HOME | DD

JamesDarrowBookbinding Tutorial by-nc-nd

Published: 2012-04-11 22:56:55 +0000 UTC; Views: 752869; Favourites: 17630; Downloads: 9314
Redirect to original
Description Please 'like'
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

toomuchmusic In reply to ??? [2012-04-20 16:13:06 +0000 UTC]

wow that's so cool!
i think i might do this

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

JamesDarrow In reply to toomuchmusic [2012-04-20 16:32:48 +0000 UTC]

Thanks and good luck!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

toomuchmusic In reply to JamesDarrow [2012-04-20 19:11:10 +0000 UTC]

thank you so much ^^
i plan on making one for my poetry book i have to do in school. this will definitely impress my teacher and get me the 100 marks ^_^

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

JamesDarrow In reply to toomuchmusic [2012-04-20 19:35:17 +0000 UTC]

Send me a link if you upload

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

toomuchmusic In reply to JamesDarrow [2012-04-20 22:04:42 +0000 UTC]

i totally will ^^

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

bakazen In reply to ??? [2012-04-20 15:51:08 +0000 UTC]

THIS IS JUST AWESOME.......... wow..........and thanks for the other tutorial too ...

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

JamesDarrow In reply to bakazen [2012-04-20 16:32:36 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

bakazen In reply to JamesDarrow [2012-04-20 16:37:36 +0000 UTC]

you re welcome....

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Keah59 In reply to ??? [2012-04-20 15:32:39 +0000 UTC]

This is so awesome and incredibly detailed. I MUST try this sometime!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

JamesDarrow In reply to Keah59 [2012-04-20 15:38:19 +0000 UTC]

Thank you for the compliment!

Good luck!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Katastrophina In reply to ??? [2012-04-20 15:04:52 +0000 UTC]

That's great! Thanks

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

JamesDarrow In reply to Katastrophina [2012-04-20 15:07:30 +0000 UTC]

My pleasure!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

BatCroc In reply to ??? [2012-04-20 14:51:51 +0000 UTC]

This looks like fun! Must try it some time. Thank you for the tutorial!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

JamesDarrow In reply to BatCroc [2012-04-20 15:00:32 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Archil In reply to ??? [2012-04-20 14:41:41 +0000 UTC]

Woh. Great tutorial and lovely idea! I'm sure going to test it (when I'll buy the right things).

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

JamesDarrow In reply to Archil [2012-04-20 14:45:39 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!
Good luck with yours!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

CidSin In reply to ??? [2012-04-20 14:22:11 +0000 UTC]

very nice o0 and hard work... mmmh but now you got me... i wanna try it x)

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

JamesDarrow In reply to CidSin [2012-04-20 14:45:15 +0000 UTC]

Thank you and good luck if you make one

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

CidSin In reply to JamesDarrow [2012-04-20 15:45:13 +0000 UTC]

i will need it x) thanks ^^

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

BlueSoulber In reply to ??? [2012-04-20 14:04:45 +0000 UTC]

wow this is so brilliant!!!!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANKOU

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

JamesDarrow In reply to BlueSoulber [2012-04-20 14:40:55 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

cbrooks903 In reply to ??? [2012-04-20 05:19:50 +0000 UTC]

dunno how to link pictures but i just made two books from this tutorial!! i made a huge one and a normal size one, i wanted my covers floppy so i used poster board instead of chipboard and vinyl to cover it - they're perfect, thank you so much!!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

cbrooks903 In reply to cbrooks903 [2012-04-20 05:26:17 +0000 UTC]

[link]

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

EAldrich In reply to ??? [2012-04-20 03:57:51 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful! I've always wanted to make my own books but I've been afraid of the cost. You've shown me a very affordable way to make them!

