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JamesDarrowBookbinding Tutorial by-nc-nd

Published: 2012-04-11 22:56:55 +0000 UTC; Views: 752789; Favourites: 17630; Downloads: 9314
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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

JamesDarrow In reply to ??? [2012-04-20 21:54:36 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!
It isn't very difficult to make, you just need some patience while it dries

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fosterphoto In reply to JamesDarrow [2012-04-22 02:59:40 +0000 UTC]

I think I can handle it

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cheekytenshi In reply to ??? [2012-04-20 21:43:01 +0000 UTC]

thats adorable i have tons of unused cards and this give me an idea of what to do with them thanks <3!

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JamesDarrow In reply to cheekytenshi [2012-04-20 21:49:20 +0000 UTC]

I'm glad!

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newton299 In reply to ??? [2012-04-20 21:29:38 +0000 UTC]

AWESOME!!!
btw, about how many pages did you use in the book that you took pictures of for this tutorial?
thx

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JamesDarrow In reply to newton299 [2012-04-20 21:30:22 +0000 UTC]

I usually use about 238 pages.

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newton299 In reply to JamesDarrow [2012-04-21 20:55:02 +0000 UTC]

OoO wow thats alot
so you take 238 pages and when u fold them in half you end up with 476? And if its not too much of a bother could u possibly tell me what kind of paper u use exactly and where I might find some?

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JamesDarrow In reply to newton299 [2012-04-21 21:19:06 +0000 UTC]

238 is the total amount when finished. I take 60 sheets of paper and when folded they each become 4 pages in the book. A link to the paper is in the description.

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newton299 In reply to JamesDarrow [2012-04-22 12:41:06 +0000 UTC]

oh thanks!!!

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JamesDarrow In reply to newton299 [2012-04-22 13:10:55 +0000 UTC]

No problem

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Lost-in-Hogwarts In reply to ??? [2012-04-20 21:29:30 +0000 UTC]

This is great!

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JamesDarrow In reply to Lost-in-Hogwarts [2012-04-20 21:30:28 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!

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Zariem In reply to ??? [2012-04-20 21:26:57 +0000 UTC]

whaaaooow great thing :3 maybe i'll do one too if i'll get the time

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JamesDarrow In reply to Zariem [2012-04-20 21:30:38 +0000 UTC]

Thank you

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DRJooji In reply to ??? [2012-04-20 21:15:21 +0000 UTC]

wow! thanks! I will make one with all kind of paper :]

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JamesDarrow In reply to DRJooji [2012-04-20 21:21:37 +0000 UTC]

Good luck

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Gekalon In reply to ??? [2012-04-20 21:09:24 +0000 UTC]

Pretty damn awesome. Nice detail is the explanation of the used material in the description. I feel like trying it!

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JamesDarrow In reply to Gekalon [2012-04-20 21:21:26 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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Mellios In reply to ??? [2012-04-20 20:58:51 +0000 UTC]

I always hate buying small sketchbooks to carry around with me so making my own will be nice... And who knows, maybe they'd be good for organizing.
Thanks! I'm looking forward to getting my hands dirty

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JamesDarrow In reply to Mellios [2012-04-20 21:21:15 +0000 UTC]

Thanks, good luck making yours

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Broken-Tcup In reply to ??? [2012-04-20 20:58:17 +0000 UTC]

This is wonderful an so well put. I'm a sketcher and it would be fun to make my own sketch book.

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JamesDarrow In reply to Broken-Tcup [2012-04-20 21:21:01 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!

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Alucait In reply to ??? [2012-04-20 20:12:16 +0000 UTC]

New summer project to embark upon? I think so!

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JamesDarrow In reply to Alucait [2012-04-20 20:32:42 +0000 UTC]

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Alucait In reply to JamesDarrow [2012-04-21 17:14:07 +0000 UTC]

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Raven-Halloween In reply to ??? [2012-04-20 19:59:10 +0000 UTC]

thank you! i love tutorials of common (but not simple to do!) things! Now i can make books for myself forever! lovelol

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JamesDarrow In reply to Raven-Halloween [2012-04-20 20:05:18 +0000 UTC]

Thanks and good luck

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amitrixwolf In reply to ??? [2012-04-20 19:55:32 +0000 UTC]

WOAH thanks so much! I might start making my own notebooks for my writing. This is amazing.

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JamesDarrow In reply to amitrixwolf [2012-04-20 20:04:59 +0000 UTC]

Thanks

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JesterofEvil In reply to ??? [2012-04-20 19:55:28 +0000 UTC]

this is beautiful, i will defiantly be giving this a go as soon as i have some free time

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JamesDarrow In reply to JesterofEvil [2012-04-20 20:04:51 +0000 UTC]

Good luck

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JesterofEvil In reply to JamesDarrow [2012-04-20 22:05:52 +0000 UTC]

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LeXiOrIaN In reply to ??? [2012-04-20 19:28:49 +0000 UTC]

this is so neat! i have tons of colorful scrap papers that i can now put some use to Thanks a lot for making this!!

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JamesDarrow In reply to LeXiOrIaN [2012-04-20 19:31:11 +0000 UTC]

My pleasure

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Silverstream06 In reply to ??? [2012-04-20 19:15:07 +0000 UTC]

Thanks so much for this tutorial. :3 I have a book I rescued from a house we moved into that is missing it's entire cover. Now I can at least try and make a new one for it.

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JamesDarrow In reply to Silverstream06 [2012-04-20 19:30:53 +0000 UTC]

Let me know how that turns out. I'm interested in book restoration but I haven't done anything like that yet. ^^

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Silverstream06 In reply to JamesDarrow [2012-04-20 21:31:45 +0000 UTC]

I'll let you know as soon as I get it done. : )

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clumsydemonwithfire In reply to ??? [2012-04-20 19:03:40 +0000 UTC]

I'm making a comic book for an old teacher of mine, and I had no idea how to do binding. this is a great resource. thank you for sharing!!!!

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JamesDarrow In reply to clumsydemonwithfire [2012-04-20 19:10:43 +0000 UTC]

Let me know how it turns out!

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clumsydemonwithfire In reply to JamesDarrow [2012-04-20 20:30:29 +0000 UTC]

thank you! I will!

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Dragons-breath In reply to ??? [2012-04-20 18:47:21 +0000 UTC]

thank you so much! it is so hard to find a book making tutorial that makes sense.

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JamesDarrow In reply to Dragons-breath [2012-04-20 18:49:43 +0000 UTC]

Thank you for the compliment, I'm glad you found it useful!

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TeresaClark In reply to ??? [2012-04-20 18:43:37 +0000 UTC]

Thanks a lot for taking the time to do this

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JamesDarrow In reply to TeresaClark [2012-04-20 18:49:08 +0000 UTC]

My pleasure

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TaylorNicoleReed In reply to ??? [2012-04-20 18:35:20 +0000 UTC]

OMG I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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JamesDarrow In reply to TaylorNicoleReed [2012-04-20 18:48:59 +0000 UTC]

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MasterOfCookiez In reply to ??? [2012-04-20 17:54:25 +0000 UTC]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!
It's really helpful, I love you!

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JamesDarrow In reply to MasterOfCookiez [2012-04-20 18:01:18 +0000 UTC]

I'm so glad, thank you!

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KaitouCoon In reply to ??? [2012-04-20 16:36:47 +0000 UTC]

brilliant, can't wait to try this

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JamesDarrow In reply to KaitouCoon [2012-04-20 16:39:15 +0000 UTC]

Good luck!

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