Pencil Bookmark

Pencil Bookmark Tutorial

I love back-to-school time. My children aren’t even school-aged yet, but I can still remember the magic from my childhood and I still enjoy it until this day. The aisles of notebooks, folders, pens, pencils, glue sticks and everything in between. A couple of patterns I’ve been working on at the moment have me on a school-themed roller-coaster. To celebrate this exciting time of the year I’ve decided to share this FREE tutorial on how to make a pencil-shaped bookmark and how to customise it to suit your tastes. These pencils would also make a super cute school house-themed bunting for the classroom. If anyone gives this one a go, I’d love to see it.

Let’s get to it!

Finished size 8″ (long)x 2½” (wide)

Supplies

1” x 3” Black fabric for the pencil lead
1½” x 3” Cream/low volume fabric pencils exposed wood
5½” x 3”Yellow fabric for the pencil body
1” x 3” Grey fabric for the pencil rubber holder
1½” x 3” Pink fabric for the pencil rubber
8½” x 3” Backing fabric (I used natural linen)
8½” x 3” Lightweight fusible fleece
8½” x 3” SF101 interfacing
Basic sewing supplies

Pencil Bookmark Instructions

Cut the fabric for your pencil according to that indicated above. Now if you wish to make a pencil that isn’t a typical yellow lead pencil you can change up the colours by choosing a different coloured print for the yellow body and changing the colour of the pink rubber to white/ low volume. If you wish to make a coloured pencil, you can change the black lead to one that matches the colour you choose for the body.

2. Join your pencil pieces along the 3” side in the order shown below. Black-cream-yellow-grey-pink. Remember to secure your stitches at the start and finish

3. Press your seams OPEN with a hot iron.

4. Fuse the piece of SF101 to the wrong side of the pencil, following the manufactures instructions. Then add the fusible fleece on top of the SF101, again following the manufacturer’s instructions.

5. Add some top stitching to the grey fabric to make it look more like a metal rubber holder of a pencil. Use a stitch length of 3.0 and stitch about ⅛” from the seam lines.

6. To make a pencil point, make a mark at the centre ( 1½”) of the outside edge of the back fabric. Then line your ruler from this centre mark to the point on the bottom of the pencil or the seam where the cream/low volume fabric meets the yellow fabric. Draw a line with an erasable marker. Repeat this step on the opposite edge to create a point.

7. Cut along the two lines you have just created with a small pair of scissors. Your pencil now has a nice point.

8. Place the pencil backing in front of you right side up. followed by the pencil right side down. Pin or clip in place.

9. Sew around the outside of the pencil using a ¼” seam allowance, leaving a 2½” opening along one side in the middle of the pencil body (yellow).

10. Trim away the excess backing fabric, plus the excess fabric from the point and corners of the pencil. Be careful not to cut through your stitching lines.

11. Turn the pencil right way out and press.

12. Sew the opening closed using a ladder/invisible stitch.

13. Top stitching around the edge of the pencil using a stitch length of 3.0

You have now made a cute pencil bookmark! perfect for back to school, all those stationary lovers out there, or maybe even a special teacher. I hope you enjoyed this free pattern.

This pattern is for personal use only. If you make one, I’d love to see and share your lovely creations. So please tag me on Instagram or Facebook. Check out my Etsy store and blog for more fun patterns.

Happy Sewing, Kellie x.