| Simple bindings for your hand-crafted books are | | | | less; otherwise pages and holes slip out of |
| easy to do. They provide a more elegant and | | | | alignment. Once all pages are punched, stack |
| longer-lasting solution than staples or binder clips. | | | | them with holes aligned on the left hand side. |
| You can use a variety of materials for the | | | | Step 3. Thread the needle with the thread. Tie |
| cover. The cover can be made from card | | | | the ends together in a knot. You now have a |
| stock, file folders, heavy-weight papers, fabric, | | | | continuous loop of thread, the needle at one end, |
| vinyl, or leather. Match the binding materials to | | | | the knot at the other. Anchor the thread by |
| the content of your book to reinforce the theme | | | | opening the book about 20 pages and pushing the |
| and protect it. Be careful about using wood since | | | | needle through the lower middle hole. Pull the |
| it contains chemicals which will degrade the interior | | | | thread until the knot is snugly fitted against the |
| pages. Use it only for a short-term decorative | | | | pages. Wrap the thread around the spine and |
| item. You can make a soft cover by using your | | | | push the needle through the lower middle hole |
| choice of material without applying stiff cardboard | | | | again. Pull taut. |
| backing. Make a hard cover by applying the | | | | Step 4. Take the thread across the top cover |
| material over cardboard cut to size. Cut two | | | | to the upper middle hole. Push the needle down |
| matching pieces of cardboard to form the front | | | | through that hole, around the spine and back |
| and back cover. Make them 1/16 of an inch | | | | down through the same hole. Pull the thread |
| larger in both height and width than the text | | | | tight after each hole. |
| pages. There is no overhang in this binding. | | | | Step 5. Take the thread across the bottom |
| Any type of cord or string can be used for the | | | | cover and come up through the top hole. Go |
| stitching including yarns, raffia, leather thongs, jute | | | | around the spine and up through the top hole |
| string, twine, gimp, soft wire, thin ribbons, and fine | | | | again. |
| braids. These are some of the more unusual | | | | Step 6. Take the thread across the top of the |
| choices for thread. On a traditional project you | | | | cover so it crosses the top edge of the book (as |
| might use linen, embroidery, or carpet thread, | | | | opposed to the spine). Wrap the thread around |
| strong nylon thread, or waxed dental floss. | | | | this top edge and bring the thread up through the |
| In your initial book layout, be sure to allow space | | | | top hole. |
| on each page for the spine. Spine depths will | | | | Step 7. Take the thread across the top cover |
| vary with the number of pages and the thickness | | | | and down through the upper middle hole. |
| of the paper. As a general rule allow ½” to | | | | Step 8. Take the thread across the back cover |
| ¾” of blank space on the side of the page | | | | and up through the lower middle hole. |
| which will be attached to the spine in addition to | | | | Step 9. Take the thread across the top cover |
| the margin around the writing. | | | | and down through the bottom hole. Wrap the |
| Equipment. You will need an awl or a small nail | | | | thread around the spine. Take the thread down |
| and hammer, cardboard for a hard cover, material | | | | through the bottom hole again. |
| for the cover, cording or thread (eight times as | | | | Step 10. Take the thread across the bottom |
| long as the book’s height), binder clips, a | | | | cover so it crosses the bottom edge of the |
| needle, pencil, ruler, phone book or scrap wood to | | | | book. Wrap the thread around this bottom edge |
| protect your work surface. | | | | and bring the thread down through the bottom |
| How to do it. These instructions follow Japanese | | | | hole. |
| book binding techniques to create a binding that | | | | Step 11. Take the thread across the back cover |
| will last. | | | | to the starting hole. Bring the needle up through |
| Step 1. Measure ½” from the spine of the | | | | the starting hole. Tie off the thread tightly by |
| front cover and use your ruler to draw a line | | | | slipping the needle under the two top threads |
| from the top to the bottom. On the line you | | | | coming out of the starting hole and back through |
| have just drawn, make a mark ½” down | | | | the loop. |
| from the top and ½” up from the bottom. | | | | Step 12. Run the needle down through the |
| Divide the distance between those two marks | | | | starting hole and cut off the thread flush with the |
| into thirds and mark two middle points. You | | | | back of the book. |
| should have four marks. | | | | You can vary this basic binding by using different |
| Step 2. Even up the pages of the book and | | | | spacing of the holes and patterns of sewing. As |
| place them between the front and back covers. | | | | a decorative feature, you can sew a stick, ribbon, |
| Clamp with binder clips. Place on your protected | | | | or beads into the binding. Add the decoration |
| work surface. If needed, weight down the | | | | along the spine if it is thick enough or on the front |
| pages to keep them from moving. Punch holes | | | | cover. Do remember to consider function first |
| through the marks using the awl or a small nail | | | | though. If the decoration will interfere with |
| and hammer. Do this in batches of 20 pages or | | | | reading the book, do not use it. |