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Published: 2012-04-11 22:56:55 +0000 UTC; Views: 707815; Favourites: 17673; Downloads: 9304
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Description
Download for a larger view! - Journal with books and additional info - Click here for a video I uploaded on how to sew your book!
Eden Workshops - A Bookbinders Resource. Here you will find free tutorials, learn at home DVD's, equipment and materials.
Please read everything before asking questions. I understand this can be confusing, but I may have already answered your question.
This took me so long to make! You're welcome
Materials : (with links to purchase / more info)
• Paper : The paper is the most important part of the book, you'll want something that is durable and practical to the purpose of your book. I'm using Strathmore 18 in. x 24 in. 80 lb drawing paper. Strathmore website
• Paper (endpaper) : I'm using scrapbook paper, a thicker paper with interesting designs. Endpaper on Wikipedia
• Glue stick : Anything will do. I prefer using ones that are purple and dry clear. Elmer's Disappearing Purple School Glue Sticks
• Spray adhesive : Again, as long as it works anything will do. I had some Duro All-Purpose Spray Adhesive around when I was making this. Be very very very careful when using this! Read the instructions on the can. When I was using the spray adhesive I would prepare the paper inside and the go outside to spray it.
• Thread : When making your book, you'll want to use a thread that is durable and easy to work with. There is a thread specifically for bookbinding, but it can be a bit expensive. An alternative to that would be to use dental floss (I've never used this method before so I can't say how well it'll work). You can also use beeswax coated thread, again, it can be expensive to purchase. I just used a generic thread doubled over to be stronger, this has worked fairly well for me. Embroidery thread works great too! (thanks everyone who mentioned this)
Coats & Clark Ecru Upholstery Thread was recommended, it might be worth a try considering the price.
• Needle
• Ruler
• Scissors (fabric scissors optional but could be useful)
• Pencil
• (optional) Cutting Board / Paper Cutter
• Canvas
• Binder clips
• Fabric : For the cover, something you wouldn't mind looking at! I recommend buying some scrap or discount fabric when you first start and later buy something a bit nicer.
• Ribbon : You can use either a strip of fabric or some ribbon if you choose to add a bookmark. Example of what I would use
• Heavy weight : Some heavy books will do, in my case I have an old projector.
• Awl : Something sharp and pointy. I'm using a tool from Bead Buddy 4 Piece Reamer set. The red and yellow ones work great
• Chipboard : You can also use a thin wood or foam. I wouldn't recommend using anything else as they might not be as durable or easy to work with.
• Anything else you want to decorate your book with.
Book Terms :
Book Block : All the sewn together sheets of paper that make up the pages in the book.
End Paper / End Sheets : The first and last paper of the book. They connect the cover of the book to the book block.
Signature : groups of folded paper. I take 4 folded pieces of paper and group them together. When you sew you are sewing the signatures together.
Diagram of a book
You may use this tutorial in part or whole to teach others, please don't remove my name or URL. Also, it would be great if you send me links to books you create using this. I want to see what everyone is capable of! ♥
To sew your book without having to fold it, view this tutorial
Related content
Comments: 2107
RedWolfmoon In reply to ??? [2012-10-08 23:20:34 +0000 UTC]
I'm a Craftaholic... thank you for adding to my addiction ; u ;
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Zunii-H In reply to ??? [2012-10-08 20:01:27 +0000 UTC]
Nicely detailed and simple to understand.
I was looking for something to brush up on some fuzzy spots since I took a book art class in college about 4-5 years ago. This helped a bunch, thanks!
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maskedxmask In reply to ??? [2012-10-06 21:35:19 +0000 UTC]
this is fantastic!! i can finally make my own sketchbook exactly how i want! but i do have a quick question:
is the canvas absolutely necessary?
and, if so, what kind of canvas is it?
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JamesDarrow In reply to maskedxmask [2012-10-06 23:04:55 +0000 UTC]
Yes, you do need a surface that you can attach the sewn book and the cover. I used the Fedrix Medium Texture Artist Canvas.
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lilspack In reply to ??? [2012-10-06 05:41:52 +0000 UTC]
so i have started making a book using your tutorial and want to make it 100 pages long so using 50 pieces of paper folded in half but can not for the life of me figure out how big to make the signatures 5 seems too big and 2 seems a bit small any advise? (i'm using strathmore drawing paper 300 series which is a bit on the thick side)
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JamesDarrow In reply to lilspack [2012-10-06 11:47:22 +0000 UTC]
I used the 400 series of Strathmore drawing paper, so I know what you mean. I personally found 4 folios per signature to be a suitable number, but since you want a specific number this is what I recommend. Either do signatures of 4 papers and end up with 96 (6 signatures of 4 paper) or 112 pages (7). You could also just go with 6 signatures of 4 folded paper and sew a single 1 folded paper signature to the end to make 100.
