how to bind a hardcover book

m at e r i a l s : i n t e r i o r pa p e r

( to

make up the

book

block)

h e av y s t o c k pa p e r c a r d b oa r d thick aw l

( e n d pa p e r s ) ( c ov e r ) t h e c ov e r ) 3-4
strands)

b o o k c l o t h o r h e av y s t o c k pa p e r

( f o r t h e b oa r d s o f thread (if using sewing

or mull

thread use

crash
ru l e r

bone folder x - ac to k n i f e blade refills directions: glue nail file needle n e w pa p e r / s c r a p pa p e r binder clips

Interior: Cut your paper to size. If you want a letter size book, your paper should be 11 x 17 (folded in half will give you 8.5 x 11). Fold one or two sheets of paper at a time to get a precise fold. Using a bone folder will help with a crisp fold. Key: 4-folded sheets of paper together make one signature. One signature is made up of 16-pages. The number of signatures you make is determined by how many pages you would like in your book. (ex: If you want a 32-page book, you will need 2 signatures) All your signatures stacked on top of each other is called a book block. This is what makes up the interior of your book. Choose a heavier stock of paper then your interior sheets for your endpapers. You may use a pattern or design (ex: marbled paper), but if the pattern is only on one side of the sheet, make sure the pattern is folded inside.) Place glue along of the edge of your top signature, along the spine. This is how the endpapers are attached to your book block. Repeat on your bottom signature. Use a piece of scrap paper the height of your book. This will be your template, used to mark where to punch the holes in each signature for sewing. You will need 3 strips of 1/2 width pieces of paper, or called tapes. Starting 1/2 away from the two edge, make your first mark. 1/2 away from that mark will be two marks for your first tape. Make sure your second tape is positioned in the middle of your book block. Then follows your third tape marks. Your last mark will be 1/2 away from the other edge. With this template, you will place them inside each of your signature to mark the spines with these 8 holes. Cut your thread for sewing. Tie a couple of knots at the end. Starting from the outside, on your bottom signature, thread your thread through the marked hole closest to the edge. You need to loop back and forth, holding the tapes in place. The tapes should be moveable, they are held by the looped thread. Going from one signature to the next, tie a knot to keep the signatures all together on either ends of the signatures. If you run out of thread, tie a new strand and begin again. Once you have the last signature sew in, end with a knot. Glue crash or mull (less then the height of your book, but enough to cover your thread) onto the spine only. This mesh material helps hold your book block together. Then glue the crash to the tapes only, making sure to rub the glue in. Cut the tapes to the length of your crash. Let dry between two stacks of heavy book, spine sticking out. You do not want to crush your spine. Tip: Use binder clips to clamp the book block together.

Cover: Cut your 2 pieces of cardboard for your front and back cover. This should be the height of your paper plus 1/8 top and bottom (ex: My book is letter size, so my boards should be 11.25) The width should be 1/8 less then the width of your paper. Cut a third piece for your spine, this should be the same height as your two boards and the width is your book block plus the two cover boards. Use a nail file to sand down the edges of the cardboard, not just the corners. Cut your book cloth or heavy stock paper to wrap around the three cardboard pieces. The width is determined by measuring and adding up the following: two cover boards plus the spine plus two 1/4 for the joints (the space between the cover and the spine) plus two 5/8 on either side of the boards (ex: For a letter size book: 5/8 + 8.5 (front cover) + 1/4 (joint) + 1 (spine) + 1/4 (joint) + 8.5 (back cover) + 5/8) The height is the height of the book plus 5/8 on top plus 5/8 on the bottom). Cut the four edges of the book cloth at approx. 45 degree angle. Make a mixture of glue and water. More glue than water. This will be used to paste the three cardboard pieces to the book cloth. The water helps make the pieces removable if needed. Place the cardboard pieces in place. Wrap the book cloth over the cardboard. Put this piece under something heavy and allow to dry. This prevents the covers from warping. Now put glue on the top sheet of the endpaper. Have a piece of scrap paper in the inside fold of your endpapers to keep the glue from getting on the book (do this as well with the other endpaper). Glue the endpaper to the front cover. Repeat on the back cover. Use the bone folder to crease the joints. Leave the scrap papers inside the book while you dry your hardcover book. Make sure your spine is sticking out while drying. Voila!