This method teaches you how to make a book out of paper that has already been used on one side, though the technique could easily be adapted to use new paper.
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Image:bookI.jpg|This method teaches you how to make a book out of paper that has already been used on one side, though the technique could easily be adapted to use new paper.
This method teaches you how to make a book out of paper that has already been used on one side, though the technique could easily be adapted to use new paper.
What you need
paper (at least 18 sheets of A4 size office paper that has already been used on one side, i.e. "scrap paper").
cotton thread
sewing needle
scissors
PVA glue (craft/wood glue)
fabric for binding (plain fabric)
plastic bag
big strong stationery clip
thick cardboard (eg. old cardboard box)
fabric for cover (nice-looking fabric)
Quick Steps
1. Get the pages ready.
2. Sew the pages into little bundles.
3. Glue the bundles together with a piece of fabric along the spine.
1. Fold each page in half so the unwanted-text is hidden.
2. Fold each page in half again.
3. Slide 3 folded pieces of paper together. Repeat for all the pieces of paper.
Stage 2 - Sewing the signatures (i.e. sewing the pages into little bundles).
1. Open up each little bundle of pages at the centre page.
2. Lay the bundle of pages, face down on a soft surface (eg. carpet).
3. Thread a sewing needle with cotton thread. Double the thread over and tie a knot in the end.
4. Push the needle through the bundle of pages from the outside of the fold.
5. Turn the bundle of pages over and pull the needle and cotton thread through.
6. Push the needle through the bundle of pages from the inside of the fold.
7. Turn the pages over again and loop the needle through the knot at the end of the cotton thread (so the thread is anchored).
8. Do a few more stitches and then tie off the thread.
9. Stitch each bundle of pages together in the same manner.
Stage 3 - Gluing the signatures together (i.e. gluing the bundles together)
1. Stack all the sewn bundles of paper neatly on top of each other.
2. Clip them together with a big strong stationery clip, on the non-spine side.
3. Cut a piece of plain fabric the same size as the stack of pages.
4. Put PVA glue along the spine of the pages. Rub it with your finger-tip so that it covers the spine evenly.
5. Glue the spine to the middle of the piece of plain fabric. Press the fabric with your finger-tip so that it is firmly against the spine of the pages.
6. Hold the fabric firmly in place, and move the stationery clip to the spine side.
7. Allow to dry for approximately 2 hours.
Stage 4 - Cutting the cover-cardboard and cover-fabric to size
1. Cut two pieces of cardboard, just slightly bigger than the stack of pages (4mm higher than the pages and 2mm wider than the pages).
1. Cut a strip of plastic from the plastic bag and place it between the front and back pages of the book and the plain fabric that has been glued to the spine. (This is so the pages don't stick to the pieces of cover-cardboard when you glue them in place).
5. Clamp in place with the stationery clip and allow to dry for approximately 10 minutes.
Stage 7 - Covering the book with fabric
1. Remove the stationery clip and apply a thin layer of glue to the outside of one of the pieces of cover-cardboard.
2. Hold the cover-fabric by the spine-protector in your non-dominant hand.
3. Push the spine-protector firmly against the spine of the book.
4. Smooth the cover-fabric onto the glue on the cover-cardboard. Pull the fabric tight and smooth out any wrinkles.
5. Apply a thin layer of glue to the outside of the other piece of cover-cardboard.
6. Stretch the cover-fabric tightly and smooth it onto the cover-cardboard. Smooth out any wrinkles.
7. Make sure the spine-protector is tightly against the spine. If it is not tighltly against the spine, try and adjust the cover-fabric before the glue dries.
8. Cut two "v" shapes off each corner of the cover fabric.
9. Glue the corner flaps of cover-fabric to the inside of the cover-cardboard.
10. Glue the remaining pieces of cover-fabric to the inside of the cover-cardboard.
11. Place something heavy on top of the book and allow it to dry for approximately 1/2 an hour. (Placing something heavy on top of the book will prevent it from warping as the glue dries).