The thing with paper is that each piece you fold will equal 4 pages in your finished book. Assuming you use all 50 pieces of paper, you'd get a book 200 pages long.
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lilspack In reply to JamesDarrow [2012-10-08 04:32:53 +0000 UTC]
This is very true! I wanted it to be an even number because I'm making it as a Christmas gift for my boyfriend he can be very OCD about things and is the artsy type so I wanted it in a paper he could use to draw if he wanted to otherwise I would have used a thinner paper and done signatures of 5 thanks for the advice!
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JamesDarrow In reply to lilspack [2012-10-08 14:16:43 +0000 UTC]
No problem
Please feel free to share the finished book!
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jessicassketchbook In reply to ??? [2012-10-04 19:23:24 +0000 UTC]
I'm going to have to try this sometime.
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AspiringAmbition In reply to ??? [2012-10-04 01:04:06 +0000 UTC]
Wow! thanks so much for sharing! this is awesome
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InnocentLittleWolf In reply to ??? [2012-10-03 21:18:21 +0000 UTC]
Ahhhhhhhh~ just looking at stuff like this makes me want to make stuff. Books, pens, paper, markers, Just about any sort of stationary items.... it's like they revitalize me. I thank you for making this...I'm gonna go make a book soon.
....man I can be creepy, sorry... I wonder if I'm the only one who acts like this.
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GeorgieSummers In reply to ??? [2012-09-24 20:37:06 +0000 UTC]
I wanna try and make one but I don't understand how you "connect the signature with the first one" could you re-explain it to me in more detail?
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JamesDarrow In reply to GeorgieSummers [2012-09-24 21:52:19 +0000 UTC]
Please regard the video.
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kc3design In reply to ??? [2012-09-22 21:25:22 +0000 UTC]
Excellent tutorial! Thanx for sharing.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
IrthosCaesin In reply to ??? [2012-09-21 21:50:46 +0000 UTC]
Thank you so much for this! Very good tutorial, lot easier to understand than some others I've found online.
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Calaeril In reply to ??? [2012-09-19 15:09:12 +0000 UTC]
Thanks! I was looking for a good tutorial for ages!
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Stacey104201 In reply to ??? [2012-09-11 09:45:52 +0000 UTC]
Very nice. Might try this sometimes.
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k0niczyna In reply to ??? [2012-09-11 07:03:00 +0000 UTC]
Thank you for the tutorial I've made one notebook but I plan to make few more . [link]
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JamesDarrow In reply to k0niczyna [2012-09-22 02:55:06 +0000 UTC]
Looks good from the picture!
If you add it (or another book) to dA, please link me so I can favorite.
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Leyyah In reply to ??? [2012-09-11 01:59:28 +0000 UTC]
Is there anything else we could use in place of the awl?
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JamesDarrow In reply to Leyyah [2012-09-22 02:53:34 +0000 UTC]
You could use a larger needle if the paper isn't too thick or use what I did.
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NoBlu In reply to ??? [2012-09-11 00:30:41 +0000 UTC]
vou tentar fazer um assim que tiver um tempinho!
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Furgemancs In reply to ??? [2012-09-09 07:52:49 +0000 UTC]
Oh I just loved your tutorial. Always wanted to make my own book and now you give me the chance for it. Thank you sooo much.
I'm sure many of us asked the same question, but I'm a bit confused too with the sewing part. When I end a signature, I tie it to the very first one or just the previous signature?
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JamesDarrow In reply to Furgemancs [2012-09-10 00:17:52 +0000 UTC]
Thank you
Could you please regard the video first? That should explain.
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Furgemancs In reply to JamesDarrow [2012-09-10 05:46:27 +0000 UTC]
welcome^^
Oh forgive me, I didn't notice it before
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SynestheticSoul In reply to ??? [2012-09-09 06:06:49 +0000 UTC]
This is fantastic! Thank you!!!
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ashitx In reply to ??? [2012-09-09 03:45:13 +0000 UTC]
I used your incredibly amazing tutorial to make this- [link]
Thanks!
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spenv137 In reply to ??? [2012-09-08 17:34:18 +0000 UTC]
I remember seeing a very rough immature version of this on Reading Rainbow in the 80's as a child. I used their tutorial back then to make my own little journals. I still have a couple that I put together. But this is a much more sophisticated version of what Lavar Burton and Reading Rainbow taught me. I am now inclined to start making my own journals again.
Thank you.
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JamesDarrow In reply to spenv137 [2012-09-10 00:19:44 +0000 UTC]
I'll have to check that out, I didn't grow up watching the show.
Please feel free to share, I would love to see your books (or even the journals from before.)
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ForestGem In reply to ??? [2012-09-08 05:06:13 +0000 UTC]
I featured this work on my book blog. [link]
All credit has been given to you and I linked back to your page here.
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