How to Make an Easy Book Weight

Do you or your kids love to read? I have the perfect project for you today! I'm going to show you How To Sew A Book Weight & Fabric Bookmark! This is a very easy sewing project that you can get done in less than an hour. If you have ever tried to read a book with one hand while doing something else like eating or drinking with the other, you know how annoying it can be for the wind to blow your pages around causing you to lose your place. This simple little book weight is the perfect companion to your bookmark, as it will rest on the opposite page, keeping them in place. I wish I had made one of these sooner. Now I can actually enjoy reading outside! This simple sewing project is perfect for beginners. You'll just be sewing straight lines the entire time. I have a few fabric bookmarks, but the book weight is what really sets this project apart. You could choose fabric to make them a matching pair or give each one its own unique look.

I just used scrap fabric for this project, so it was basically free. You can make these for pennies. You'll just need some thread, some interfacing for stability and structure, also which could be from your scrap pile. Of course you'll need your sewing machine or you could do this project by hand if you really wanted. Once you have your fabric and supplies gathered up, let's get started!

What You'll Need:

• Scrap fabric
• Medium weight Interfacing – I'm using what I have on hand
• Filler-I tried rice and BB gun ammo
• Matching Thread
• Pinking shears
• Sewing Clips
• Fabric Marker
• Turning tool
• Sewing Machine
• Iron or heat press
• Thread Clippers
• Scissors
• Rotary Cutter, Cutting Mat, & Ruler

How To Sew A Book Weight & Fabric Bookmark

Step 1. Cut your fabric

The first thing we are going to do this how to sew a book weight & fabric bookmark tutorial is wash our fabric. Do not wash the interfacing. We are going to start with the book weight. Cut your fabric into a 5×9 inch rectangle. Then, cut you interfacing 8 5/8 x 4 5/8 inch.  You want the interfacing to be slightly smaller so it's not too bulky in the seams.

Step 2. Pin your interfacing

Place your interfacing on the wrong side of your fabric and pin it in place.

Step 3. Fold in half

Fold the fabric and interfacing in half length wise and clip shut.

Then sew the short ends shut and turn each corner just a little bit as indicated in the photo with the red lines.

Step 4. Press with an iron

Use an iron to turn the edges of the opening before you turn right side out. Clip the corners and turn the rectangle right side out.

You can use a Bodkin turning tool to make the corners nice and pointy. Use the iron to press the rectangle with the opening folded in. Then clip the opening shut.

Step 5. Sew sections into the book weight

I created three pockets in the book weight by sewing two lines down the width of the book weight.  This creates the pockets that will hold the weights. Also top stitch around the two short ends and the closed long side that are already sewn shut. The top will still be open so you can add the weight.

Step 6. Add weight

I made a book weight with rice and I made a book weight with BB gun pellets.  The one with rice worked on small books that didn't have very many pages.  It wasn't heavy enough for large books.  The book weight that had BB gun pellets worked great on small and large books.  So I would recommend using BB gun pellets.

You could also use plastic pellets like in this weighted blanket tutorial.  I think they would be heavier than rice and lighter than the BB gun pellets.

Fill each pocket with about 2 ounces of BB gun pellets, or 2 tsps.  Use a pin to hold the filler in place while you sew it shut.

Step 7. Sew shut

Sew the long edge shut by top stitching it. Now go try it out while reading.  This really comes in handy when I'm reading and eating at the same time.  Then I can use both my hands for eating.

Now that we have finished the book weight portion of this how to sew a book weight & fabric bookmark tutorial, we move on to the bookmark.

Step 1. Cut your fabric into strips

I used some scraps cut into two and three inch strips. I used two coordinating fabrics but you could use more. Make sure your scraps are wider than 2.5 inches and that when you sew them all together it will be longer than 9 inches. I used 5 pieces for each of my strips.

Step 2. Organize your strips and sew together

Organize your cut strips in the order you would like.  Then sew them together with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.  When they are all sewn together, iron the seam allowances open.

Step 3. Cut to size

First, cut your assembled strips to be 2.5 x 9 inches.   Then cut some medium weight interfacing to be 2 x 8.5 inches. This will keep your fabric bookmark sturdy.

Step 4. Sandwich fabric together

Sandwich the interfacing in between the two fabric pieces.  The fabric pieces need to have the right sides facing out.

Step 5. Sew shut

Use clips to keep your layers together and sew all the way around a 1/4 inch from the edge.

Step 6. Trim edge

Trim around the edge with pinking sheers for a cute added effect.

Step 7. Add decorative stitches (optional)

Use the decorative stitches on your machine to add some style to the bookmark. I chose a kite tail stitch.

Didn't they turn out so cute!  The book weight works really well and I love the colors of the fabric bookmark.

If you liked learning how to sew a book weight & fabric bookmark tutorial, make sure to pin it to your favorite Pinterest board or share it with friends on social media. If you decide to make this simple project on your own, make certain that you take a picture afterward and tag us on social media as we love seeing the fabrics and color choices that people use!

Active Time 45 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Estimated Cost $4.00

Instructions

1. Cut your fabric into a 5×9 inch rectangle. Then, cut your interfacing 8 5/8 x 4 5/8 inch.  You want the interfacing to be slightly smaller so it's not too bulky in the seams.
2. Place your interfacing on the wrong side of your fabric and pin it in place.
3. Fold the fabric and interfacing in half length wise and clip shut.
4. Then sew the short ends shut and turn each corner just a little bit as indicated in the photo with the red lines.
5. Use an iron to turn the edges of the opening before you turn right side out. Clip the corners and turn the rectangle right side out.
6. Use the iron to press the rectangle with the opening folded in. Then clip the opening shut.
7. I created three pockets in the book weight by sewing two lines down the width of the book weight.  Topstitch around the two short ends and the closed long side that are already sewn shut. The top will still be open so you can add the weight.
8. Fill each pocket with about 2 ounces of BB gun pellets, or 2 tsps.  Use a pin to hold the filler in place while you sew it shut.
9. Sew the long edge shut by stitching it.
10. Cut fabric for bookmark into two and three inch strips.
11. Organize your cut strips in the order you would like.  Then sew them together with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.  When they are all sewn together, iron the seam allowances open.
12. First, cut your assembled strips to be 2.5 x 9 inches.   Then cut some medium weight interfacing to be 2 x 8.5 inches. This will keep your fabric bookmark sturdy.
13. Sandwich the interfacing in between the two fabric pieces.  The fabric pieces need to have the right sides facing out.
14. Use clips to keep your layers together and sew all the way around a 1/4 inch from the edge.
15. Trim around the edge with pinking shears for a cute added effect.

More Fun Sewing Projects:

• How To Sew A Simple Clutch Purse
• Paint Brush Roll-Up Case – An Easy Sewing Project
• How To Sew A Coffee Mug Cozy
• How To Make Soap Saver Bags

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Source: https://beginnersewingprojects.com/how-to-sew-a-book-weight-fabric-bookmark/

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