I there, just a quick post today to let you know that one of my most popular free patterns, the Pencil Bookmark is available once more.
When I first designed and released this pattern 10 years ago as part of Blackpool’s Festival of Words ‘Wordpool’, I didn’t expect it to be so popular. Indeed the fact that it has been re-released now is because I was prompted by a knitter who got in touch to say they wanted to make some for their library foundation.
This is a common theme with this pattern, it’s a great fundraiser, an easy knit, and perfect for scraps. Hearing people making these, often over and over again, to support good causes is a joy every time. So I thought I’d hand over to some knitters and their Ravelry project page notes and let them tell you what they think of the pattern:
Using colours from my bits bin, hope to make around 20 for our 2nd hand book stall along with other types to raise funds. SO EASY
Ravelry Knitter project page
Some have been made for teachers:
Teacher gift, she just got married right before school started, she does not yet have a ton of stuff with her married name.
12/21/10 Teacher thrilled with this gift. Oohed and ahhed appropriately
Ravelry Knitter project page
Others have been made by teachers for their students. What an amazing gesture and a great way of instilling a love of learning:
I am using lots of scraps of yarn from my grandmother and other old projects to make bookmarks for my students as a present. I think the pencil bookmarks are the best choice. I can do one in about 30 minutes. I have 2 down. 17 left!
And we’re done. With a rainbow of colors to boot!
Ravelry Knitter project page
They’ve even been used for ‘behaviour modification’ within a marriage!
My husband is always ripping up magazines or newspapers for a scrap to use as a bookmark, so decided to make one for him for Valentine’s Day.
I carried along some metallic silver embroidery thread in the part just under the eraser…pretty stinkin’ cute!
Since it’s for Valentine’s Day, will be needle felting a heart and “U” on it.
Ravelry Knitter Project page
What I also love about this pattern is how people have modified it to work with what they have in their stash. These have been made with the cotton, embroidery floss doubled, wool, they have been felted, and have been embellished with embroidery and needle felting.
And… I also love that so many people comment on how easy this is to knit and that even those who regard themselves as beginners have been able to produce these happily.
All you need to make your own is:
- 2.75mm (US2) needles
- A tapestry needle for sewing in ends
- 4 ply / fingering yarns – approx 9m of the main yarn
- Oddments of:
- pink yarn for the eraser
- gold/silver for metal section below eraser
- brown for wood sharpened section
- black for pencil lead or other colours for coloured pencils
The pattern can be found in the free pattern section of my pattern store – Ready and waiting for any end of year or seasonal gifting or fundraisers.
Until next time, have fun knitting,
All the best,
Tess xxx
