Elegantly Simple Bookmark

This little bookmark is made in Shetland knitted lace from the feather and fan family of stitch patterns. This is the same stitch pattern as the Elegantly Simple Baby Blanket using just 2 multiples of the stitch pattern (i.e. cast on 30 stitches for the bookmark), and tinier needles appropriate to the selected thread size. This feather and fan stitch variation has become one of my favorite pattern stitches, and I was interested to try it on a smaller scale. It just sort of flows and comes off so easily from the needles, looking more complicated than it really is. For the bookmark shown in the picture, my thread was hand-spun cotton.

This bookmark project is a good example of how one can take a stitch pattern in one of your favorite patterns (such as the Elegantly Simple Baby Blanket) and adapt it easily for something else. Or like this little project, to practice on a couple of stitch pattern repeats as a sample practice swatch and turn it into a useful article! In this case, the Elegantly Simple Bookmark also takes advantage of the naturally double-scalloped edge to make a decorative pleated end to which the beaded tassle is attached.

This same feather and fan pattern stitch is also the basis for used the design of my Elegantly Simple Triangle Shawl — the difference in that the shawl pattern is a variation with increases already figured out for you to to make a flowing triangle.

After blocking and stiffening your bookmark if desired, "pleat" the bound off end and whip the zig-zag points together with the ties of a hand-made tassel made in the same thread. I used a coordinating turquoise-lined large glass bead as the "head" of my tassel.