Instagram and Youtube channels I like:
- Ursula Jeakins’ instagram and site.
- DAS bookbinding – professional bookbinder in Australia
- Nik the Booksmith – lots of lovely and unusual book projects
- Lovely tutorial on how to stitch single section books, includes saddle stitch, dot dash and the chain stitch (that we didn’t chance to cover but I know a few of you wanted to try this). The Sea Lemon YT channel has a lot of bookbinding resources and a playlist is here.
The books I had with me:
- The beautiful book by Rachel Hazell with 15 different techniques (if you’re going to only buy one, this is the one I would go for.)
- The art of the fold by Heidi kyle and ulla warchol
- Quick Leather Binding – Non-adhesive binding Volume 5 and Non-adhesive Binding Volume 1 by Keith A Smith (Keith has a few books on bookbinding – I have managed to get hold of secondhand copies on World of Books).
- Craft Binding by Linda Oriss (lots of lovely ideas).
The papers we used and suppliers: A4 printer and 100 GSM cartridge paper
- A4 KHADI PAPER (Please note that this is an affiliate link which will give you 10% off your first order with Jackson’s and I will receive a small commission which does not impact the cost for you).
- Handmade papers from Pegasus Art like the marigold paper (you have to order a minimum online but if you go to the shop near Stroud, you can buy single sheets)
- Tomoe River paper – for those calligraphers or fountain pen aficionados
- Paper pad of decorative cover papers from Hobbycraft (don’t forget about wallpaper samples too, if you can get hold of the books)
- Recycling box items like cereal boxes
Fabrics:
- Cork fabric with different printed patterns
- Leather – I get my leather from here. The leather is leftover from the furniture making industry and Maddogz design sell leather and make handmade products. I buy the 300 x 300cm pieces which usually makes 2 small leather books. You can’t choose the colour when you order but Mark usually gets in touch once you have placed the order to ask if you have a preference.
Tools and equipment:
- Staples
- Pencils (with rubber on end)
- Binding clips
- Self-healing mat (I get mine from ebay here but you can also buy them in Hobbycraft and the Range).
- Metal ruler (we used these ones)
- Craft knife/scalpel – I really like the Swann Morton Handle no.3 with a 10A blade but you can get cheaper ones from The Range or Hobbycraft.
- Bone folder/paper folder or creaser
- Size 15/18 bookbinding needle or can be bought here but I really like the size 1 needle from the Korbond needle pack which you can buy in Tesco
- Fiskars 3-in-1 Corner Squeeze Punch Well Rounded – I could not find the same one as mine available in the UK but this one or this one look like they do the same thing.
- Wooden-handled awls
Thread
- Waxed French linen thread (fine) available in lots of lovely colours here
- Waxed cord in lots of lovely colours here
- Thicker thread also used for jewellery making here and here
- I brought three different types of thread to class with me Meisi Super Fine, Meisi Original and Fil au Chinois Linen – all available in lovely colours and ready-waxed.
- Don’t forget you can wax your own embroidery thread – I got wax here
- Another lovely Etsy shop for thread and supplies is Stuff for Making Books
tips
How much thread to use? For a single section book and saddlestitch, you will need 2.5 times the length of the spine. For Dot Dash stitch you need about 3 times to be comfortable tying off. For chain stitch, give yourself 5 times the length of the spine.
Remind me how to make the jig (for getting your stitches on the spine)? There is a video here at 8 mins in, the instructor shows you how to make the jig.
Shephard’s Bookbinding supplies at this site and if you want to have a go at making your first hard-cover text book, take a look at this it’s an instruction sheet (£3.00) on how to make the the book, which becomes the content of the book. There are also accompanying videos on their site for free.