Bookbinding Basics: A Step-by-Step Guide

Bookbinding is an ancient skill that transforms loose pages into a cohesive book, merging artistry with practicality. Whether viewed as an art form or a technical skill, the process of bookbinding involves just a few fundamental steps that guide you from inception to completion. By mastering these five essential steps, you can create not only beautiful books but also functional ones that serve a purpose.

During the Industrial Revolution, the book-making process became industrialized, leading to a proliferation of quickly produced, glued bindings and paperback covers. While these affordable editions are widely accessible, they often lack the craftsmanship that delights bibliophiles. In contrast, many individuals are now shifting their focus from rapid mass production to a more mindful approach, embracing the slower, intentional process of creating lasting treasures that are valued for both their functionality and artistry.

Preparation

• Collect your materials and equipment.

• Gather paper for the pages; each page should be double the size of the book.

• Obtain two pieces of heavy board for the covers and lighter board for the spine.

• Get reinforcing materials such as bookbinding calico or mull, and glue (EVA or PVA).

• Choose the material for your book cover (bookcloth, leather, decorative paper, or a combination).

• Acquire a large bookbinding needle and thread.

Create the Pages

• Fold the pages and group them into equal sections (e.g., groups of 4 folded pages), known as 'signatures.'

• Sew one section of pages to another to form a book block.

Reinforce the Book Block

• Add strength to the book block by incorporating kraft paper or bookbinding calico/mull to the spine.

• Cut the reinforcing material to size and glue it carefully along the spine.

Create Your Cover

• Use the heavy cover boards and lighter spine piece, measuring to fit the size and depth of your book block.

• Attach the boards and spine piece to your chosen cover material (leather or bookcloth).

Put it Together

• The last step is to join the two parts you created. This is called ‘casing-in’.

• Attach the cover to your book block using a folded piece of paper called an end sheet. One side of this sheet connects to the book block, and the other side connects to the inside of the cover.

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Want to know more?

We run ‘in-bindery’ full day workshops, plus an online option with lifetime access. Click here for more workshop information.

Beginner’s Bookbinding Blueprint

Our online course runs a couple of times per year, The course includes lifetime access with additional live Q & A’s plus our bookbinding community. Join the waitlist (There’s an Earlybird discount for people on the waitlist!)

From the Bindery: Top 5 Tools Every Bookbinder Must Have

Here at SB Libris, the bindery is abuzz with activity as our skilled artisans meticulously craft and restore books with unparalleled expertise. As our in bindery and online workshops continue in full swing, it is essential for every bookbinder, whether novice or seasoned professional, to have the right tools at their disposal. Today, we delve into the essential equipment that no bookbinder should be without. Join us as we explore the top 5 tools that are crucial for every bookbinding enthusiast's toolkit. We also have a FREE Essential Bookbinding Tools Checklist that you can download here

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1. Cutting Mat: A cutting mat is essential for protecting surfaces while trimming paper or cutting materials during the bookbinding process. Its self-healing surface ensures longevity and precision in cutting tasks.

2. Ruler or Straight Edge: A ruler or straight edge is crucial for creating straight and precise folds, cuts, and measurements in bookbinding. It helps bookbinders achieve clean and professional-looking edges on their projects.

3. Steel Blade Scissors: Steel blade scissors are ideal for cutting various materials like paper, fabric, or leather with accuracy and ease, making them indispensable for bookbinders who need clean and neat cuts for their creations.

4. Bone Folder: A bone folder is used for creasing and folding paper or other materials in bookbinding. Its smooth, rounded edge prevents damage to delicate papers while creating crisp folds, adding a professional finish to the bookbinding project.

5. Awl: An awl is necessary for punching holes in paper, cardboard, or leather before sewing the book together. It assists bookbinders in creating accurate and evenly spaced holes for stitching, ensuring the structural integrity of the bound book.

If you want more information about setting up your binding workspace, or you would like to know more about the tools you need to get started, we’ve created a PDF checklist. You will probably be surprised to discover that many of the essential tools needed to get started in book binding are things you most likely own already!

Click the image below to download your guide.

From Fabric to Tome: A Step-by-Step Guide to Making Your Own Book Cloth

With the recent launch of our online course, The Beginner’s Bookbinding Blueprint we have been talking a lot about bookbinding materials. In our beginner’s course (both online and in person) we create a half bound cloth binding. This style of binding has a hardcover, with a cloth spine and decorative papers on the sides of the cover. The spine material used in this binding is ‘bookcloth’ or can be ‘buckram’. To the beginner, this may be an unfamiliar material and can be something perceived to be really hard to find.

