project: pumpkin book band

Ever since I pinned this pin, I've been wanting to make a stretchy elastic book mark, or as I'm calling it, a book band. I still want to make one for all year, but after spotting my orange felt and some green elastic, it became apparent that I needed to start with a pumpkin version!

The elastic I'm using is fold over elastic, which I bought on a Pick Your Plum special. You can find similar materials on Etsy (just search for "green elastic") or use any elastic you like. Because mine is green, I omitted a stem on my pumpkin, but in the template PDF, there's a stem if you need it!



Here's what you need:

Orange felt
Embroidery floss
Green elastic (mine is 5/8" wide)

Pumpkin Book Band PDF template
Scissors
Needle



Cut out two pumpkins from felt. Use the pattern in the PDF as a guide for stitching a face on one piece. Use the other pattern as a guide for cutting two slits in the second piece.

If you're using narrower elastic, cut the slits to match the width of your materials.



Cut a piece of elastic that is about 15 inches long. This is a good all-purpose size for the fold over elastic because it's super stretchy. Test your elastic, and adjust the size accordingly so that it will stretch around your book when sewn in a loop.

Slide the elastic through the slits in the pumpkin, stitch it into a loop, then slide the stitched ends to be over the pumpkin. It doesn't need to be especially pretty, just secure, as the ends will be hidden inside the pumpkin.



Place the embroidered piece on top of the slit pumpkin, then use running stitch to hold the pieces together. The template PDF has a guide for where to stitch, but it's pretty easy to just freehand it.

If you're adding a stem to your pumpkin, you would need to sew it in place between the layers as you are stitching them together.




Now your book band is ready to use! You can wrap it around the entire book to hold it (and any loose papers) closed...



...or use it to hold pages open...



...or use it as a traditional book mark!

This would also work as a headband, but I'd recommend that you rotate the slits so the pumpkin sits on the band better on your (or your child's) head.

Now that I've actually made something that I've pinned (or at least something like it), it's your turn! Pin this, then do it!