Filet Crochet Bookmarks

Your relationship with your books is no less than magical. Each page can teach a new skill or manifest a new change. Every sentence can open the mind to the timeless wisdom of the universal soul. Through books, you can adventure beyond all limitations of person, time and space.

You can mark your progress through your books using a variety of implements. You can dog-ear the pages. You can stuff paper between the pages. You can purchase simple or elaborate commercially created markers to place between the pages. -OR- You can enhance your magical connection with your reading in the creation of your own bookmarks.

The bookmarks offered in these patterns are designed in crochet. In addition to its aesthetic quality, crochet has a mind / body response quality that is quite compatible with the focus and projection of magical intent. When you work the repetitive rhythm of the stitches, your brain waves initiate a synchronous flow of energy that unites the oneness of earth / universe and mind / body / spirit. The energy of your intent flows through this circuit of oneness and creates the magic that is desired.

The pictorial lace effect of these bookmarks is created through the crochet technique of filet. In this instance, double crochets (dbc) are used to create either the open spaces (as designated by the open squares on the graph) filled spaces (as designated by the squares that are marked with a dot on the graph) and half spaces (as designated by the squares that are marked with a slash line on the graph) It is the interplay of the open, filled and half filled spaces that form the pictures of filet crochet.

The open spaces are made by working a dbc, then chaining (ch) 2, skip 2 stitches of the previous row and dbc in the third stitch. If you are beginning a row with an open space, chain 5, skip 2 stitches of the previous row and double crochet in the third stitch. To increase an open space at the beginning of a row, chain 7, dbc in the first dbc of the previous row. To increase an open space at the end of a row, chain 2 and work a double treble crochet in the same stitch as the last dbc.

A filled space is a two double crochet "filling" that is surrounded by a double crochet on either side.

The half space creates a more rounded transition from the shadows of the open spaces to the light of the filled spaces. The half space is a chain and double crochet center that is surrounded by the side double crochets. You will work the center chain and double crochet in a manner so the double crochet is closest to the next filled space.

Decide on your magical intent. Gather the tools to complete your bookmark with your intent in mind. The items that you will need to complete a bookmark are; one ball of size 30 cotton crochet thread, a size 13 crochet hook, ( you can use a larger thread and / or a larger hook but this will affect the size of your finished bookmark) a tapestry needle to weave in the ends, a small amount of commercially prepared starch stiffener, (you can make stiffener at home by mixing corn starch with boiling water. The thicker the mixture, the stiffer the bookmark.) rust proof pins and a thick cardboard covered in a non stick sheet. (i.e. Wax paper)

Once your tools are gathered and your intent decided, relax and let your focused intent flow through your fingers and to your crochet stitches. If you wish, state these or similar words, " With each stitch that I take, images unfold. With each page that I turn, stories are told. To mark the words yet to be written or yet to be read, the magic of (state your intent) is created by hook and by thread." As you complete the bookmark's border, visualize that this border is the cone that protects and contains the energy that you have focused.

Goddess Bookmark. Finished size is approximately 2 ½ inches by 7 ½ inches.

Chain 32.

Row 1, Dbc in the 8th chain from the hook. Ch 2, skip 2 ch, dbc in the 3rd ch from hook* Repeat from * to * across to complete 9 spaces.

Rows 2 through 33, Follow chart. Work the odd numbered rows (right side of work) from right to left. Work the even numbered rows from left to right. At the end of row 33, do not cut the thread. Begin to work the border.

In top left hand corner space work a chain 3 (acts as a dbc) dbc and 2 single crochet (sc) stitches.

Working down left hand side of the bookmark, work a sc, dc and a sc in each space along the the side to the corner space. Work 2 sc, 3 dbc and 2 sc to create the corner in the bottom left corner space.

Work a sc, dbc and sc in each space along the bottom to the corner. Repeat the stitches that create the corner.

Work sc, dbc, sc along right side to top right corner. Repeat the corner stitches.

Work sc, dbc, sc along top to beginning left hand corner. Work 2 sc and a dbc in the corner. Join to top of beginning chain 3 with a slip stitch.

Cut your thread and weave in the ends. Stiffen your bookmark as per stiffener directions and pin to wax covered cardboard for shaping until dry.

Triple Moon. Finished size is approximately 3 inches by 10 inches.

Chain 26.

Row 1, Dbc in 8th chain from hook. *Ch 2, skip 2 chains, dbc in 3rd chain from hook * Repeat from * to * across to complete 7 opens spaces.

Rows 2 through 41 work graph. Odd numbered rows (right side of work) are worked from right to left. Even numbered rows are worked from left to right. Make increases and decreases as shown in the graph. At the end of row 41, do not cut thread. Begin Border.

Chain 1, work 3 single crochets (sc) along side of open space of row 41.

Work 5 sc along side of open space of rows 40 and 39.

Work 3 sc along remaining side open spaces to row 3.

Work 5 sc in side open spaces of rows 3, 2 and 1.

Along bottom of bookmark and beginning with 2nd open space from corner, work 2 sc in each space and 1 sc in each dbc to last open space.

Work 5 sc in last open space and along the side spaces of rows 2 and 3.

Work 3 sc in each open space along the sides from rows 4 through 38.

Work 5 sc in each open side space of rows 39, 40 and 41.

Along top of bookmark and beginning with the 2nd open space, work 2 sc in each space and 1 sc in each dbc to last open space.

In last open space, work 2 sc and join to beginning sc with a slip stitch,

Chain 2, work one half double crochet (Hdc) in the back loops of each stitch around. Join to the top chain of beginning chain 2.

Cut thread and weave in ends. Stiffen bookmark as desired and as per stiffener instructions. Shape and pin on wax paper covered cardboard until dry.

Ankh. Finished size is approximately 2 inches by 7 ½ inches.

Chain 14.

Row 1, Dbc in 8th chain from hook. *Chain 2, skip 2 chains, Dbc in 3rd Chain from hook* Repeat from * to * to form 3 open spaces.

Rows 2 through 29 work graph. Odd numbered rows (right side) are worked from right to left. Even numbered rows are worked from left to right. Makes increases and decreases as shown on the graph. At the end of row 29, do not cut thread. Begin Border.

Work 3 single crochet stitches in same open space. Work 3 sc in each open space along left side to row 1.

Work 5 sc in side open space of row 1. Work 2 sc in center open space of row 1. Work 5 sc in side open space of row 1.

Work 3 sc in each open space along right side to row 29.

Work 5 sc in side open space of row 29, Work 2 sc in center open space of row 29. Work 2 sc in side open space of row 29. Join to beginning sc of same space with a slip stitch. Cut thread and weave in ends.

Stiffen as desired and as per stiffener instructions. Shape and pin to wax paper covered cardboard until dry

The act of completing the bookmark is (or can be) an act of ritual. The focused intent that flows from your mind to your hand can cleanse, consecrate and charge your bookmark with the Divine energy of your magic. However, magic is as individual as the practitioner and you may choose cleansing, charging and consecrating your completed bookmark in a ritual of your choosing.

In the creation of your bookmark, you have created a magic that connects you to the wisdom behind every word on the page. By focusing the ancient magic on a tool of the current mundane, you have transcended the limits of time and space. You have enhanced your relationship with the magic of the books, with the magic written within the books, and with that ancient universal magic that can never be harnessed by the pages of any book.

A Kitchen Witch's Cookbook

Patricia Telesco

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