Here are the tools and materials I use to make a book! There is no correct or one way to make a book, but I hope this video can be a launching point to figure out what works for you.
Within the video I demonstrate how I cut a book block by hand and how I make glue on endbands.
Note: at 4:37 I forgot to mention that you can tape the edges of your pressing boards to prevent the book block from sticking
Tools used
✦ self-healing cutting mat
✦ bone folder (shop my vegan bone folders here: https://www.bittermelonbindery.com/shop/p/folder)
✦ utility knife – I use the OLFA knife
✦ metal ruler
✦ awl
✦ curved needles, AKA upholstery needles, mattress needles (get the right size for your thread, straight needles work too)
✦ rotary cutter
✦ scissors (one for paper, one for fabric)
✦ glue brushes
✦ homemade book press – https://youtu.be/cuKeM5-SP8g?t=558
Materials used
✦ Crawford Irish Waxed Linen Thread – 2 ply
✦ Archival quality pH neutral PVA glue
✦ 70 lb sketch paper for text block/book block
✦ 80 lb sketch paper for endpapers
✦ 30 ply 0.10″ chipboard for covers
✦ 80 lb cardstock for spine stiffener
✦ homemade book cloth – tutorial: https://youtu.be/bDWSCmMK5bw
✦ grade 90 cheesecloth for super/mull (spine lining)
✦ unryu tissue paper for reinforcement
✦ endbands, AKA headband and tailband
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Intro
0:33 bone folder
0:53 sketch paper
1:09 utility knife & metal ruler
1:36 awl
2:17 thread & needle
3:12 book press
3:52 PVA glue & glue brush
4:27 light duty awl
4:47 endpapers
5:05 cutting bookblock by hand
7:12 chipboard
7:25 bookcloth
7:35 spine stiffener & spacing
8:16 rotary cutter
8:41 spine lining
9:21 endbands
10:22 casing in
11:19 pressing
11:37 finished book
12:26 review
Other Bookbinding YouTube channels:
Sea Lemon – https://www.youtube.com/c/SeaLemonDIY
DAS Bookbinding – https://www.youtube.com/c/DASBookbinding
Nik the Booksmith – https://www.youtube.com/c/NiktheBooksmith
Bookbinding blogs and resources:
paperiaarre – https://www.paperiaarre.com/blog?category=my%20tutorials
Paper Craft Panda – https://blog.papercraftpanda.com/
iBookBinding – https://www.ibookbinding.com/blog/
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FAQ
✦ Where can I buy bookbinding supplies? your local art supply store, Blick Art Materials (US), TALAS (US), Hollander’s (US), DeSerres (CA), Etsy
✦ What adhesive are you using? Archival quality pH neutral PVA glue, there are multiple brands that sell this
✦ How do you make your book cloth? https://youtu.be/bDWSCmMK5bw
✦ Where did you get your…
guillotine cutter – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08697FJMG/
book press (made it myself) – https://youtu.be/cuKeM5-SP8g?t=558
30 ply chipboard – Blick Art Materials
✦ What brand is your…
thread – Crawford Irish Waxed Linen Thread
corner rounder – Akiles Diamond-1
✦ What camera & lens do you use? Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GX85 with MEIKE 25mm F/1.8 standard fixed focus lens
✦ Where is your music from? I use Epidemic Sound, sign up for a 30-day free trial here: https://share.epidemicsound.com/asrshm
✦ What is your dog’s name? Lucy 🐕
Produced on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Learn more: https://native-land.ca/
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Where do you get the paper to make books
Thank you so much! This was an excellent video for a beginner. i'm looking to get into this as a hobby myself and can't afford to spend a ton of money on it. Excellent work! This seems like such a calming hobby.
Did you not use any glue when folding the fabric on the coverboard?
Soooo beautiful 😍
Your craft and videography is beautiful. Well done!
Thank you so much for this video! I reply appreciate your clear, concise explanations. Also, your voice is so relaxing and you edited this beautifully.
I intend to make a sketch book and fill it with art for my mother. It will be my first time bookbinding so I’m a little nervous, but I love how personal it is. My mum has always appreciated handmade gifts, and with her fourth round of chemo taking place just before Christmas, it’ll be nice to present her with a gift made with love. Thank you helping me make this a reality! 🥰
WOW–and thank you for a wonderful video with such relaxing music! Brilliantly made tutorial!
