This method teaches you how to make a book out of paper that has already been used on one side, however the technique could easily be adapted to use new paper.
Method I: 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").
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; this makes one "bundle". 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, pull the needle and thread through, and then push the needle through the bundle of pages from the inside of the fold.
6. Turn the pages over again and loop the needle through the knot at the end of the cotton thread (so the thread is anchored).
7.
8.
9.
10. Stitch each bundle of pages together in the same manner.
Note: It doesn't really matter if you don't follow these stiching instructions perfectly, just make it up... do some stiches along the fold line and try and make it look neat, that's really all there is to it.
Stage 3 - Gluing the signatures together along the spine (i.e. gluing the bundles together along the spine)
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 completely (at least 8 hours). Note: It is important that you really do allow it to dry completely, otherwise the book is likely to fall apart!
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).
2. Cut one piece of cardboard the exact height and width of the the spine of the bundle of pages; this will be the "spine-protector". (see previous image)
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).