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JamesDarrowBookbinding Tutorial by-nc-nd

Published: 2012-04-11 22:56:55 +0000 UTC; Views: 708436; Favourites: 17668; Downloads: 9305
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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

Hyperchaotix In reply to ??? [2012-04-23 03:31:33 +0000 UTC]

This is amazing, I was just recently wondering how to do this.

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JamesDarrow In reply to Hyperchaotix [2012-04-23 03:43:42 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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Whatsmahnameagain In reply to ??? [2012-04-23 03:29:02 +0000 UTC]

.....Wut - I caint process but it's good to know that I can make my own book now

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JamesDarrow In reply to Whatsmahnameagain [2012-04-23 03:43:50 +0000 UTC]

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Fisk-Hollow In reply to ??? [2012-04-23 03:27:27 +0000 UTC]

PVA is also a really good glue to use and is archival, but it's a liquid glue so you can spread it on the spine and work it into the signatures along the spine. I've used it and liked it! Thanks for this step by step I'm going to try my hand at it!

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JamesDarrow In reply to Fisk-Hollow [2012-04-23 03:48:31 +0000 UTC]

Thank you for mentioning this, I haven't purchased any serious material yet so I will buy some in the near future. ^^

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TheooDore In reply to ??? [2012-04-23 03:22:36 +0000 UTC]

thanks

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JamesDarrow In reply to TheooDore [2012-04-23 03:43:58 +0000 UTC]

My pleasure

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Harley91594 In reply to ??? [2012-04-23 02:45:43 +0000 UTC]

I'm going to try this in the summer when I have time, but this is going in my favorites! Great job!

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JamesDarrow In reply to Harley91594 [2012-04-23 03:44:13 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much!

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Abbyanna In reply to ??? [2012-04-23 02:39:35 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for the easy to understand tutorial! I have always wanted to know how to do this.

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JamesDarrow In reply to Abbyanna [2012-04-23 03:48:38 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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dreamer07079 In reply to ??? [2012-04-23 02:35:31 +0000 UTC]

Really good! I know how to bookbind, and I'll say that this was really informative for beginners! Looks awesome. Good job!

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JamesDarrow In reply to dreamer07079 [2012-04-23 03:44:51 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! That means a lot coming from someone who knows this

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dreamer07079 In reply to JamesDarrow [2012-04-23 11:30:42 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome! Keep it up!!

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JamesDarrow In reply to dreamer07079 [2012-04-24 01:47:11 +0000 UTC]

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punkrockingfaerie In reply to ??? [2012-04-23 02:34:16 +0000 UTC]

OMG , i think i love you lol, i've been wanting to try this for ages, but the tutorials i've found have been very confussing, and my friend who does things like this is in the middle of a graphic design degree's so i dont see her between my university lectures and her's so it's been a no go for a long time
but thank you so much for putting this up

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

JamesDarrow In reply to punkrockingfaerie [2012-04-23 03:57:08 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so very much!
It means a lot to me seeing comments like this. ^^

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punkrockingfaerie In reply to JamesDarrow [2012-04-23 04:06:31 +0000 UTC]

no problem,^_^ it's nice knowing that people like you are happy to put these up to help those of us who want to learn i find so many people are like "NO!!!, i'm not telling or showing you go away" so its great when people are like "hay this is hows it's done here i'll show you"
but like i said thank you so much for having this up.... i'll give it a try when i get paid and i'll link you in it if you want

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JamesDarrow In reply to punkrockingfaerie [2012-04-23 04:13:26 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!
I'm in strong opinion that if someone knows something useful it should be shared. Besides, it's not like I invented bookbinding, and I had to learn from somewhere as well. I just take everything I learn and present the best method (what works best for me) and hope that everyone can learn and share what they know. ^^
Also, when someone will have a sample and then you have to pay for the rest, like they own the process or something. =\
Anyway, I'd love to see what you make sometime

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srmkcs In reply to ??? [2012-04-23 02:22:21 +0000 UTC]

xD hice eso para mi libro de condorito!, gracias

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JamesDarrow In reply to srmkcs [2012-04-23 02:36:22 +0000 UTC]

ahhh de nada!

