DIY Fabric Bookmarks With Felt Applique

Hello everyone! I'm Damjana and I blog at AppleGreen Cottage, and I'm so happy to take part in National Sewing Month hosted by AllFreeSewing! Here's a super easy tutorial for fabric bookmarks with felt applique, a clever and simple scrapbusting idea for this fall.

These DIY bookmarks with felt applique are a quick and easy beginner sewing project, and they make wonderful personalized DIY presents for your loved ones. Check out this easy tutorial!

• BASE: a 9 by 6 inch (= 23cm x 15cm) large scrap of fabric
• A piece of fusible felt batting: 2 1/2 inch x 8 1/4 inch (= 6.5cm x 21cm) - i.e. in the finished bookmark size to avoid bulk on the stitching line)
• Optional: same dimension as felt batting: sturdy woven interfacing for additional stability
• A few felt scraps in your favorite colors
• Optional: a few cookie cutters (you'll see soon why)

1. First, cut the rectangular fabric piece for the base (dimensions above). You'll only need ONE piece per bookmark only. I made 4 bookmarks this time.

2. OPTIONAL, but good for stability and thickness: Apply fusible interfacing and batting to the base, one on each side as you see in the image above.

3. Fold under the seam allowance along both long edges of the fabric. Press.

4. Make sets for the felt applique combination for the flowers. The easiest way to get the form? I just traced a few cookie cutters and cut along the traced lines. For me, there's no easier way to do it! (So I might have made a few more than required, though they didn't make it into this photo...)

Depending on how many bookmarks you want to make, you'll probably only need 3 pieces per one. This is how I arranged my pieces.

5. Now, pin your felt applique-to-be on one half of the fabric. You'll remove the pins as you sew.

6. Select matching or contrasting threads (your choice!). Start sewing the lowest layer, and then add the smaller ones. Plain straight stitch, wide zigzag or decorative stitches - your choice!

Now, stitching. Follow along:

7. Seam allowance along the long edge of the fabric stays FOLDED (I pinned it, see?)

Then, unfold the center fold and re-fold it right-sides-together, so you see batting and stabilizer – see the image above.

8. Stitch over both short ends, using the 3/8" (= 1 cm) seam allowance.

9. Turn right side out. You can use a chopstick to help you do that.

A detail. See, the raw ends are neatly tucked in. Now's the time to press the fabric for a nice and crisp finish.

10. One long side is still open: edge-stitch around the entire bookmark. This way, you'll stitch the opening closed. Done!


Your bookmark is ready, now you just need to choose which book you'll start reading now. These DIY bookmarks will also make wonderful personalized presents for your loved ones.

For more of Damjana's beginner-friendly sewing projects, check out her blog, AppleGreen Cottage! Plus, for more easy and fun sewing projects by Damjana, visit her Free Patterns page.