So what is book cloth?

Buckram, muslin, canvas and linen are all used for various purposes in bookbinding. Book cloth is a specially designed fabric used in bookbinding to cover and protect the exterior of a book. It’s usually made from cotton, linen, or a blend of both, and is often starched and coated with an acrylic or vinyl material to provide durability and resistance to wear and tear. A good book cloth should not stretch easily, should be reasonably resistant to water, and have a fairly tight weave to prevent adhesives from seeping through. Obviously if you just do a Google search for ‘book cloth’ or ‘buckram’ you will find there is a vast array of options for purchasing ‘ready-made’ book cloth, but if you are interested in really unleashing your creativity, you’ll be pleased to know that it is possible with a little trial and error, to make your own!

DIY bookcloth

There are actually several ways to make your own book cloth. Which one you choose will ultimately depend on how you want to use your book and the result you would like to achieve. Read on below for a few options, with the pros and cons of each method.

IRON - ON BOOKCLOTH

We’re starting with the easiest one! You only require a few basic items to complete this.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

• Fabric (a cotton or linen fabric works best)

• Iron-on adhesive (like Heat n’ Bond Ultrahold)

• Tissue paper or Japanese rice paper

• Baking paper

• Iron.

STEP 1:

Place your fabric, face down, on your cutting mat and cover with a matching amount of iron-on adhesive (eg. Heat n’ Bond Ultrahold - available from Spotlight or similar stores) and cut the amount required.

STEP 2:

Use an iron to adhere the iron- on adhesive to the back side of your fabric (follow the instructions on your chosen product for this step).

STEP 3:

Allow your fabric and adhesive to cool and remove the protective backing from the adhesive. Place your tissue paper over the adhesive and usse your baking paper to protect the tissue from direct contact with the iron. Iron the tissue onto the adhesive. The heat from the iron will activate the adhesive, while the baking paper will stop the tissue from burning.

Finally, complete your bookcloth by trimming the edges to ensure that both the fabric and tissue lining are fused together.

PROS: Mess free, only a few steps, quick to do

CONS: Fabric won’t be water resistant, Fabric can mark, easily - (ie. not ideal for recipe books!), fabric can not be hot foiled or embossed.

PASTED BOOKCLOTH

This is almost identical to the previous method with the main difference being using a paste to adhere the fabric to the backing tissue.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

• Fabric (a cotton or linen fabric works best)

• A batch of paste (Click here for how to make your own Wheat Paste)

• Tissue paper or Japanese rice paper

STEP 1:

Cut your fabric and tissue paper to the required size.

STEP 2:

Place your fabric face down on a hard surface such as your bench or a piece of stone if you have one. Next you are going to paste one side of the tissue.

STEP 3:

Apply a thin layer of paste to one side of your tissue. Gently lift the paper (it will want to curl so lift both edges at the same time) and place the pasted side of the tissue onto the back of your fabric.

STEP 4:

Use your hand or a rolling pin to smooth down the paper on the fabric. You need to press or roll out any air bubbles but you should try to avoid pressing the paste through the fibres of the fabric.

STEP 5:

Leave your book cloth to dry overnight. Trim the edges. It is now ready to use.

PROS: Very inexpensive, Easy to make, Not time consuming (excluding drying time)

CONS: Can be messy, Fabric won’t be water resistant, Fabric can mark, easily - (ie. not ideal for recipe books!), fabric can not be hot foiled or embossed.

COATED BOOKCLOTH

The final method we’ll explore in this post is for a ‘coated’ or ’filled’ book cloth. Again there are several methods to do this using slightly different ingredients. This is the most complex of the three but the result is the most like the book cloth that we would use in the bindery on a regular basis.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

• Fabric (this method requires a tightly woven cotton or linen)

• Acrylic medium (available in art supplies shops like Zart Art)

• Starch Paste (The bindery one is from the UK - but I used this Silver Star one that is easy to find)

• A piece of stone, glass or heavy plastic

• Paste Brush or Mini Paint Roller

Acrylic medium, Cotton Fabric, Silver Star Starch

STEP 1:

Cut your fabric so that you have enough for your book cover - make sure you allow extra for turning the fabric over the cover boards, plus about an extra 2cm on one short edge.

STEP 2:

Make some starch paste by mixing a tablespoon of starch powder with about 4 - 5 tablespoons of water & microwave for 20 seconds. Whisk while warm to get rid of lumps.

