HEARTMADEbyCRISTINA: HOW TO BIND A BOOK

Homemade bookbinding. Really easy!!!

Disponible en Español AQUÍ.

What I´m showing below is a very simple binding technique really easy to do with very basic materials and media. It does not need much time, although you will have to arrange in two days because you have to leave a dry time. Results are amazing

Do not be scared by the post length…it is really easy to do

To make things clearer I am organizing chapters:

1 - Materials

2 - Making little books

3 - Sewing little books

4 - Forming the covers

5 - Upholstering covers

6 - Joining covers and booklet

7 - Finished!!

1.- MATERIALS

To make little books: Paper (I use recycled paper) and a rule to press on the folds.

To sew the little notebooks: clamps/clips to hold the little books, ruler, pen, needle and thread, cardboard and glue. I'm using a fat and dark for the tutorial thread, but I usually use a cream color one. You'll also need something heavy to press: you can use books, pots with water....

To form the covers: A sheet, ruler and square, pencil, cardboard and cellophane. As for the board, I like to use mousse cardboard really is like a lined froth and covers will remain firm but a little squishy to the touch, you can use chipboard or even the material of the cartons if you want flexible lids. I do not recommend because corrugated cardboard.

To line the covers: fabric, glue and clips. The fabric should not be elastic, otherwise you can buy a fabric that you like or recycle any parts that you have at home.

To join covers to books: Covers, sewn little books, glue and heavy element to press again.

In terms of quantities, it depends on the size of what you want to do and thickness. As an example:

• If you intend to make a book size A4, you will need A3 sheets (the amount depends on how big you want your book), 2 cardboard A4, 3 mousse cardboard A4 (2 for covers and 1 for trimming the thick), size approx. 52x33 fabric (much depends on thickness)

• If you're going to do a book size A5, you will need A4 size sheets, 1 cardboard A4, 2 mousse cardboard A4 (1 for covers and 1 for trimming the thick), approx. 37x26 fabric (much depends on thickness)

• If you're going to do a book size A6 you will need A4 size sheets1 cardboard A4 size, 1 carton mousse size A4, approx. 27x20 fabric (much depends on thickness)

For this post I will make a schedule A6

2.- MAKING LITTLE BOOKS.

When making little books you can use 4-5 paper sheets for each little book. If we use cardboard or other paper for drawing you should not use more than three sheets per booklet. In the example the notebook is A6 size, so we'll do starting from A4 formats. We slid and cut at half an A4 sheet, resulting in two A5 formats. Then we slide at half every A5 to form a little book, we rule the fold. Repeat as many times as we want to achieve the thickness you want to give the book. In the example I made six little books.

3.- SEWING LITTLE BOOKS

This step is not difficult, but you need to borrow a little more attention so far (So far we have been folding sheets in half).

We are going to join the little books by sewing them.

The first is to put all the little notebooks and square them (align) together. When they are aligned, hold them with clips. Now mark 2 cm on each side of the edges, the middle, and intermediate points between the center and end brands. In larger formats have to put more marks, there should be no more than 3 cm between marks. Be careful to mark each little book.

Now free the booklets. Open each booklet and with the help of a needle we drill for marks. Go back one by one booklet and verify that the drills are aligned with the slide line. Close booklets again and put the together. Prepare needle and thread, you are about to start sewing. Attention: I 'm using dark thread because it is easy to see on photos.

Now begins the part where more attention is needed. I will explain step by step and put a lot of photo, so do not be alarmed by the extension.

We will now start sewing the first of the booklets. Thread the needle and make a good knot (one big gathering several knots) at one end. To understand, we will number the five drills left to right. We introduce the needle inside the booklet through drill number 2 and get the needle out the booklet through drill number 1. Stretch and re-insert the needle through the drill number 2 and get the needle out the booklet through drill number 3. See the images bellow:

Now we insert again the needle through drill number 2 and we get the needle out through drill number 3.Then we insert the needle through drill number 4 and we get the needle out through drill number 3 and introduce again through drill number 4. Finally get the needle out of the booklet through drill number five. I have included a little scheme with stitches (drills are black marked, and stitches blue marked)

Now put booklet 2 over booklet 1. We will keep the numerical order of the drills. Introduce the needle into the bore 5 of the second booklet and take the needle out though bore number 4 of second booklet. Now pass the needle under the stitch of the first booklet and re-insert the needle into the hole 4 of the booklet 2.

