how should i back a bookmark..?

[twinkleberry]

Hi all

I've really wanted to do some cross stitch the last few weeks - mainly my home sweet home kit which STILL isn't finished - but by the time I get myself settled, Nico usually wakes up wanting feeding which makes it impossible

So I figured I'd do a teeny tiny project that didn't require me to spread myself out along the length of the sofa

I decided on a bookmark for my best friend's sister who makes the most fabulous cakes - most recently a hedgehog for my best friends birthday

I used a chart that was given away in the current issue of cross stitch crazy (16 beautiful borders) and adapted it to fit on the bookmark.

I only have the backstitch left to do :
I just wondered how I should back it..?
Should I put some card in it to make it stiff..?
And should I use aida or some other fabric..?
Or just leave it as it is..? Would the stitching come out with use..?

Any ideas would be muchly appreciated

[Serinde]

Lovely to see you! and how is the wee chap? (apart from hungry?)

Mabel had a really great idea for backing, which is in her thread about her stitching course.

[Kute Kitty]

I recently did a bookmark and backed it with self-adhesive felt, which has worked really well. I found that I could only buy a big amount of it at once though, if you have the same problem and want to give it a try I'd be happy to send you some in exchange for baby pics

[Granny]

I backed my most recent bookmark with a piece of fabric fused down with Steam a Seam Heavy, both the exact size of the back without the fringe. This is totally washable and the SaS is not affected by either water or heat. It also keeps the fabric edges from fraying any further than before steamed in place. This will be my method for all future bookmarks.

[Serinde]

I have used felt and sewn a piece the size of the worked area of the bookmark to the back and then, before sewing the bottom end, putting a piece of stiff card between the layers. That works really well, too, especially if the bookmark material is already finished along the sides.

Granny, what's Steam a Seam? Haven't come across it in the UK, but I might not have been 'looking' if you see what I mean.

[kell]

I recently did a bookmark and backed it with self-adhesive felt, which has worked really well.

I most often do this - makes for a nice, neat finish.

[Granny]

Steam a Seam is a fusible web. There are many different brands but many are re-positionable which means you add heat, it loosens. SaS Heavy is there for life no matter how much you wash and dry it. Brand names of other fusibles: Heat and Bond, Wonder Under are two I can think of right now. It's really fine strings of glue on a paper backing. The glue melts and incorporates with the fabric when you press it. It is often used for appliqueing in sewing or quilting. Very often it is stitched around. SaS is the only one I have used that I can wash and dry and stays put. By the same token you can't make mistakes with it because it doesn't loosen to shift around.

[Wandatoo]

I usually do mine so the fabric is wide enough to stitch a seam up the back (see my gallery). But I've also mounted some like yours on cardstock.

[claire3]

I normally back mine with felt.

[twinkleberry]

finished!


**CLICK TO ENLARGE**



i chose to back it with aida, which didnt go perfectly but still looks pretty good

i wanted it to look handmade and to mark the occasion so i decided to personalise the back


**CLICK TO ENLARGE**



what do you think?

[mags]

Looks really good to me

[karen4bells]

very nice!!

[Granny]

Very nice and another idea for the future.

[stitchingmae]

I made mine and backed it with felt. I got a small piece of plain felt at the michaels near me...i used some iron on adhesive to attache it to the felt.

[Mabel Figworthy]

I've used felt sewn on with button-hole edging, hemstitch, and whipstitch-down-the-long-sides-double-running-stitch-down-the-short-sides (first shown by Agi). Also (especially when using Aida band) heavy iro-on interfacing if it was just for me

Serinde, i found Steam-a-Seam on an English site here, it's a comparison chart of various fusibles but it does mention a price so presumably they sell it!

[stitchingmae]

steam a seam is pretty much the same thing i used.....

[~threadbear~]

I've never heard of steam a seam, but it looks really useful. Reminded me a little of wunderweb.

The bookmark looks really fab!

[stitchingmae]

The stuff i use i got at michaels' it is called heatnbond....ultra hold.....mine is more like a roll of tape...you unwind one side and put in on the back of your completed work with the paper side up and iron it(no steam) paper side up...after it cools you removed the paper place the completed work on your fabric (for me felt) put a towel over your stitches to protect them and then iron again... let cool and its on there....


http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/prod ... D=prd49052" target="_blank

this is from joann it seems to be sheets of the stuff instead which would prob work better considering i had to piece together the strips to make it work instead of a square..lol....