Wish you had shown more of how you stitch the book though.
This was so helpful! I’m just getting into bookbinding and this video was so well explained and easy to understand. Thank you!
O find some of yourvtechniques to be clever. I always wonder how some of the parts of the book like the end bands are to be made without resorting to traditional methods due to being labor intensive. Thabk you for showing this…
Wonderful video! Just what I've been looking for. Thank you sooooo much. Also, your work is beautiful. Cheers!
You’re reallyyyy nice for sharing this!
I look forward to watching more of your videos soon and possibly supporting you with the product(s) you make.
Todah rabah! (Thank you a lot)
Deborah🍯🐝
Muy bonito, muy romántico pero yo q llevo 10 años haciendo encuadernación y de distintos estilos no lo veo tan así
Many thanks for the detailed tutorial! By the way, your hands are beautiful you can use them for commercials!
Is there a school or course to learn these things?
This is an Amazingly useful video for beginners, which I am. my only question is how to get the printed materials on the blank pages. Is this done by a print shop when ordering the paper? I have an inkjet but it only accepts printer paper
Resin may be vegan, but it isn't very earth-friendly
my back acc be crying rn bc i do NOT have the money 😭
Can you tell me the size of inner paper and cover in Centimeter i want to make one for mine 🙂 I loved your binding videos so much
漂亮
If this is supposed to be for beginners then you must explain the process of how to sew the signatures together. You skipped a lot of the necessary details.
Hey there! My name is Anthony, i am an entrepreneur big time and always trying to figure out what to do for a Bussines! But I finally decided to make sketchbooks, so I did research and that’s how I ran to you. Your work is absolutely fabulous! And how fun! I made some orders on Amazon to start my bookbinding journey but the materials are so expensive! I was just curious where are your resources of where you get your materials? Thank you!
Just a recommendation, always cut away from you when using a rotary cutter. Great video ❤
Esto es muy probablemente el mejor vídeo que he visto en la semana, dayani de futuro, cuando veas esto, recuerda como te sentiste, esto fue reconfortante, fue hermoso volver a valorar las preciadas cosas y técnicas que son hacerlas a mano, quiero intentarlo, el mejor video sobre encuadernación, realmente impresionante y tan bonito.
Thank you for this. Well done and beautifully clear.
Hi! would you recomend leaving the space for the spine empty? or just glue another layer of cloth just for the spine? cause my notebooks never come as flat as they could without the spine and without the covers
Why do you use tissue paper?
I love ❤️ your work and talent 👏 ❤️ 💕
Remarkable!!!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 Thank you for this video
I've been watching you for quite a while now (first, because the bookbinding sounds are incredibly soothing, then because I got fascinated by the craft), and I finally dared to think about starting the hobby myself. This video was incredibly helpful because I got rather overwhelmed by the amount of information out there on the internet, so this helped me build a list of the first few tools and items I'd need. So, a huge thank you!! <33
I love how you explained everything and I wil try your method. Thanks for the video.
Hello … no muestra el proceso de la costura 🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
Lindo! Obrigada por compartilhar 🙏
Wow I think your videos are amazing and your instructions are perfect! They really do help you understand the process. I think I prefer your videos with audio (talking). Keep up the great work! 😊
very simple and easy,thanks knowledge
This was a great video. Informative, inspiring, relaxing. Now I feel like binding books. Thank you!
Do you have a diagram of how you stitched it?
Nice choice of music (and lovely explained and very useful explanation, thank you!)! 💖
I love this tutorial… This video help me a lot.
Also rotary cutters are best used rolling/pushing away from you 💗
So nice
New to your yt 🔥
So informative👋👋👋
😁
I have white glue that I used to use to glue paper, but I think it’s weak. What kind of glue should I use? Sorry, English is not my first language, so I don’t know what PVA glue means. Is it wood glue?😩🥲
Where did you get the tool box you hold your supplies in?
Do you sell the finished books?
would have loved to watch this but I think you are too greedy with advertisements. no popular channel has this many.