Corner Bookmark (In-the-Hoop)

There's nothing like snuggling up with a kitty and a good book! Stitch up this adorable corner bookmark and let a kitty snuggle up in your book to keep your place while you're away. We'll show you how!

When you download an in-the-hoop corner bookmark design, you'll find four files. One is the embroidery file, and the others are dieline files, marked with the letters DL (a, b & c). Dielines are used to cut the fabric to the right shape and size.

Print the dieline files with embroidery software. If you do not have embroidery software, Wilcom's TrueSizer is
a free program to use.

Spray a piece of medium-weight cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive and smooth the fabric on top.

Spray the back side of the front piece dieline with temporary spray adhesive and smooth onto the fabric. Cut out the shape. Repeat this process for the back fabric piece.

Once all the applique pieces have been cut, hoop a piece of tearaway stabilizer taut. Madeira E-Zee Tear 1.5 oz. or Floriani Tearaway Medium are good choices. Those brands are more fibrous, less paper-like, and will tear more cleanly.

Use a size 11 or 75/11 sharp sewing needle, rather than an embroidery needle. A sharp sewing needle has a smaller, finer point than an embroidery needle, so that will make smaller perforations in the stabilizer.

Attach the hoop to the machine and embroider the design. The first thing to embroider is the first dieline, or outline stitch. This marks the area of the stabilizer for the front fabric piece.

Spray the back side of the front fabric piece with adhesive. Remove the hoop from the machine, but do not unhoop the stabilizer. Then, place the fabric piece right inside the sewn dieline.

Reattach the hoop to the machine and continue sewing the design. A tackdown stitch will sew next. This binds the fabric piece to the stabilizer. All of the inside elements will sew next.

On the color change sheet, look for the note that says "back piece tack down." When you get to this step, stop the machine and remove the hoop from the machine. Do not unhoop the stabilizer.

Flip the hoop over to the backside of the embroidery. Spray the corners of the front side of fabric piece "B" with temporary adhesive. Place piece "B" inside the dieline shape on the back side of the hoop. Make sure that the fabric (not the stabilizer) is facing the tearaway stabilizer.

A tackdown stitch will sew out; followed by the remaining details. After the details have sewn, remove the hoop (not the stabilizer) and flip the hoop over; place the fabric piece "C" directly over fabric piece "B", inside the dieline.

Since both sides of the bookmark will show, wind a bobbin with the same thread being used in the needle.

Attach the hoop back onto the machine and continue embroidering the design. A tackdown stitch will sew next, then a satin border, which finishes the bookmark.

When the design has finished, unhoop the stabilizer and gently tear it away from the bookmark. As well as the small strip of stabilizer along the inner edges. Use tweezers to remove the small pieces of stabilizer around the stitching.

Slip a bookmark into a card for a favorite reader, or keep it for yourself!