the canvas numerous times.

Tip No.2. We found that where a cotton thread could be used 6-stranded for the 18 mesh canvas, using the entire 6 strands of the metallic thread ended up in a shredded mess.

It was a bit like eating an ice cream on a hot day. One minute you had something desirable and lovely looking, the next minute you are left with a mess in your hands.

The trick is to split the threads. For an 18 mesh canvas, when using a metallic, you should only use 3 or 4 of the threads. This won't give you quite the same coverage, but with a handpainted canvas you have nice metallic paint-work behind the stitches, so the effect is fine. And no shredded mess! We like that.

Other things you will need for this project are:

• A needle. For 18 mesh canvas, a size 22 needle should do the trick.
• Fabric glue
• Backing fabric, cut 3 mm larger all the way around than your design area. We used adhesive felt for our project as the adhesive helped secure the felt in place while we worked. This is available at craft stores. However, the adhesive is not essential as you can glue the backing to the needlepoint, so use scraps of ultrasuede, or any other heavy fabric that matches your design.
• Scissors.

Let's Get Started

Obviously, the first thing you will do is stitch the needlepoint bookmark. For instructions on how to needlepoint, click here. Whether or not you use a frame to hold the needlepoint in place is up to you. This is a small project and so you can probably just work it free-hand without too much distortion. (So we won't tell if you don't use a frame.)

Once the needlepoint bookmark has been stitched, if there is distortion of the canvas you will need to block it, or stretch it back into shape. If the distortion is minor, you can probably do this by dampening a cloth and laying it over the design. Then, run an iron over the damp cloth and pull the edges of the canvas back into shape. Don't burn your fingers!

If this is not enough then follow the instructions here for blocking a needlepoint canvas.

So, you have a stitched, rectangular piece of needlepoint. Trim the canvas approximately 1/3" all the way around and snip the corners as shown in the picture. Take care not to snip the stitches.

Fold the canvas "wings" back against the wrong side of the design and use the fabric glue to glue these in place.


Try to catch any loose canvas threads with the glue so they sit back against the canvas.

NB: If your backing fabric is non-adhesive, then apply a small amount of fabric glue to the back of it, and particularly around the edges, so that it adheres itself to the needlepoint canvas when you apply it.

Try to line it up so that it extends evenly all the way around. Remember you cut the backing fabric slightly larger than the design area? This is so that when you press it onto the needlepoint canvas it comes around the sides a little way and covers any spots of bare canvas that might otherwise show through. Press the backing fabric firmly onto the canvas so that it sits nicely. The photo shows you what you should see from the front.

Now you need to finish the edges, and a blanket stitch is the best way to do this.

Choose one of the threads you used for the design (it is best to use one that most closely matches the design background and/or the backing fabric). Using 3 strands of the thread, blanket stitch all the way around the bookmark. This will give it a nice finish and will hold the edges of the backing fabric down.

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