Bookmarks help you remember your page when your book is closed; bookweights keep your book open at that page. They’re especially useful for gently holding open paperback books without having to break the spine— perfect if you’re trying to read while your hands are full of knitting needles and yarn.

The twisted stitches of this bookweight were inspired by a painted border running across the archways at the Library of Congress. It’s worked in the round from the outer edges, then filled with rice or small pebbles before the center is finished. Because it’s small and because gauge can be a bit flexible, it’s ideal for using up left over yarn from larger projects.

This pattern is in the book Stitching in the Stacks, which is available in both print and digital format via Cooperative Press (the digital edition is also available here on Ravelry).