DIY bookends
We do love a perfectly styled bookshelf here at Gathered – colour-arranged displays and plenty of knick-knacks are our kind of eye candy.
These DIY bookends are a great rainy afternoon project, ideal for using up a fat quarter pack or some of your beloved leftover scraps. Leah Farquharson will show you how to make these super simple bookends that you can make for yourself or give to a book-loving friend!
Use the same type of fabric in different colours or prints for a smooth finish. If you're mixing different prints, choose ones in the same palette for a coherent look. All seams are stitched using an 0.5cm (¼") allowance.
If you're new to sewing then make sure you head to our beginners guide to sewing and our how to use a sewing machine guide, which will teach you all the basics you need to know. Now on with the DIY bookends!
DIY bookends
For your DIY bookends you will need:
- Fat quarter cuts of five different coordinating fabrics
- Medium-sized bag of poly pellets
- One small bag of stuffing
- Coordinating thread
- Scissors
- Needle
- Sewing machine
- Template from Mollie Makes issue 64
How to make DIY bookends
Using the templates from issue 64, cut four pyramid sides, one pyramid bottom, four tower sides and two tower bottoms.
Making the pyramid
Step 1
Stitch two side pieces right sides (RS) together, starting and ending 0.5cm (1⁄4") from the edge.
Step 2
Add two more pyramid side pieces in the same manner, starting and ending 0.5cm (1⁄4") from the edge.
Step 3
Stitch the first pyramid side piece to the last pyramid side piece, RS together, starting and ending 0.5cm (1⁄4") from the edge.
Step 4
Open the pyramid and pin to the square bottom piece, RS together. Stitch each side individually, leaving 5cm (2") open on one side.
Step 5
Trim the excess fabric on all five corners. Turn RS out. Press the edges of the opening under.
Step 6
Stuff the top third of the pyramid. Fill the rest with the poly pellets to add weight.
Step 7
Stitch the opening closed with the needle and coordinating thread, using a whip stitch. DIY bookend number one complete! Set the complete pyramid bookend to one side.
Making the tower DIY bookend
Step 1
Stitch two side pieces RS together, starting and ending 0.5cm (1⁄4") from the edge. Add three more side pieces in the same manner, starting and ending 0.5cm (1⁄4") from the edge.
Step 2
Stitch the first tower side piece to the last tower side piece, RS together, starting and ending 0.5cm (1⁄4") from the edge.
Step 3
Open the tower and pin to the square tower bottom piece, RS together. Stitch each side individually, until all four sides are complete.
Repeat with the other tower square piece, leaving 5cm (2") open on one side.
Repeat the same process as Steps 6, 7, and 8 of the pyramid doorstop to finish.
We hope you enjoyed sewing Leah’s DIY bookends! Now you’ve caught the sewing bug head over to our sewing patterns for beginners which has loads of different fashion and home projects for new sewers. There’s everything from summer dress patterns to a free owl sewing pattern.
Looking for more home decor projects? Learn how to make a duvet cover, how to make roman blinds for your home, how to make a lampshade, how to make curtains or how to make a doorstop.
