How to make a Fabric Bookmark from Scraps

Recently, my son and I finished reading The Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White together. Throughout the book, we used a simple blue bookmark we had made ourselves from a scrap of denim and a little bit of embroidery.

It wasn’t anything fancy, but somehow it made our reading time feel a little more special. Every evening, when we opened the book, there it was waiting for us.

Now we’ve started reading My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George, a story about a boy who leaves home to live in the wilderness. I read it years ago with my older son and he loved it, so I was looking forward to sharing it again.

Before we got too far into the story, I decided to make another bookmark.

I have a basket filled with fabric scraps collected from various sewing and craft projects over the years, and I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to turn a few of those leftover pieces into something useful.

At first, I considered making a plain bookmark and adding some embroidery, perhaps a bird or a falcon inspired by the story. Then I found a piece of fabric covered in feathers and knew it would be perfect.

So today I’m sharing this simple fabric bookmark project with you.

Why I Love Making Fabric Scrap Bookmarks

One of my favourite things about sewing is finding ways to use small pieces of fabric that might otherwise be forgotten.

Scrap fabric bookmarks are quick to make, practical, and a lovely way to use even the smallest leftovers. You don’t need much fabric, and you don’t need any special skills either. In fact, this is an easy sewing project for beginners and a wonderful way to practise simple hand stitching.

They’re also one of those projects that fit easily into everyday life. You can make one in an afternoon, use it straight away, or tuck a few aside as handmade gifts for fellow book lovers.

For an avid reader, a handmade bookmark is a small but meaningful gift. It’s useful, personal, and reminds me that simple handmade things often bring the most joy.

Materials You’ll Need

For this project you’ll need:

Two small fabric pieces (the size you’d like your finished bookmarks to be)
Needle and thread
Pins
An iron
Fabric scissors

Optional materials:

Interfacing to make the bookmark more sturdy
A sewing machine if you prefer machine sewing
A piece of ribbon or yarn tassel for decoration
A thin piece of cardboard for extra structure

The wonderful thing about DIY fabric bookmarks is that you can adapt them to whatever you already have on hand.

Step 1: Choose Your Fabric

The first step is simply choosing your fabric.

I spent a few minutes looking through my collection of fabric scraps before deciding on a feather print fabric that reminded me of the wilderness setting in My Side of the Mountain.

Almost any type of fabric will work for this project. Quilting cotton is especially easy to use, but you can also experiment with linen, denim, or fabric left over from other sewing projects.

Choose something that makes you happy. One of the pleasures of handmade bookmarks is that they can reflect your personality, your favourite colours, or even the book you’re currently reading.

Step 2: Cut Your Bookmark Pieces

Once you’ve chosen your fabric, decide how large you’d like your bookmark to be.

I like long, narrow bookmarks that sit comfortably between the book pages without sticking out too much, so I cut two matching rectangles from my feather-print fabric.

The exact size isn’t important. One of the things I love about projects like this is that they’re very forgiving. You can make your bookmark wider, narrower, longer, or shorter depending on your preference.

If you’re working with particularly precious fabric scraps, simply use whatever size works best with the pieces you have available.

Step 3: Press the Edges

Next, I ironed the fabric to remove the creases.

This might seem like a small step, but it makes the whole project much easier. Smooth fabric is easier to fold, pin, and sew, and the finished bookmark looks neater as well.

After ironing, I folded the raw edges inward and pressed them flat.

If you have interfacing, this would be a good time to add it. Interfacing helps create a sturdier bookmark and gives it a little more structure.

I didn’t have any on hand, so I decided to keep things simple.

Step 4: Trim the Corners

Before sewing the bookmark together, I trimmed the corners slightly.

This helps reduce bulk and allows the corners to fold more neatly.

To do this, I opened each corner and made a simple diagonal cut so that the folded edges would come together more easily. The folds reminded me a little of an envelope, which is why I sometimes think of this as the “envelope method.”

It’s a small detail, but it makes the finished bookmark look much tidier.

Once all four corners were folded into place, I pressed everything again with the iron.

