the binding of books

[muladhara]

This post has ended up being a day late but, in my defence, I have been very tired, and I didn't remember until I was about to go sleep last night. (Tiredness caused by a) lack of sleep and b) starting a new volunteer job).

So please accept my apologies.

Anyway, lassarina wanted to know about book binding, and so here we are!

I have been interested in it for a long time, but I couldn't tell you how long. I do know that ~10 years ago, my friend Annette lent me a book about it, which had all sorts of different ways to make books, but mostly they were as art pieces, rather than functional books, so to speak. I learnt to make a book by saddle stitching (or pamphlet stitching as it sometimes known - I think it hinges on the number of holes you need versus the way you stitch it). And then at some point I forgot I even knew how to do that, and learnt some other ways to make books (perfect binding, which is a glued spine; and a stapled spine). And then, for some reason, I was convinced that I would never be able to go any further than that, because you needed all this expensive equipment (e.g. a proper awl, or a book press).

And that, my friends, is when I found Sea Lemon's videos on youtube. She doesn't just do book binding videos, but it is one of the things she's known for. I watched her videos for coptic stitching and kettle stitching books, and immediately was consumed with the need to try it for myself. So I did, while mildly ill because it was a hot August, heat does that to me, and I didn't know to make myself sit t f down instead.

And then I just kept making books. I have an entire stack that I have barely touched. Some of them I made to repurpose old sketchbooks or pads, and some are experiments, like the one with double sided printer paper in it.

What I like about it is that I can make a book to suit me. I can make A5 books with blank paper, because that's what I like using. I made a 8x8 inch sketchbook, because I like that size and it's rare, even in square sketchbooks*. I can put on the covers anything I like (including my own art if I wanted to!)

I figure that the reason I love it so much is because it's a combination of two things I really like: books and sewing. Also I just like making stuff, and I always have.

I find it soothing to do. It's rarely frustrating, and I find it very easy to hyperfocus on.

And you don't need fancy stuff to make books! I use the point of a compass instead of an awl, and I put my books under bigger, heavier books to press overnight, because I don't have a book press. Turns out I do have waxed linen thread, although I didn't know that till very recently, but I've experimented with other kinds of thread, too.

I mean, if I were going to turn this into a living (I'm not), then I would invest in an awl, and acid free PVA, and I'd make book cloth, and so on, and so forth. But I'm not. I'm just making books for me, and that makes me happy.

~

*Pink Pig make them to order, which is fine, they're a decent price. I don't think the biggest size Seawhite do is 8x8 in squares, though. I could be wrong about that, I don't know.

Comments

[lassarina]

That's so neat! (Also as you can see I'm late with reading, so please not to worry about the post being late.) I love the idea of crafting your own book exactly as you like it. As I've gotten more into journaling I'm noticing more about how things are put together, and it's fascinating.

Thank you for sharing. ♥

[muladhara]

You are never late reading! (But also I know what you mean). Like Johnny says (quoting Tolkien) to people who arrive after their streams have started, you got here exactly when you meant to.

Yeah, like I'm not too picky about note/sketchbooks, but it is great to be able to make something exactly to the specs I want. And so easily, too!

You're very welcome! Thank you for asking!