Book Binding

Techniques For Binding Books

There are many people across the United States that have stacks upon stacks of paper that they have jotted notes, information, and phone numbers and addresses for their friends and family members and do not wish to throw away. However, they also do not want to keep loose sheets of paper stacked in a box where they can get lost or damaged.

Fortunately, there is a solution and that solution is for them to bind their own books. Now for many people, the thought of binding their own books may be a little daunting, leather and sewing threads, but by using either of the following book binding procedures, not only will binding your own books be simple, but you can also create additional systems and craft projects such as diaries, to do list books, photo books and any other type of book that you would need to have bound.

Now, in order for you to be successful with these book binding procedures, you will need to make sure you have the proper materials in order to bind your books. For both techniques, you will need the papers you intend on binding -- or plain paper depending on whether or not you intend on making a diary or some other such type of book; cardboard; wallpaper, contact paper, or felt; a paper cutter -- for precise paper measurements; a pair of scissors; and glue or wallpaper paste to help make your bound book more secure.

Once you have gathered these items, depending on the method you choose to bind your books, you will need a couple of additional materials to finish. For example, if you want your book to be bound with an artistic flair, you will need to have a large eyed sewing needle and either some twine, carpet thread, crochet thread or quilting thread. On the other hand, if you just want to have your book bound as simply as possible, the additional items you will need for the book binding procedures are a stapler and some staple pins.

To begin, you will need to determine what size book you wish to have and fold your paper midway to create that size. Once your pages are folded, you will need to staple them -- if you are using that technique -- or measure the intervals for the holes needed to sew your binding. When all the pages are bound together, you are then ready to make your cover.

Cut your cardboard in the shape of your book, a little larger than the pages themselves and use these as a template to cut your felt, cloth or contact paper. Once you have cut your pieces, you can use the glue to create your cover, then glue the cover to the last pages of your book and near the spine. Use a weight to press the cover down for a couple of days and once it is thoroughly dry, you will have created your very own book.