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srmkcs In reply to JamesDarrow [2012-04-23 02:40:11 +0000 UTC]

xD vale, me ayudo mucho

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JamesDarrow In reply to srmkcs [2012-04-23 03:07:10 +0000 UTC]

Yo estoy feliz!

-Yo uso mi hermana para el español ...-;;

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srmkcs In reply to JamesDarrow [2012-04-23 03:09:01 +0000 UTC]

oh well. In that case, let's talk English.

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JamesDarrow In reply to srmkcs [2012-04-23 03:59:20 +0000 UTC]

xD I had been trying really hard with my limited Spanish!
I actually enjoyed that since I only know a small amount of Spanish and I was trying to translate it without any help;;

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srmkcs In reply to JamesDarrow [2012-04-23 18:55:04 +0000 UTC]

Well, your spanish was good "a little lazy" but good

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JamesDarrow In reply to srmkcs [2012-04-24 01:47:04 +0000 UTC]

xD
Considering I know next to nothing and my sister is a second year student, any coherent Spanish out of me is beyond amazing

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srmkcs In reply to JamesDarrow [2012-04-24 16:50:31 +0000 UTC]

xD does not matter.
either way, thanks for the tutorial.

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jacquelynvansant In reply to ??? [2012-04-23 02:18:47 +0000 UTC]

This is such a timely tutorial. I was just contemplating trying my hand at some bookbinding for fun, and this will give me something to start with and practice. Thanks!

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JamesDarrow In reply to jacquelynvansant [2012-04-23 03:46:47 +0000 UTC]

I'm very glad to hear that, thank you!

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XxKraitxX In reply to ??? [2012-04-23 02:13:03 +0000 UTC]

FINALLY!
Thanks for making this <3

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JamesDarrow In reply to XxKraitxX [2012-04-23 02:58:30 +0000 UTC]

My pleasure

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JessicaElephant In reply to ??? [2012-04-23 02:07:22 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for posting, this is very helpful!

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JamesDarrow In reply to JessicaElephant [2012-04-23 02:17:58 +0000 UTC]

Thanks

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rocknroll93 In reply to ??? [2012-04-23 02:04:37 +0000 UTC]

That is awesome! also, if you stain the paper first with Tea or coffee to make it look really old..

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JamesDarrow In reply to rocknroll93 [2012-04-23 02:59:15 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!
Yes, I don't think I'd have enough time or patience to go through that many papers xD

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rocknroll93 In reply to JamesDarrow [2012-04-23 03:32:06 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, I don't think Id have the patience to bind that many..

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JamesDarrow In reply to rocknroll93 [2012-04-23 04:19:03 +0000 UTC]

I might make a much smaller book like 50 pages or so and do something like that. ^^

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rocknroll93 In reply to JamesDarrow [2012-04-23 05:02:46 +0000 UTC]

Yeah!

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Sierra-Charlie In reply to ??? [2012-04-23 01:53:53 +0000 UTC]

I love to make things on my own and this will probably be one of my next project. You did a very good job at making it understandable and easy to follow.

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JamesDarrow In reply to Sierra-Charlie [2012-04-23 03:02:34 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much! Good luck with yours

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kitkat-teh-mime In reply to ??? [2012-04-23 01:41:28 +0000 UTC]

This is awesome! I wanna try this as a summer project now XD

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JamesDarrow In reply to kitkat-teh-mime [2012-04-23 02:21:41 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!
Good luck

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Get-Points-Now In reply to ??? [2012-04-23 01:38:05 +0000 UTC]

Flagged as Spam

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JamesDarrow In reply to Get-Points-Now [2012-04-23 01:49:42 +0000 UTC]

Stupid spam! Honestly, don't post this on my art if you actually want something from me. Flagged as spam.

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Get-Points-Now In reply to JamesDarrow [2012-04-23 01:50:36 +0000 UTC]

Ok. I use a bot to send out my messages. If you get one mark it as spam I honestly don't care.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

JamesDarrow In reply to Get-Points-Now [2012-04-23 02:12:17 +0000 UTC]

I find this highly offensive. I create something that takes lots of time and a comment is added that only begs. I don't care what you do or who you help, this is not the place for it.

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BiohazardessKittens In reply to ??? [2012-04-23 01:36:46 +0000 UTC]

That's actually really cool!

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JamesDarrow In reply to BiohazardessKittens [2012-04-23 02:05:10 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!

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