The Magic of Books and a Knitted Bookmark

Originally published on February 23, 2025

The Enchantment of Reading

Let’s talk about books for a moment. Apart from knitting, reading is also one of my favorite things to do. There's a certain magic that happens when you open a book. You're being transported into another world, a place where everything seems to be possible, with characters who feel as real as your own friends and when the journey ends, you are happy for them but at the same time a little bit sad that it's over now. I have loved books all life, in particular  fantasy-romance novels! 

My Favorite Book

Recently, I’ve fallen in love with a genre called “New Fairytales”. These stories take old fairy tales and reimagine them with a modern twist, often set in historical timelines. They’re enchanting, fresh, and full of surprises - definitely one of my new favorites!

Enchanted Bookmark

Sometimes everyday life can feel a bit…overwhelming. With my husband being sick and the challenge of raising an autistic child,  books always offered me an escape from everyday life. I have always preferred books over TV shows. They present worlds where dragons soar through the skies, where an unlikely pair finds true love, and where the fate of kingdoms rests on the shoulders of unlikely heroes. My favorite book is Prinz der Feen (Prince of the Elves) by Gaby Wohlrath! I read this book at least once a year. I just love the different scenarios the author creates. From the very first page to the last, it’s so exciting that I always want to read it in one go.

An open vintage book written in Fraktur, an old German blackletter script commonly used in German-speaking countries until the early 20th century. The left page is titled "Das Vogelnest" (The Bird's Nest) while the right page is titled "Das Märchen von der Königstochter Juhod" (The Fairy Tale of Princess Juhod).

The Joy of Reading: More Than Just Words

And it's not just the worlds that fascinate me. It's the feeling of reading itself. The quiet rustle of pages, the smell of a new book, the weight of it in my hands, and the way time seems to slow down as I become completely absorbed in the story - it’s a truly dreamy experience. Do you also feel the same way? Or is it just me 😄

The knitted bookmark compared to an typical wooden bookmark.

Reading provides a unique kind of mental and emotional nourishment. When the Author is really good you connect with characters on a deep level, to experience their triumphs and heartbreaks as if they were my own. There was once a book I read and at the end a really close friend lost the battle to cancer. The Author was able to capture this moment so beautifully, I was touched so deeply that it made me cry.

Close up from the cables

Combining Knitting and Reading: A Knitted Bookmark

Recently, I treated myself to another book. I have to admit, I bought it because it looked so beautiful in the shop window. It’s another magical story about fairys, and I couldn’t resist. This time, I decided to combine my love of reading with another passion: knitting. I've always admired knitters who can knit and read simultaneously. I can knit without looking, but I’ve never been able to read and knit at the same time. It seems I can’t fully dive into the magical world of a book while knitting. So, instead, I decided to knit something inspired by books - a bookmark!

The book has a beautiful drawing on the page edges.

For this new book, I wanted the perfect bookmark. A bookmark is such a simple thing, yet it’s crucial for every reader. It’s like our stitchmarkers. It’s a silent guardian of our progress, a marker of the places we’ve been and the adventures we’ve yet to go on. By knitting my own, I wanted to create something truly personal, a  representation of my love for books.

Designing the Perfect Bookmark

The color had to perfectly match the book, and the pattern itself needed to be fine and elegant. I wanted a bookmark that would fill me with happiness every time I looked at it. I also wanted to include some cables - cables are so much fun to knit, and they create stunning, textured patterns. I designed the cables to look like little chains connected to each other, symbolizing my love for both knitting and reading.

Am I being too sentimental?

I added a wooden bead to give it a little extra charm

Sharing the Love: A Free Knitting Pattern

While knitting, I decided to turn the design into a knitting pattern that others could use. However, there are two really complicated rows in the pattern, and I want everyone to be able to knit it. So, I decided to make a video tutorial to go along with it. I’ve had some trouble with the video itself, but I’m working on it. Stay tuned! You can find the free knitting pattern here!

A Community of Readers and Knitters

What about you? Do you find escape in the pages of fantasy novels? Do you have a favorite book that you read more than once? I’d love to hear about your favorite stories and the little things that make your reading experience magical.

Thank you so much for taking a few moments out of your busy day to spend with me, I truly appreciate it! I love hearing from you, so please know that every comment you leave means the world to me. If you’d like to stay connected and make sure you don’t miss any future posts, feel free to pop your email into the box bellow or click here to subscribe. I usually send out 1 email per week, so I promise not to overwhelm your inbox (I know how frustrating that can be!). By subscribing to Yarn Enchantment, you’ll get updates to my growing library of knitting and crochet patterns, along with other fun project. I’m always adding new things, so be sure to check back often! And don’t worry, you can unsubscribe anytime by clicking the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of any email or by reaching out to me directly.

Until then, Happy knitting and reading! 

A Little Way to Say Thanks