From now on we will continue by using the lower booklet stitches as anchor points. We take the needle through the bore number 3, then go under the lower booklet stitch and introduce again through drill number 3. Then get the needle out through drill number 2, then go under the lower book stitch and introduce again through drill number 2. Finally get the needle out through drill number 1

Now put the third booklet over the second one. Get the needle through the lower booklet stitch and introduce through drill number one. Steps are identic to previous. Take into account that lower booklet stitches are vertical. (See the image above)

And so on you're going linking each booklet with the above. The scheme for booklet 3 would be: Introduce needle at drill no.1, get out through drill no.2, go through vertical stitch booklet below, and introduce through drill no. 2. Get needle out through drill no.3, go through vertical stitch booklet below, and introduce through drill no. 3. Get needle out through drill no.4, go through vertical stitch booklet below, and introduce through drill no. 4. Get needle out through drill no.5. And then put booklet number 4 over booklet number 3…and on and on.

Finally you will get a book as follows:

Now it´s time to glue the cardboards to our book: We need two cardboard twice a format that our booklet. As ours is an A6, we need two A5 cards. First we have one A4 cardboard. We have half cut to get two A5 and then half slide and place them above and below our book , like two more booklets and glue them . Repeat with the other card. Now put the book under a domestic press and let go about 12 hours before returning to manipulate the book. I used a slightly larger book to press the book and a heavy weight. Sometimes I've done albums A4, I used pots with water as a weight. Measure the thickness of your book with cardboards before pressing.

Now it is time, if you want, to cut edges with “guillotine”

4.- FORMING THE COVERS

As soon as you put the book to press you can get with this task.

You need the mousse cardboard, cutter, tape, rulers, pencil and a sheet of paper.

You have to mark in cardboard covers your booklet, take into account that front and back covers are larger then your booklet. Then mark the book spine: it has to be as thick as your book and as long as the covers you have just marked. Now cut with cutter.

On a sheet, A4 size, draw a line. Then two more lines, perpendicular to first, and separated 5 mm between them. Place a cover on the line and one of the perpendicular and place the spine of the book on the line and the other perpendicular. Being careful not to move the pieces put tape to fix them, they have to be united, but separated. Do the same with the other cover. At the end you have all the pieces fixed but articulated. Thanks to this "set up" you will be able to open your book 180 º. Use a good adhesive tape/cellophane.

5.- UPHOLSTER COVERS

We are up to upholster the piece to have just made. You will need fabric, scissors, white glue and clips.

Put your cover on the fabric (inside). If you cut a lot of fabric left over, but to work comfortably leave a margin of about 2.5 cm around the cover perimeter. Now glue one end, fold the fabric on the glue and clip. Stretch your fabric and do the same with the opposite extreme of the fabric. Repeat for the remaining two sides of the fabric and top off the corners. Let the glue dry a few hours.

6.- JOINING COVERS AND BOOKLET

It's been 12 hours since we put our booklet under pressure. Now we are going to join your booklet and your lovely covers. You just need a little eye (or pencil and ruler) Do you remember that we had done covers a little larger than the booklet? First place the book inside covers and center it,help yourself with ruler and pencil to mark if you want. Remember, the back of your book has to be aligned with the back of the covers. Then open carefully one of the covers, glue the cardboard and close carefully again. Press a little and flip the book, so the glued cover is down. Now open carefully the not glued cover, glue the cardboard and close carefully again. Close the book and press gently with your hands a few seconds. Again using a press. Leave about 12 h underweight.

7.- FINISHED!!!!!

You know a way to bind at home.

On this basis you can introduce many changes and get plenty of results:

I always carry a notebook to jot down ideas ... I've done with this technique, only instead of a single piece of fabric I used two different. I also made photo albums, I use cardboard sheets instead of paper sheets, and covers have taken more job.

Do you like to draw? Try setting drawing paper (remember, no more than three sheets folded in notebook).

You do not need a special cloth or cardboard for covers: You can recycle bricks and wrapping paper ... or whatever.

Hope you like it.

xoxo