Funny how I am both a crocheter and a book lover, yet I didn’t have any bookmarks. Personally, I don’t like e-books because I feel like books should get me off my phone. I am just starting to get into e-books since hardcover books are hard to find around me, but when I see a hard book, I’d rather stick with it.
I think one reason I didn’t think about bookmarks is that I usually finish my books in at least 3 to 4 days, so didn’t really see the need for a bookmark or never thought of it. I just fold the tip or the middle of the book to indicate where I stopped.
But a few days ago, I picked up one of my novels which I was reading before I got so occupied with school stuff and abandoned it. I saw the damage folding books can cause; it literally deforms the book.
I left this book folded for like two months, which I have never done before. When I saw this, I really beat myself up about it, I am not someone who re-read novels, so it is either I give it out or swap it and I don’t find giving out a deformed book (deliberately made by me) pleasing.
At that moment, I decided to make a crochet bookmark. I didn’t want to make just straight chains, so I searched online for some inspiration. I saw a smiley face bookmark, and I chose to make it to my preference. One side would be a smiley face and the other would be a sad face.
Since what I mostly read is novels, fictional novels to be precise, the idea of making it two-faced is that I can place the bookmark according to the mood of the book. If I am in a tragic part, I place the sad face, and if I am in a happy part, I place the smiley face. You get the idea right ?
It is so nice and convenient. I am sure I will be making more bookmarks from now on. This bookmark is a very easy to make, and it can be done by someone with little or no idea about crochet in a very short time.
A brief tutorial...
Make a magic ring.
Crochet in the ring any amount of stitches you want to start with, using any stitches of your choice.
In the second row, make an increase.
In the third row, make a stitch, then an increase.
If you want it to be big, you can make a fourth row, making two stitches then an increase.
The next step is to use a needle with a different colour yarn to make a smiley face or any kind of face. This might be the only tricky part in making this bookmark, but it is quite easy if you are patient with it.
- After making the two circles with the design of your choice, attach them with a slip stitch. Finally, you make a long strap.
I made both big and small ones because novels and books vary in size. Although I don’t have a big-size novel with me right now, I just used my diary as a reference.
Anyway, I love it, and I believe I have been missing out. I will surely make more bookmarks with time.
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All images are mine. Thumbnail designed using Canva.
