How to make a Book Thong

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Seems I’m a popular Google hit for “how to make a book thong.”

THE Christmas 2004 gift to receive if you’re a Toasted Cheese editor — a handmade, personalized “Book Thong By Sallie (another alias I’ve used).” I saw book thongs at Borders and they’re wonderful but I thought “I could make it cheaper” and so I did.

Needs: Beads and string, satin cord, embroidery floss, filament, jewelry wire, dental floss or whatever

Take a length of string about 9 inches long — long enough for a trade paperback. Knot one end. Add a few beads, about a hand’s width or so. Knot again above the beads. Knot at the end of the thong. You can add another bead or set of beads at the end of the thong but I didn’t.

I mounted mine on strips of cardstock with a hole punched in one end. I wrote a little something on each card*, threaded the thong through and taped the back. I also wrapped them in tissue b/c I was mailing them.

* What I wrote was basically “Hey! It’s a handmade BOOK THONG” and instructions on how it was meant to be used. Basically the unbeaded thread (the “thong”) goes in your book. The beads hang along the spine outside if the book’s on end. If it’s laying on a table, the beads will spill alongside the book in an attractive and decorative way.

A simple, inexpensive yet functional gift for the book lovers you know and an opportunity to get creative. One friend might get a book thong made with fuzzy orange thread and copper and green beads. Another friend might be more an aquamarine embroidery floss with turquoise and crystal beads kind of gal. In any case, you can splurge a little on the beads and they look fantastic. Most important: handmade + personalized = “I’m thinking of you.”

Variations:
You could also tie a charm onto either end of the thong.

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