STEP 3:

In a small dish or bowl, mix the starch paste with the acrylic medium in a ratio of 1:1. How much you mix will depend on how much fabric you want to coat/fill. For one small book approximately 50ml of each (100ml) adhesive in total is more than enough.

STEP 4:

Lay your fabric on the stone/glass/plastic. Coat the entire side (excluding the extra 2cm on the top edge- I taped my edge) with a thin but even layer of the adhesive mixture. Use brush strokes from the top to bottom, slightly overlapping each stroke to ensure no gaps.

STEP 4:

Turn the fabric over and repeat step 3 on the other side,(again excluding the top 2cm on the same top edge) ensuring no gaps.

STEP 5:

Depending on the temperature/humidity and if you are using air conditioning, the book cloth will completely dry overnight. My preferred method for drying is to leave it on the piece of stone until just tacky but not completely dry, then peel off the stone and peg the top edge that you didn’t apply glue to on a drying rack (or clothes line) so that both ‘filled’ sides are not touching anything. To finish trim off the ‘peg edge’ as this hasn’t been treated and you’re ready to use your book cloth.

The end result was a stiffened fabric with a slight but not too obvious coating. The fabric was slightly darker than the original uncoated fabric, but was definitely more resistant to marks. In addition, a huge bonus was that the fabric was able to be embossed with names or decorative elements.

PROS: Protects the fabric with a coating, somewhat water resisant, wipeable, most fabrics treated this way will tolerate hot foiling/ embossing, Gives you huge variety of colour/pattern options

CONS: More expensive than other methods mentioned, Takes a bit or trial and error, Messier than the other methods, Slightly more time consuming

Bookbinding for Beginner's: 5 Common Myths Debunked

Working in a bindery, I hear lots of different theories and ideas people have about this ancient craft. In the post today I thought I’d share some of the common myths I have heard related to this historic trade.

Let's debunk five common myths about bookbinding:

1. Bookbinding is a dying art form: Contrary to popular belief, bookbinding is far from being a dying art form. While digital media has gained popularity, the physicality and aesthetic appeal of bound books continue to captivate people worldwide. Bookbinding has adapted to modern times, with artists and crafters using new materials and techniques to create unique and innovative book designs. There has definitely been a resurgence of people craving slower, more mindfully crafted goods. Handmade and made to last! The HUGE and ever growing crowds visiting the Lost Trades Fair in Bendigo each year is a testament to that!

2. Bookbinding requires specialised equipment: While traditional bookbinding techniques often use traditional equipment such as a bookpress, guillotine and hand tools, you would be surprised at how many tools or substitutes for traditional tools you would already own at home. Many professional bookbinders use precision equipment like sewing machines, paper cutters, and presses to enhance efficiency while maintaining quality, however you can get started at home with very little to no outlay on specialised equipment. We have created a FREE checklist of 10 Essential Bookbinding Tools if you want to know more. You can download the guide here.

3. Bookbinding is expensive: While certain bookbinding techniques, such as fine leather binding or decorative gilding, can be expensive due to the high-quality materials used, bookbinding as a whole doesn't have to be a costly endeavor. There are various affordable materials and simple binding methods that make bookbinding accessible to a wider audience. With a little research and practice, anyone can enjoy the art of bookbinding without breaking the bank.

4 .Bookbinding requires artistic and technical skills: Artistic and technical skills can certainly enhance the outcome of a bookbinding project, they are not essential prerequisites. Bookbinding is a skill that can be learned and improved with practice. Many beginners find joy in starting with basic binding techniques and gradually refining their skills. With the abundance of online tutorials, books, and workshops available, everyone can embark on their bookbinding journey regardless of their skill level. You can find out more about our workshops and online courses here.

5. Bookbinding is limited to binding blank pages: While traditional bookbinding often involves binding blank pages into journals or sketchbooks, bookbinding extends far beyond this application. Bookbinders create a variety of books, including novels, poetry collections, photo albums, artists' books, and more. They work with authors, photographers, and artists to produce beautiful custom-bound editions of their work. Bookbinding allows for bound creations that not only hold pages but also tell stories, preserve memories, and showcase artwork.

I hope that by dispelling these myths we encourage you to give bookbinding a try! Whether you're a book lover or an aspiring bookbinder, embracing the rich world of bookbinding holds endless possibilities. Share your creations with us on instagram using the hashtag #BindWithSBLibris

We’d love to see what you’re working on!

If you want a checklist of tools to get started with bookbinding, get our FREE essential tools checklist by clicking the link below.