While pottering around the bookshelf today, I rediscovered an old edition of Pride and Prejudice, the pages are all brown, it has that old book smell, and it is beautifully bound. Don’t you just love this about old books? I found it in a thrift shop years ago. I did receive an i-pad for Christmas and I do love being able to carry it around and read my Kindle books off of it and write notes for my book, but to me there is nothing like holding a real book in my hands, the feel of the pages, the paper, sometimes mat and smooth, sometimes rough and thick….. oh I do love books!
So while looking through this wonderful book, a book that I first read years ago when I was in school, I thought I would knit a simple and easy bookmark that could be a gift for Valentine’s Day. It has a small heart at the base and is knitted in garter and stocking stitch with a small loop at the top.
I have knitted mine in red for the occasion of Valentine’s Day, but it would look beautiful in a cream cotton for instance, too.
Materials:
Dk Merino or cotton oddments of yarn, perhaps 20 grams
4mm straight needles
Wool needle for sewing in the ends
Scissors
Fun!
Pattern:
Cast on 15 stitches
Knit 3 rows in garter stitch
Row 4: Knit 3, purl 9, knit 3
Row 5: Knit
Row 6: Knit 3, purl 9, knit 3
Row 7: Knit
Row 8: Knit 3, purl 9, knit 3
Row 9: Knit 7, purl 1, knit7
Row 10: Knit 3, purl 3, knit 3, purl 3, knit3
Row 11: Knit 5, purl 5, knit 5
Row 12: Knit 3, purl 1, knit 7, purl 1, knit3
Row 13: Knit 4, purl 7, knit 4
Row 14: Knit 3, purl1, knit 7, purl 1, knit 3
Row 15: Knit 4, purl 3, knit 1, purl 3, knit 4
Row 16: Knit 3, purl 1, knit 3, purl 1, knit 3, purl 1, knit 3
Row 17: Knit 5, purl 1, knit 3, purl 1, knit 5
Row 18: Knit 3, purl 9, knit 3
Row 19: Knit
Row 20: Knit 3, purl 9, knit 3
Continue alternating rows 19 and 20 until the bookmark measures 7 inches finishing on a wrong side row.
Knit 2 together, knit 1, purl 1, knit 7, purl 1, knit 1, knit 2 together. (13 stitches)
Knit 3, purl 7, knit 3
Knit 2 together, knit 1, purl1, knit 5, purl 1, knit 1, knit 2 together. (11 stitches)
Knit 3, purl 5, knit 3
Knit 2 together, knit 1, purl 5, knit 1, knit 2 together. (9 stitches)
Knit 2 together, knit 5, knit 2 together (7 stitches)
Knit 2 together, knit 3, knit 2 together (5 stitches)
Knit 2 together, knit 1, knit 2 together (3 stitches)
Loop:
Alternate these 2 rows for 2 inches
Knit 1, purl 1, knit 1
Purl 1, knit 1, purl 1
Cast off
Sewing Up:
Sew in all the ends and bend loop to the back and sew in to form a loop.
Blocking:
Dampen the bookmark and pin into shape on a soft, firm surface.
Wait for it to dry and then you are finished!
Happy knitting:)
I love this and will be making one for my mom. 🙂
What a lovely book mark! Thank you for sharing your pattern. I have a few readers in my family that I am sure would appreciate this!
Linda, I, like you, LOVE the feel of books. My daughter, granddaughter, and I go to the library every 3 weeks. We love to search for that special book, touch the bindings, smell the old book smell, and enjoy the quiet. There is just something about a book.
I can’t wait to make this bookmark for my granddaughter’s teacher. Actually, I better make 3. 3 granddaughters in school, 3 teachers. Now wait, 3 granddaughters who read, 3 teachers, a daughter who reads, and ME. I better get busy knitting EIGHT bookmarks.
Thank you for ANOTHER wonder pattern. That reminds me, I am going to go to Mamma4earth right now and order the fox and cat patterns. CAN’T WAIT!
So cute! And what a great use for all of those leftovers (of which I have a ton!) This would be a perfect little valentine gift for my nephews. Pattern noted!
What a sweet, sweet gift! And I like that it has the structure of a good book mark. Think I might make one for my dear <3
I am a beginner when it comes to knitting, but I think this is a project I can do. Thank you for sharing it. The bookmarks will make lovely gifts.
Barb,
Thanks so much, I am sending through your patterns now, happy knitting!
xo
Linda
I’m going to give this a try x 3! Wonderful book, are you going to read it again? I’ve read mine a least twice.
Thank you for sharing the pattern.
Oh, old books, more so if someone else has read them first! And the smell! I love the book mark very cute.
You are just amazing! Thank you for this and all the patterns you offer,they have all been wonderful and fun to knit.
Pride and Prejudice is my all-time favorite story! I LOVE that bookmark. Thank you for the pattern, Linda.
Emma,
It is one of my favourite books, I am reading it as I am knitting, so lovely.
Tracey,
Thank you so much, I love to share patterns:)
Stacy,
It is wonderful to hear from you, I know you love this book and I thought of you when I took it down from the shelf.
A beautiful pattern xx
I have an iPad, but don’t read books on it. It’s just not the same! I need to actually turn the pages, feel the weight of the book in my hand and smell the paper. It’s my therapy, lol! Staring at a screen just isn’t the same. Books will always hold a special place in my heart.
Your bookmark is so sweet x
Nadia,
I agree, books are wonderful!
What a sweet pattern. Thank you. x
So, so sweet!
Oh, Linda. How deeply I feel the same about books. If only the print process weren’t so costly. People who come to our house often express amazement at the number of books we have all over – but I was brought up with full bookshelves, and a home doesn’t seem a home without at least one booked wall. (A piano is also helpful.) Sad to bow to the new world in some ways. But I would not give up indoor plumbing for anything.
There are a number of comments here declaring thanks for the service you do – and I add my voice to theirs. You honestly amaze me. You are a mama rock star – so involved with your family, so willing to share your designs and skills. How can we live half a planet away from one another? But I think we are neighbors still in the most significant meaning of the word.
If I ever have anything that you need or want, all you need to is let me know. You, my dear, are ace. And I can only imagine the smile on the face of the dear God when he thinks of you.
Bless you for another gorgeous knitting pattern that lets a two-left-hands knitter like me feel I’m in with a chance. I’m going to try mine in cream as you suggest. Your red one is just beautiful Linda!
I just made this bookmark and it is adorable. Thank you so much for the pattern. I did notice a couple of things to ask you about – when you begin the decreases, the second line says “Knit 3, purl 5, knit 3” – I believe it should be “Knit 3, purl 7, knit 3”? And in the same decrease section, 5th line down it says “Knit 2 together, knit 1, purl 5, knit 1, purl 2 together. (9 stitches)” Should that be “Knit 2 together, knit 1, purl 5, knit 1, knit 2 together. (9 stitches)” instead of purling 2 together at the end?
It’s really lovely bookmark – thanks so much for sharing the pattern!
Basicliving,
Thank you so much! I really appreciate that you let me know. I have just checked my notes and they are correct but when I typed it up on my blog I typed the incorrect stitches. I have made the changes, thanks again.
Warmly
Linda
PS I am so happy you enjoyed the pattern:)
I love this! Can’t wait to try making it, too.
Thank you so much for this wonderful pattern. I just finished it as a Christmas gift in purple for my grandmother.
This bookmark is adorable. I have been knitting crafts for Christmas stockings and my daughter in law is a teacher and would love this. I am making one now in red and may make another in lemon yellow.
Thank-you for such a lovely pattern.
I love this bookmark, thank you for sharing the pattern too! I will be pinning this and trying it later!