I’ve been threatening to put together a bookmark finishing class, and–ta-da!–I did.

First in the Bookmarks From Scratch series: Bookmarks 101: Simple, Smart, and Swanky Finishes.

Series? Seriously?

Um…maybe. Once I got started, I couldn’t stop, and I quickly wound up with samples and outlines for two classes. We’ll see.

Bookmarks 101 begins on November 16 and runs for four weeks, with one downloadable lesson per week plus all the discussion, q & a, and prodding you want. The projects are small and portable, perfect for fitting in around Thanksgiving prep, football games, parades, etc. Plus, if you want, projects can double as holiday gifts when you’re done.

As readers here know, there’s more to embroidered bookmarks than pre-finished rectangular forms. Lots more! We can use scraps, stash, beads, buttons, charms, ribbons, hooks, and any and all fabrics and fibers to make simple, smart, and swanky bookmarks.

The trick is in the finishing, except it’s really not so tricky. In fact, it’s easy!

This is a noodle from our Fall, In Pieces pattern. I was testing stitching methods which led to my “blob” method. This one’s a little too speckly for what I wanted, so, technically, is a reject. But a darn nice reject, I think, and a lovely bookmark.

It employs one of the no-sew finishing methods discussed in the class as well as simple beading with an eye pin, jumprings, and a shepherd’s hook.

Here’s the sales pitch:

In Bookmarks 101, we’ll learn four general ways to finish bookmarks from scratch, including no-sew methods and three techniques that employ simple backstitching, whip stitching (overcasting), and fringed edges. We’ll discuss variations of each of the finishing methods, providing dozens of fun options.

We’ll investigate a variety of materials for adhering, backing, and embellishing, and we’ll explore basic beading and wirework techniques and tools.

Together, we’ll craft one-of-a kind bookmarks that are fully functional and fun to make and use.

This class does not address decorative patterns for bookmarks. The focus is on finishing, which can be decorative in its own right. Bring noodles to turn into bookmarks, or use plain scraps for samples. Organize samples in a notebook with the text and your notes so you can refer to them as you craft bookmarks in the future.

Registration is open here at The Stitchers’ Village.

Does that sound like fun? I think so. These are simple finishing methods, appropriate for beginners and those without hand sewing experience. If you’re familiar with fabric adhesives, know what a rolled hem is, what overcasting is, how to use backstitching on an edge, and how to finish a fringed edge, wait for the second class where we’ll get into more involved edge stitches. Of course, you might know how to do those, as well. In that case, get busy with those bookmarks; the Needle and Thread: Stitching for Literacy 2010 Bookmark Challenge is just five months away.