Easy Book Binding Tutorial
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Need to Make a Booklet?
I was asked to present a workshop for a local artist's guild and I didn't have the time or the money to have it bound or saddle stitched at the local copy shop. So I folded the pages myself and stitched it by hand. Here's how.
Fold Your Pages and Nest Them Together
I used several 8-1/2" x 11" sheets. When I folded them, the pages became 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" with 4-pages for each individual sheet of paper. Poke Holes Into the Fold
I used a sharp beading awl because it was handy. You don't need a big hole, just lage enough to accommodate the thread. I put an old plastic school binder under the paper and just poked through that, but I supposed a more organized crafter would use some kind of rubber pad...Poke one of the hole in the center, halfway down from the top. Eyeball it or measure down 2-3/4" from the top or bottom. Twist the awl back and forth to drill through the paper, holding the nested pages steady.
Punch two more holes -- one each on either side of the center. I punched mine about midway between the center hole and the top and bottom edges of the paper. Cut a String and Thread It
For my book, I cut a piece of cotton string about 18" long, and had enough left over to tie a knot or bow.
Put the string onto a big tapestry (blunt end) needle. Actually, I used a plastic dental floss threader. The only problem with them is that the string tends to fall out, so you have to hold carefully which sewing.
Put the string onto a big tapestry (blunt end) needle. Actually, I used a plastic dental floss threader. The only problem with them is that the string tends to fall out, so you have to hold carefully which sewing.
Sew the Booklet Spine
Sew into the center hole from the outside of the booklet. 
Come out either of the side holes, from inside the booklet to the outside. 
Bring the string all the way across the spine (the outside of the fold), and into the third hole, from the outside to the inside. 
Come out the center hole (inside to outside) and tug the string a bit to make the ends even, if necessary. 
Put a string end on either side of the long string section that goes across the spine - this will make the binding more secure. Tie a bow or just trim the ends even. (Picture number 5 might look like there are 2 strings across the spine - not so, I was just trying to show how the ends should be positioned on either side to secure the long section of string).
For my project, I bound a test booklet to see how long to make the string, and then bound 15 booklets in a fairly short time (maybe 30 minutes?) thanks to a sturdy awl. It went a little quicker, I think, to cut all my strings ahead of time after binding a test booklet to see how long to cut them.
Especially for Kids
A great bookmaking project book for children and their parents
Complete Bookbinding References
Learn More About Bookbinding Techniques
Video Tutorial: How to Make A Booklet
From YouTube
No sound, but a great, simple tutorial to make a book just like mine, but with five holes instead of three, so the stitching is a bit different.
curated content from YouTube
Video Tutorial: Starbucks Coffee Sleeve Mini-Book
From YouTube
A quick and easy book that is stitched along the spine, but with only two holes. The crafter in the video uses ribbon to bind the book.
curated content from YouTube
Bookbinding Posts from Across the Blogosphere
- How a Traveling Bookbinder Can Inspire You to Discover Your Passion
- Rachel Hazell is a traveling bookbinder who believes "everybody has a story inside of them and she wants to travel the world to get it out." The self-proclaimed bibliophile believes this so much, that she's trottin' across the globe to inspire people ...
- Bookbinder delights members of Garioch Heritage Society
- This month's lecture was given by Nicholas Morrice whose talk was on bookbinding and the preservation of books, documents and maps. Nick attended Aberdeen Grammar School and then graduated from Robert Gordon University with a BA in design, ...
- Simple Bookbinding Course
- Suitable for absolute beginners and those with experience. During this day course, you will learn traditional methods to fold, cut, staple, and glue small books to create a professional looking finished product. Each participant will finish the day ...
- Exhibition: Designer Bookbinders UK at Newcastle City Library
- Opening tomorrow at Newcastle City Library, it showcases the exquisite work of Britain's best designer bookbinders. Bookbinding is something that tends to be taken for granted these days and not just because the Kindle and its ilk have given readers ...
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Want to leave a comment? How about a resource I missed? What will YOU make with this tutorial? Feel free to shout it out here.
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marytafoya
Nov 4, 2010 @ 5:40 pm | delete
- Hi Susanna, I am the creator of this tutorial -- my info appears in the right column of the page. Thanks for contacting me. I would like to respond, but I don't have your email address.
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Susanna Lang
Oct 29, 2010 @ 11:47 am | delete
- I am developing a literacy curriculum for 7th grade, Chicago Public Schools, and would like to include these very clear instructions in our curriculum guide. I can't see who posted this tutorial, but would like to ask permission to include it and give credit to the creator.
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by marytafoya
marytafoya
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