Friendship Bookmark - © Jane Eborall

I have designed this bookmark to make as gifts for some very good friends with whom I have been in touch for the past 40 years (since leaving school).  The centre represents the links which were formed in childhood and adolescence and the interlinked chains show how our lives have overlapped ever since.  I hope that the symbolism of this pattern can help all tatters to keep in touch with friends worldwide. 

Materials required

No. 20 thread in four colours.  Four shuttles.  Lots of beads!!!

SR

start

Centre Row  Two shuttles with CA (green).  Two shuttles with CB (orange)

This row is made of inter-woven split rings.

R1        (CA) 8 – 8

R2        (CB) 4 – 4 + (p of last R joining with R2 behind R1) 4 – 4  Bring both shuttles with CA up through this R before closing

*SR3    (CA) 8 / 8  Bring both shuttles with CB up through ring before closing.

SR4      (CB) 4 – 4 / 4 – 4  Bring both shuttles with CB up through ring before closing.

Repeat from * 18 times  (Figs. 1 & 2)

SR41    (CA) 4 vsp 4 / 4 vsp 4

Continue forming the 'tail' as before by bringing shuttles up through rings before closing

*SR42  (CB) 6 / 6

SR43    (CA) 6 / 6  (Fig. 3 )

Repeat for approximately 4” finishing with rings of 6 – 6 in each colour  T & C both colours.  (See Fig. 4)

Outer row – 1^st side

Remember to take the working ring OVER the previous chain before joining to the next ring.

Join ring and chain thread to the vsp on final SR (CA) before the ‘tail’ (see fig. 5)

Ch        (using CC) 6

R1        6 +B (p on next R) 3 – 3

Ch        16  change to CD

R2        3 +B (2^nd p of R1) 3 +B (next p on centre row) 3 – 3

Ch        16  Change to CC

*R3      3 +B (3rd p of last R) 3 +B (next p of centre row) 3 – 3

Ch        16  Change to CD See fig. 5

Repeat from * alternating colours and remembering to overlap the chains until last but one p of centre row on this side has been joined using CC  T & C and continue with CD

R          as before

Ch        16

R          6 +B (3^rd p on last R) 3 – 3

Ch        8

R          3 +B (last p of previous R) 3 + (joined p’s of 1^st two rings of centre row) 3 – 3

Ch        8

R          3 +B (last p of last R) 3 – 6

Ch        16

R          3 +B (2^nd p of last R) 3 +B (next p on centre row) 3 – 3

Ch        16  See fig. 6

Outer row - 2^nd Side

Start with CC again and make alternate rings and chains with CC and CD as last side.  Remember to take the working ring UNDER the previous chain. 

Finish with a chain of 6 joining to the vsp on centre.  T & C

Flower extension

Row 1 – add 5 beads to chain thread before starting.

SCMR  2 – 2 leave small gap as mock picot R 2 – 2 – 2 – 2 – 2 Cl leave small gap 2 – 2

Ch        3 B 3

R          2 + (last p of first part of SCMR) 2 + (next p on R on SCMR) 2 – 2

Ch        as last

*R        2 + (last p of last R) 2 + (next p on R on SCMR) 2 – 2

Ch        as last

Repeat from * twice joining last R to first R  T & C

Row 2 – add 5 beads to chain thread before starting – 5 further beads needed.

R          4 – 4 + (joined p’s of Rings of last row taking thread UNDER the chain of row 1 and join over the previous join in row 1  See fig. 7a) 4 - 4

Ch        4 B 4

*R        4 +B (last p of last R) 4 + (next joined p’s of last row) 4 – 4

Ch        as last

Repeat from * 3 times joining last R to first R with a bead.  T & C

Finishing off – adding beads.

Take a piece of thread of approximately 12” in length and double it over.  Loop this through the two picots at the end of the tail section and looped in place.  Fig. 9 shows the thread being passed through the two picots and looped.

Add beads to this then add the flower extension.  Next add a large bead inside the flower to help it keep it’s shape.  Add beads to the two separate ends, T & C.

Add beads to this thread, then add the flower extension.  Next add a large bead inside the flower to help it keep it’s shape.  Add beads to the two separate ends. T & C.