Step 5: Pin the Layers Together

Next, I placed the two layers of fabric together and secured them with a few pins.

You don’t need many pins for a project this small. Just enough to stop the fabric from shifting while you sew.

If the fabric feels a little bulky or refuses to stay flat, another quick press with the iron can help.

Step 6: Sew Around the Edge

I chose a contrasting yellow thread. A matching thread would have worked perfectly well too, but I enjoy seeing the stitches.

For this bookmark, I used simple hand sewing.

You could absolutely use a sewing machine if you’d like a faster finish or a more uniform line of stitching. A decorative stitch could look lovely as well.

Personally, though, I enjoy hand sewing. I like the slower pace and the slightly imperfect look it creates.

A simple running stitch works beautifully for this project, but you could also use a backstitch, blanket stitch, or whip stitch depending on the look you prefer.

👉Five Most Important Basic Hand Sewing Stitches For Beginners

I used a whipstitch for this bookmark, which you can see in the video below.

Ways to Personalise Your Fabric Bookmark

One of the nicest things about DIY fabric bookmarks is how easy they are to customise.

This feather-print version felt perfect for My Side of the Mountain, but there are so many different ways you could make this project your own.

A few ideas:

Embroidery. Stitch a tiny flower, a moon and stars, an initial or a simple word like “read” on the front before you sew the two pieces together.
Applique. Cut a small heart, leaf or shape from felt or another fabric and stitch it onto the front piece.
A ribbon loop. Fold a 4-inch piece of ribbon in half and sandwich the raw ends between the two fabric pieces at the top before sewing. When you turn it right side out, you’ll have a sweet loop poking from the top.
A tassel or button. Sew a small button to the top, or attach a little thread tassel to the ribbon loop.
A line of running stitch. Sew a simple decorative line around the edge of the finished bookmark in contrasting thread.

Do the decorating before you sew the two rectangles together, so your stitches stay hidden on the inside.

You could even make a set of handmade bookmarks to give as great gifts. They are quick to make, use very little fabric, and are a thoughtful present for anyone who enjoys reading.

The finished bookmark isn’t complicated, and that’s part of what I like about it.

I think that’s why I enjoy simple craft projects so much. They’re not just about creating something beautiful. They’re about slowing down, working with your hands, and bringing a little more creativity into everyday life.

And unlike many larger sewing projects, this one can be completed in a single afternoon.

Watch the Video Tutorial

If you’d like to see the entire process, you can watch the video tutorial below.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a sewing machine to make fabric bookmarks?

No, hand-sewing works beautifully for this project. A small backstitch is strong enough to hold the seams for years, and the project is small enough that hand-stitching only takes about half an hour to an hour.

How do I make a fabric bookmark stiffer?

Iron a piece of fusible interfacing between the fabric pieces, or slip a thin cardboard inside the bookmark before you close the opening. Cut the stiffener slightly smaller than the finished bookmark so it fits cleanly inside without bunching the edges.

Can children make these too?

Yes, fabric bookmarks are a lovely beginner project for kids who are learning to sew. The straight seams are forgiving, and they can practice basic stitches on something small and useful. A simple running stitch works fine in place of a backstitch.

What’s the best stitch for sewing a fabric bookmark by hand?

A small backstitch is the strongest choice for the seams because it doesn’t pull apart. For closing the turning gap at the end, a slip stitch is nearly invisible and gives a clean finish. A blanket stitch looks very nice and decorative too.

Can I make fabric bookmarks as gifts?

Yes, they make wonderful small gifts. Tuck one inside a favourite book, tie a set together with twine, or pair one with a journal or a packet of tea for a sweet handmade present.

If you have a basket of fabric scraps waiting to be used, perhaps this is the perfect excuse to pull them out and create something small and useful.

👉39 Simple Hand-Sewing Projects You Can Make with Fabric Scraps

I’d love to hear from you in the comments:

What are you reading at the moment? And do you enjoy making handmade bookmarks or other small sewing projects?

How to Make a Fabric Bookmark from Scraps (Easy Sewing Project)