Simple Cross Bookmarks
The first time my then-fiance and I visited a small country church in Maltby, Washington, we were given a hand-embroidered bookmark as a welcome gift. It was a very touching and thoughtful gesture, and remains a very special momento to us, as we were eventually married in that church. The same thoughtfulness, love and prayers can be knit into these simple and quick cross bookmarks, which make wonderful gifts. They are a great use for small leftover quantities of well-loved yarns. The lacier one is very feminine, while the narrower bookmark can be made of more masculine colors and textures.
LACEY CROSS BOOKMARK WITH SILK RIBBON
Materials: several yards of Alchemy Haiku, off white, and 1 yard of silk ribbon, 1/2" or 5/8". Sewing thread to match ribbon. Gauge: 3.5 - 4 st per inch. Gauge is not critical. With size 11 needle, co 8 stitches very loosely: leave 1/4" space between the loops, and 1/2" space between loops 4 and 5. With size 9 needle: ROW 1: sl 1, k3, yo, k4. ROw 2: sl 1, k3, drop yo, yo, k4. Repeat Rows 1 & 2 for a total of 18 rows. ROw 19: (kl, yo), rep $_{x2}$ , k1, drop yo, yo, (k1, yo), rep x2, k1 ROw 20: sl 1, (drop yo, kl), rep x2, yo, k1, (drop yo, kl), rep x2. Repeat Rows 1 & 2 four more times. BO.
Steam flat with a light spray of starch
Weave silk ribbon horizontally into row 19, making a complete loop. Overlap the edges in the center and secure with a few small sewn stitches. Weave the ribbon vertically into the center column of yo's, crossing over the horizontal piece of ribbon from both sides. Leave tails of ribbon 8 or 10 “ long off the top edge. Place a few small securing sewn stitches where the vertical ribbon overlaps the horizontal. Steam flat.
NARROW CROSS BOOKMARK
Materials: small leftover quantity of sock weight yarn, and about 1 yard of a heavier weight yarn in a contrasting color. Gauge: 5-6 st per inch. Gauge is not critical.
With size 2 needle: CO 6 stitches very loosely: leave 1/4" space between loops 3 and 4. ROW 1: kl, pl, kl, yo, kl, pl, kl. ROw 2: kl, pl, kl, drop yo, yo, kl, pl, kl. Repeat Rows 1 & 2 for about 4". NEXT ROW: kl, yo, kl, yo, kl, drop yo, yo, kl, yo, kl, yo, kl. NEXT ROW: kl, drop yo, kl, drop yo, kl, drop yo, yo, kl, drop yo, kl, drop yo, kl. Repeat Rows 1 & 2 for another inch or so. BO.
Steam flat with a light spray of starch. Weave the contrasting yarn into the vertical column, starting at the top. Leave a long tail for the braided tassel cord. When you reach the bottom, weave upward again to the yo row, then weave the horizontal parts of the cross each direction, then commence upwards, leaving a long tail for the cord. Attach a third length of yarn at the top, braid the three, and add a tassel. Steam press.