I'll link if/when I make one! ^____________^

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

MadameLibra In reply to ??? [2012-04-19 23:23:09 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much for sharing!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

JamesDarrow In reply to MadameLibra [2012-04-20 00:06:55 +0000 UTC]

My pleasure

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Pereyga In reply to ??? [2012-04-19 15:57:42 +0000 UTC]

Nice tutorial I hope it will work when I'll try out someday XD

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

JamesDarrow In reply to Pereyga [2012-04-19 20:39:09 +0000 UTC]

Thanks

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Pereyga In reply to JamesDarrow [2012-04-20 12:22:19 +0000 UTC]

you're welcome xD
But I would have to get those materials first >D

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Karma10 In reply to ??? [2012-04-19 06:16:55 +0000 UTC]

I really like this tutorial, but I am having some trouble trying to sew the signatures together. I understand (at least I think I do) how to sew the first two together, but I am having problems understanding how to sew the third and so on. Can you help?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

JamesDarrow In reply to Karma10 [2012-04-19 13:19:18 +0000 UTC]

Sew the third like the second (I make a knot with the leftover thread from the start). When I get to the end of the third and I'm about to add the fourth, I take the needle and go under the thread that connects the second to the third. Sorry if that doesn't make a lot of sense, I can't really explain it that well.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Karma10 In reply to JamesDarrow [2012-04-19 23:46:09 +0000 UTC]

Thank you, I was eventually able to figure it out last night by looking at one of your other tutorials

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

JamesDarrow In reply to Karma10 [2012-04-20 00:45:39 +0000 UTC]

I'm glad you figured it out then ^^

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Karma10 In reply to JamesDarrow [2012-04-20 02:42:39 +0000 UTC]

Thanks very much, I'm really excited about my journal. I ended up improving it a lot. For not measuring anything I think it came out pretty well lol. Thanks for posting this tutorial, I'm glad I found it

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

JamesDarrow In reply to Karma10 [2012-04-20 03:07:42 +0000 UTC]



Send me a link if you upload.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Lord-Falkner In reply to ??? [2012-04-18 21:47:52 +0000 UTC]

wow! this is very cool. I actually did something like this, but, if I had checked a tutorial it would have been easier. XD

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

JamesDarrow In reply to Lord-Falkner [2012-04-19 02:31:46 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

The learning process is half the fun though.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Mythire In reply to ??? [2012-04-18 21:41:54 +0000 UTC]

Ahhhhh! Thank you so much! I just finished a little trial book using this tutorial and it was easy-peasy! And it looks so kawaii!! This has been the first tutorial that I have been able to find that hasn't me going, "What the crap are they talking about?" So again, thank you!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

JamesDarrow In reply to Mythire [2012-04-19 02:31:00 +0000 UTC]

Wow, thanks so much! I'm very honored to have someone say that!

If you upload, send me a link.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Llunet1 In reply to ??? [2012-04-18 20:17:09 +0000 UTC]

Cool!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

JamesDarrow In reply to Llunet1 [2012-04-18 20:56:04 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Llunet1 In reply to JamesDarrow [2012-04-18 21:43:43 +0000 UTC]

:3

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

2goldengirls In reply to ??? [2012-04-18 17:34:22 +0000 UTC]

Because I am a visual learner, I would like to download this tutorial for future reference. Is that possible>
Thanks

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

JamesDarrow In reply to 2goldengirls [2012-04-18 19:36:23 +0000 UTC]

thanks for asking, I don't mind what you do with this (as long as it isn't re uploaded or have my name + URL taken off).

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

LadyAnneHoward In reply to ??? [2012-04-18 15:11:20 +0000 UTC]

Just great tutorial, I will have to have a go at this, I have been wanting to make a book up so now is a good time to do it.
Thank you
Lady Anne

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

JamesDarrow In reply to LadyAnneHoward [2012-04-18 15:17:06 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! Good luck making yours!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

ineos In reply to ??? [2012-04-18 13:11:57 +0000 UTC]

i tried you tutorial and i'm kinda happy over my first try thank you for this tutorial

the finished book you can see here [link]

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

JamesDarrow In reply to ineos [2012-04-18 13:45:39 +0000 UTC]

My pleasure, I think your book looks great

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

veritas-found In reply to ??? [2012-04-18 04:42:40 +0000 UTC]

Led here through Pinterest. So excited to try this - you may have just given me a great birthday idea for a friend. C:

~ Ver

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

JamesDarrow In reply to veritas-found [2012-04-18 04:51:32 +0000 UTC]

Thank you, good luck!

I hadn't heard of Pinterest so I just looked it up...
I hadn't realized so many people shared this... (・□・;)

👍: 0 ⏩: 0


<= Prev | | Next =>