If you are making a gift for a book lover, you can’t go wrong with a handmade bookmark. This bookmark DiY project is inspired by Doctor Who – specifically, the scarf worn by the 4th Doctor. This easy Doctor Who scarf bookmark is made using cross-stitch techniques and is easy for beginners.
We are a family of Whovians, so I’m thinking about doing the 12 Doctors of Christmas and giving the kids a small Who-inspired item every day leading up to Christmas. If the idea has you really excited too, you are going to love today’s project, which is a Doctor Who scarf bookmark. And if you’re getting ready to close this post and move on, wait! This project is so simple that it can be made to fit anyone.
I’m already thinking that I probably need to make some Hogwarts house scarf bookmarks. Here’s where Pinterest is your hero. Just search for easy free cross-stitch patterns for whatever your child (or husband, or friend…) likes. I’ve already found a few Avengers cross-stitch ideas, and this Star Trek cross-stitch book just literally arrived in the mail. Of course, you could just make a generic scarf in the recipient’s favorite colors.
How to make a Doctor Who scarf bookmark
Doctor Who scarf bookmark supplies
- cross-stitch fabric with large holes (mine says 14 ct.)
- embroidery thread in colors of your choice (I used maroon, yellow, white, orange, green, and brown)
- embroidery needle
- scissors
Doctor Who scarf bookmark instructions
Before you get started, check out this picture of Tom Baker’s scarf and a knitted scarf color pattern. I didn’t follow it precisely but used it more as a guide.
Start by cutting the fabric into a rectangle that measures 5-inches by 1.25-inches. {You can, of course, make it any size you like.}
Next, cut pieces of thread that are roughly 12-inches. That length is easy to manage and covers three rows on the “scarf.” I wanted the bookmark to have the save uneven color blocks, so I randomly made each color one, two, or three rows.
Skip the first (and later, the last) row of holes. This is where the tassels will go. Start by bringing the yarn up through the bottom left hole and down into the next one up and to the right. Leave a small tail, rather than tying a knot, in the end. As you stitch, fold the tail under so that the stitches hold it down. Repeat the same pattern (up through the bottom left, down through the top right, if you imagine each set of four holes is a square) until you get to the end.
Either cut your thread and weave the tail under the back threads or continue to the next row. To go from right to left, start at the top right corner and go into the bottom left.
Repeat, changing colors as you like, until you get to the end. Leave one row of holes open.
For the tassels, cut 16 pieces of thread that are about 2 1/2-inches long. Thread the needle with one and pull it downward, leaving a long tail. Pull the needle off and thread it on the tail, then pull it the same way through the same hole. You should have two tails sticking out the back and a loop in the front. Pull the tails around the bottom of the scarf and through the loop. Even them out and pull snugly. Repeat with another piece in every other hole until both ends of the scarf have tassles.
I was watching television while I made the first Doctor Who scarf bookmark so it didn’t seem to take long. In truth, it was about three hours or so. It would go much faster if I hadn’t changed colors so often. One day I plan on making the original 16-foot knitted version, but for now, this is a nice homage to the 4th Doctor.
This is part of my 12 weeks of handmade Christmas gifts series. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to check out the other posts in the series for more creative gift ideas.
Leave a Reply