This blog will show you how to make a super fast and easy Valentine corner bookmark that celebrates friendship, admiration and love.

I’ve been gifted lots of bookmarks over the years. They were made of metal, silk ribbon or leather. Some were even free advertisements that were picked up at the local bookstore. All of them did their job but they held no special meaning for me and were not memorable.

Corner bookmarks slip over the corner of a page, holding it securely in place. They are less likely to move or slide out compare to other types and they don't hang out of the book. You can get really creative with corner bookmarks, crafting them in playful or artistic designs.

In writing this blog I was inspired to make a nostalgic gift for booklovers that celebrates the true meaning of Valentine's Day, celibrating love and friendship. Sending messages of love and affection to partners, family and friends is a beautiful tradition that can be expressed with a thoughtful handmade gift. Let me show you how to make a corner bookmark made out of fabric!

Let’s get prepared for this project. Gather “Supplies & Tools”, the needed “Fabric” and check my “Getting Ready To Sew” checklist for a smooth sewing experience.

These are the tools and supplies that I used to make these super fast and easy corner bookmarks.

• Quarter Inch Presser Foot for piecing the blocks

• A 90/14 Sewing Machine Needle

• Coordinating Cotton Threads

• Long Flower Pins or Sewing Clips

• Thread Snips and Pinking Shears

• Rotary Cutter, a 6-inch square ruler and a Rotating Cutting Mat

• Optional: Heat Transfer Vinyl

The finished corner bookmark will be 3-inches square. You will need the following fabric squares and fabric backing to make a set of four corner bookmarks:

• Four 3.5-inch squares of red fabric

• Four 3.5-inch squares of white fabric

• Four 3.5-inch squares of contrasting fabric

Use your favorite way to prepare for a new project or try my proven, stress-free method described in this blog: “Getting Ready To Quilt-The Ultimate Checklist”.

This corner bookmark is created in three steps:

1. Step One: Construct the diagonal corner of the bookmark.
2. Step Two: Assemble the bookmark.

3. Step Three: Trim the perimeter of the bookmark.

Let’s start by making one corner bookmark from the set of four. Once you make one, the other three will be easy.

• Take one 3.5-inch square of red fabric. This will be the diagonal corner of the bookmark that will always be seen

• Fold the square in half diagonally.

• Hand draw hearts on the half of the diagonal that will be seen. Or select a heart design stitch pattern on your sewing machine.

• Embroider the hearts by hand or stitch them out using your sewing machine. Use a contrasting thread to make the hearts stand out.

Tip: You can use heat transfer vinyl to make hearts as well. Trace or hand draw hearts on the vinyl and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to decorate your bookmarks.

You will need two 3.5-inch fabric squares. One square will be the front of the bookmark and the other square will be the back of the bookmark. And the folded red fabric square that you decorated with hearts. I used a white square for the back and a checkerboard square for the front.

• Place the back of the bookmark fabric square on your workspace. The wrong side of the fabric should be facing you.

• Place the front of the bookmark fabric square on top of the backing fabric. The right side of the fabric should be facing you.

• Place the diagonally folded, embroidered hearts red fabric on top of the other two squares. The embroidered hearts red fabric should be facing you and the raw edges of all squares should be aligned.

• Use a ¼-inch seam allowance to sew the perimeter of the squares.

Tip: You can feature the ¼-inch seam as a design element of this project with a bold contrasting thread. To keep a consistent quarter inch seam you can change your regular presser foot to the ¼ inch quilting foot.

Your corner bookmark is assembled. Now you’re ready to trim it.

Your corner bookmark is almost finished. I told you this would be super fast and easy! Trim the seam allowance to 1/8-inch. Be careful not to cut the stitches.

Tip: Use pinking shears to trim your seam allowance. This will give your corner bookmark a fancier edge.

Your first corner bookmark is complete. Follow steps one to three to make three more Valentine's corner bookmarks and your set of four adorable super easy Valentine's corner bookmarks will be complete.

Look at what you just accomplished in less than 20 minutes! You put your embroidery skills to good use in this mini project and stitched embroidered hearts. And you demonstrated that the normally hidden ¼-inch seam can make a lovely design feature.

Well done! I told you this corner bookmark tutorial was easy. In this mini project, you applied your ability to maintain a ¼-inch seam allowance to create a cute set of Valentines corner bookmarks. With basic sewing skills and these pattern instructions, you can now experiment and create your own design to surprise your loved ones with a cute DIY gift.

Are you ready to try some more handy mini projects? Madam Sew has lots of them. Here are some that you might like:

• Easy Pot Holder Sewing Tutorial

• How To Make A Card Holder With A Zipper

• Quilted Laptop Bag Tutorial
• Foldable Grocery Bag Tutorial

May your quilting always bring you joy!

Ernie Grant
Guest Blogger For Madam Sew

Download the PDF of this corner bookmark tutorial and print it on your home printer

Ernestine “Ernie” Grant is an avid quilter with over 17 years of experience and is the owner of the custom baby quilt business www.kalibabyquilts.com. As an African American living in Harlem, NY her view of quilting is shaped by her heritage and the elders who taught her – Quilting is not just thread, fabric, and stitches. It is art, it is love, it is community